Halloween poetry writing contest 2021

Hello readers, and a very spooky Happy Halloween!

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The moon is full and bright, it’s time to take out your pointy hats and fuzzy orange socks, and summon the courage to make it through the night.

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We can feel your excitement for this Halloween. I mean who doesn’t want to celebrate this spooky, eerie, and creepy festival after a long haul of the global pandemic? Last month Wingless Dreamer held the Halloween Poetry writing contest and we received many creative, well-produced, and spine-chilling entries. Your works speak of the bloodcurdling, unnerving, and hair-raising poems ever written that one true horror fanatic can ask for. Therefore, we would like to ask you to give a big pat on your shoulder for giving it a try and the weird costume that you’re going to pull on Halloween night. Haha!

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Before announcing the winner, let’s give big thuds of clap for our guest judge Kelly Sargent for her efforts. From the judging panel:

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About Kelly Sargent

As an honoured judge of this delightfully unique Halloween poetry contest, it gave me goosebumps to read through these spine-chilling expressions of fear and horror and gain insight into what mere mortals experience under the mysterious cover of darkness, haunted by nightmares and spooky spirits.

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As a judge, I found it interesting to observe how people hold both the light and the darkness within themselves. Creative writing is a powerful means through which we can process fear and that which is beyond our understanding. Acts of reflection allow our psyches a degree of safety as we don masks that conveniently, and perhaps ironically, allow us to show parts of ourselves that we often hide. This contest provided poets a forum and opportunity to coax some darkness into the light, while having fun with themselves and readers at the same time.

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I offer with great pleasure my sincere congratulations not only to the deserving winner and finalists, but also to each one of the talented poets who tricked and treated me in the eerie realm of sweets, shadows, and frightful things that go bump in the night. May we all beware — Boo!

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About Ruchi Acharya

Wow! It’s been a privilege to judge so many entries from all around the world. I truly admire the way poets execute their poems centering around evil and darkness. The horror imagery used is beyond appreciation. Winner or not, you all have done a marvelous job and I would like you to make a toast for it. Poetry is a terrific passion and I bet readers can feel it through this anthology, Whispers of Pumpkins. Keep up the good work. More power to your pen. Have a spook-tacular, boo-tiful, wooo-nderful, and fang-tastic Halloween!

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Without any further adieu, let’s announce the winner.

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The grand winner of the Halloween Poetry Contest 2021 and winning honorarium of $100 is:

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LIZANDRA SIMÖES – SATANIC DREAM-SEQUENCE

Lizandra Simöes is a 26-year-old bank manager from Brazil. She published her work in Mud poetry review, and Rhodora magazine. Since childhood she always wanted to become a Hippotherapist. She loves spending time with her family and her 3 years old golden retriever named Pluto.

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The first runner-up is:

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GHEROME HUBLE – MONSTERS SURREAL MANIFESTATION

Gherome Huble, having the pen name IAmHieroNymus, is a twenty-year old amateur writer from Quezon Province. Having wide imagination, idealistic, and opinionated are the qualities he capitalizes in writing fictions and non-fictions may it be in English or Filipino language. He ensures that his works aren’t only entertaining, but also informs and leaves life lessons. A persistent participant of writing contests. His short story Corded Kismet won as one of the top ten of Dear Reading Wall Valentine Writing Contest. During the year 2017, he won the award Best in Creative Writing from Cabay National High School. He also attended a lot of seminar workshops and trainings related to writing, among them is Penmasters League on July to October 2021. He also attended eight session class for one module in Creative Writing in Shaw Academy from March to April, 2021.

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The second runner-up is:

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EMMA LOUISE FOYSTER – WEBS

Emma has poetry published with and by: The World’s Greatest Anthology, The League of Poets, The Lake, The Beckindale Poetry Journal, Dreich Magazine, Drunken Pen Writing, Porridge Magazine, Visual Verse, Littoral Magazine, The Pangolin Review, Derailleur Press, Giving Room Magazine, Chronogram and for the Ledbury Poetry Festival. She also has published a number of short stories and her first novel, Shelley’s Sisterhood, is due to be published shortly.

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Finally, here are our top finalists:

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GABRIEL MCLEOD – CROOKED BLACK SUNDAY

Halloween was always the favorite holiday for Gabriel McLeod and still remains that way today. Gabriel lives in the United States in the State of Florida with his two beautiful daughters in a home surrounded by a swamp and darkened trees. His work has been featured in Storyteller Magazine, The Elephant Journal, Poet’s Choice, Beyond Words and Wingless Dreamer.

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ASHLEY EDENS – UNMASKED

Ashley is a married mother of 2, who stays home with her children and pets. She has loved writing creatively for as long as she can remember, and relishes the quiet time during pre- school when she has time to hone her craft. She enjoys writing quirky and eerie poetry and short stories.

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ANNE DYRE – ECHOES

Anne Dyre is a twenty year old person with dreams of being a writer, one without debt, and an armored combat knight. Mx. Dyre was raised on Arthurian legend, the history of Joan of Arc, and tales of great dragons. Being a writer was in their blood as they attempted to write their first novel at thirteen, but as expected of a child they lost interest after fifty pages. They have faced a long road but live by the ideals instilled from strange sources and countless creative writing classes. In the past five months they had to survive leaving home under stressful circumstances. With taxes, car bills, and new ADHD medication, new confidence sprouted from a strong found family that picked Anne up when they needed it most. They strive for a future where they push past their limits, write for LGBTQ+ young adults, and have a bust of Caesar in their kitchen with knives sticking out of his back.

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TS S. FULK – THE SUBLIMINAL LURKER

TS S. Fulk lives with his wife and three children in Örebro, Sweden as an English teacher and textbook author. After getting an M.A. in English literature from the University of Toronto, he taught in Prague, CZ before settling down in Sweden. Besides teaching and writing, TS S. Fulk is an active musician playing bass trombone, the Appalachian mountain dulcimer and the Swedish bumblebee dulcimer (hummel). His poetry has appeared in books by Wingless Dreamer, with “The Chosen One” earning a first runner-up award.

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K.G. MUNRO – ON A CROW’S FEATHER

K.G. Munro is an Author, Poet and Artist. She has been published on various poetry platforms like Poetry Potion. She is currently working on several projects including a course for Udemy.

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Congratulations to all the winners. You’ve done exceptionally well bringing the unnerving and horrifying elements into your poems. Our editorial team and judges truly admire your work. Good job!

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Cue the confetti for our selected participants whose work is selected to get published in our Halloween anthology. Here’s the contributor’s list: