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Ghost Stories 2026 |
Creative Writing Competition
| Ideal for 5-18


Ghost Stories 2026 Video

What lurks in your pupils' imaginations...? Get them involved today in this ghost story writing competition for writers aged 5-18 years!

Everyone loves a ghost story! A little bit of a scare, that nervous laugh, the suspense... We're inviting young writers of all ages to write their own spook-tacular short story in up to 250 words.

👻 Getting Started
There are two main elements needed for a spooky story.
Character
👻 Ghost
👹 Monster
🧛 Vampire
🎃 Scarecrow
🤡 Clown
Setting
🏚️ Haunted house
🎪 Carnival
🏴‍☠️ Pirate ship
🪦 Graveyard
🏥 Abandoned hospital
What will inspire your pupils’ ghost stories?
Their tales can be funny, frightful or absolutely terrifying! Encourage your pupils to use their imaginations and create a short spooky story packed with creepy characters, eerie settings or unexpected twists.
Need Some Spooky Inspiration? 👻
From building suspense to creating a creepy atmosphere, author Paul Westmoreland shares his top advice for writing a story that will give readers goosebumps.
👻 READ: 3 TOP TIPS TO WRITE A SPOOKY STORY
✍️ It's easy to take part
📚 Make it part of your lesson
Use Ghost Stories as a creative writing lesson to explore characters, settings, atmosphere and suspense, or set it as a fun homework task.
💡 Pick a creepy character and a spooky setting
Use our ideas to get pupils started, or let them invent their own.
✏️ Write the story
Pupils can write by hand or type their story, so you can use whatever works best for your class.
📮 Send them to us
When they’re finished, submit your pupils’ stories using one of our simple entry options.
That’s it — no special equipment, no prep, no complicated set-up, just imagination and a story to tell!
Entering is completely free, and pupils could:
📖
Be published in a real book
🏅
Receive a certificate
🎬
Win a £25 cinema voucher
Closing Date
6th November 2026
When you’re ready to enter, send your entries to us:
📮 By Post
FREEPOST RSLY-AUJA-RAHY
Young Writers Ghost Stories
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF
💻 Online
Upload your entries at:
OR EMAIL TO

Closing Date: Friday 6th Nov 2026

We've worked with over 20,000 schools. Here's what some of them have to say...

Great competitions and easy to use resources! Highly recommend to all literacy teachers

Mrs King, Steyning Grammar School
See more...

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Teacher Entry Form
Poster
Pupil Entry Form

Competition Rules

To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:

Closing Date: Friday 6th Nov 2026

THE STORY
  • Stories must be the pupils' own work.
  • Stories should be no longer than 250 words.
  • Work can be handwritten or typed.
  • An adult can scribe/type for a pupil where needed.
  • One entry per pupil.

WHAT TO INCLUDE
  • Each entry should include the pupil's name, age and school name.
  • Initials or first names only can be used where necessary.
  • If there is anything we should take into consideration when reading the work, please note this on the entry.

SENDING YOUR ENTRIES
  • There is no limit to the number of pupils a school can enter.
  • Where possible, please submit entries together.
  • Entries can be written on an A4 sheet, typed, or submitted through the Online Writing Portal.

GOOD TO KNOW
  • Free to enter.
  • No purchase is necessary to win.
  • Copyright remains with the author.
  • Open to UK entrants only.
Closing date: Friday 6th November 2026
Already completed your stories? Enter Now →

If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

For Schools

Every school will receive a free copy of the book their pupils feature in!

For Pupils

Our 3 favourite writers will each win a £25 cinema voucher!

🎟️

Every Entrant

Every pupil who enters will receive a bookmark.

🏅

Published Writers

A certificate will be awarded to all writers whose work we'd like to publish.

Pupil winners will be chosen from stories received September–November 2026 that have permission to be published. No purchase necessary. Winners will be announced the following term.

Download Now

It’s easy to take part!

  1. Download entry forms
  2. Your students write or type their entry (or an adult can scribe) ensuring their name (or initials) and age are included
  3. Submit your entries using one of the options below

Enter Online

  Email

Email your entries to [email protected] and please ensure your pupils' names and ages are on their work, and that you include your name, school name and school address in your email. Thank you!

  Upload

Upload your entries

  Entrants type their entries online

Why not combine literacy and ICT by using the online writing portal? Entrants can type their work and you can submit them at the click of a button!

Writing Portal

  File Sender Services

You can use different file sender services to enter digitally, such as: WeTransfer, Google Classroom, Dropbox, Send Anywhere, Egress, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Smash, Files.com, Apple iCloud Drive, FileCloud

Please ensure your name, email and school name and address are included with your entries if you send entries digitally via a non-Young Writers service.

Download Now

Send by Freepost

Send your entries, along with your teacher entry form, to:

FREEPOST RSLY-AUJA-RAHY
Young Writers Ghost Stories
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF

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Get In Touch

Email
[email protected]

Tel
01733 890066

Post
FREEPOST RSLY-AUJA-RAHY
Young Writers Ghost Stories
Remus House
Peterborough
PE2 9BF

Closing Date: Friday 6th Nov 2026