by Joe Mynhardt | Aug 5, 2025 | Crystal Lake Academy, Open Submissions
Author A.K. McCarthy won Crystal Lake’s most recent flash contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme: Music Horror: “Whether it’s the thundering of a church organ or the warbling of a lone violin in the night, the right combination of musical notes...
by Joe Mynhardt | Jul 8, 2025 | Open Submissions, Updates
Author Nate Atkins won Crystal Lake’s most recent flash contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme: “Eco-Horror! This month, it’s time to plunge into Eco-Horror: stories rooted in ecological dread, nature-based curses, primeval forces tied to the land, your...
by Joe Mynhardt | Jun 6, 2025 | Open Submissions
Author Amanda M. Blake won our most recent flash contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme: “The theme this month is Mystical Listicles. This is something I sometimes saw during my fanfiction days. It seems like a perfect structure for flash fiction, and...
by Joe Mynhardt | May 2, 2025 | Open Submissions
Author J.M. Heluk won Crystal Lake’s most recent flash contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme: “Satanic Panic”“Bring me back to the “bad” old days of unclean spirits, screamin’ demons, evil entities, Ouija boards, and of...
by Joe Mynhardt | Mar 4, 2025 | Open Submissions
Author Jim Gilbert won Crystal Lake’s most recent flash contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme:“For this month’s contest, let’s go ‘Old School.’ I’m talking creature features! Rules are in the definition of the word...
by Joe Mynhardt | Nov 6, 2024 | Open Submissions, Updates
Author Jyl Glenn won last month’s contest and has agreed to host. Here is the new theme (and we’ll be accepting submissions throughout November and December): “A deserted hallway, an abandoned amusement park, or a mist-covered subway platform at midnight—a place where...
