A Story That Has Haunted You
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Dear writers, we've got a new flash essay contest for you! Hallelujah!
We all have one story that has been gnawing at us for years. That time you ordered pizzas to your frenemy’s house and they found out it was you 😱, or the time you ran away from home and got caught inexplicably hiding out in your next-door neighbor’s yard. Inspired by Phillip Vance Smith II’s “In Prison, I Finally Shared the Story That Had Haunted Me for Years,” we want to know: What’s the story that has kept you up at night for ages, that you’re finally ready to share?
Details:
Word Count: 300 words max — longer drafts will not be considered.
Deadline: EOD Sunday, November 1, 2026
The winning story will be published on Narratively.com within the next week or so.