#275: The Witching Hour
Don’t forget to use the hashtag #ReedsyBewitched to share your stories (and potentially get featured on our social accounts)!
Throughout my childhood, I was terribly afraid of the dark — especially after learning about the “witching hour,” the time of night when supernatural events are supposedly most likely to occur. Between the hours of midnight and 3 a.m., you’d find me either sleeping or hiding under the covers, trying my best to ignore every unfamiliar sound and looming shadow.
While I’m no longer afraid of the dark, I still think about the witching hour every now and then, especially around this time of the year. Could there really be a veil between the spiritual and physical worlds that somehow gets thinner at night, making it easier for spirits to cross over?
For this week’s contest, let’s write some stories inspired by time, witchcraft, and the supernatural. Will you conjure up a cozy, heartwarming tale or weave a darker, more sinister story? The choice is yours!
🥇 Winner
“Just Another Dead Girl Underwater” by Eliza Leonel
🏆 Winner of Contest #275
⭐️ Shortlisted
“A witch's guide to magic in a hurry” by Ben Heard
⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #275
“Grave meditations” by Daniel Ward
⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #275
This week's prompts
Write a story from the point of view of a witch, spirit, or corpse.
Short Story – 130 stories
Start your story with a character being led somewhere by a black cat.
Dramatic – 70 stories
Write a story about someone who’s running out of time.
Angst – 48 stories
Center your story around someone who’s being haunted — by what or whom is up to you.
Dramatic – 101 stories
Write a story that includes the line “Better late than never.”
Short Story – 42 stories
Stories
“Just Another Dead Girl Underwater” by Eliza Leonel
🏆 Winner of Contest #275
“Hecata’s Horoscope” by Alla Turovskaya
Submitted to Contest #275
“Everyone Loves a Good Burning” by Daniel Rogers
Submitted to Contest #275
“(Not What I Was) Expecting” by Brynn Helena
Submitted to Contest #275
“Sex and Skittles” by Brynn Helena
Submitted to Contest #275
“The Ghost in the Mirror” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth
Submitted to Contest #275
“Bewitched” by Mary Bendickson
Submitted to Contest #275
“Stalled” by Derrick M Domican
Submitted to Contest #275
“Mountain Cat Meets the Ship Destiny's Dreams ” by Kristi Gott
Submitted to Contest #275
“Dead Man Watching” by Murray Burns
Submitted to Contest #275
“THE GRUMPY HITCHHIKER” by Darvico Ulmeli
Submitted to Contest #275
“Mare Tenebrarum” by Max Wightwick
Submitted to Contest #275
“What the Hell: A Witch's Journey into the Future” by Ty Warmbrodt
Submitted to Contest #275
“The Smoke” by Helen A Smith
Submitted to Contest #275
“Beyond time” by Trudy Jas
Submitted to Contest #275
$250
Prize money
391
Contest entries
171
Stories
Ended on 23:59 - Nov 08, 2024 EST
Won by Eliza Leonel 🏆
Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.
Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!