Twelve writers. One hour to write. Who will go home with the trophy?

On October 30th, a group of writers will assemble at Tradesman Bar in East Williamsburg with 60 minutes on the clock to craft completely original scary stories. When the hour is up, the audience arrives.

At this live reading, some of stories may make you laugh, others will chill you to the bone, but all will draw you deeper into the shadows of the night.

In the end, there can only be one winner.

A group of people sitting and standing, laughing and enjoying an event in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event decorated with plants and string lights, with a guitar and microphone on a stand in the foreground.

Missed last year’s contest? We’ve got a zine for that.

Cover page of Maggie's Scary Story Contest zine, Volume 1, featuring a beige background, black border, and black text. The booklet includes a small photo of the host welcoming the audience at the venue.

People in costume, laughing and enjoying themselves in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event.

Brooklyn’s #1 scary story contest returns October 30th. Tickets are on sale now.

Invitation poster for Maggie's scary story contest featuring a tombstone with a hand emerging from the ground. Event details include date, location, and times.

Three women sitting at a table with drinks, all smiling at the camera, in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event.

Two people posing and smiling at a party, one wearing a red sleeveless shirt and the other dressed in a bunny costume with glowing ears in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event.

A man playing a red Nord Electro keyboard at an outdoor event, surrounded by plants and decorative elements in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event.

A group of five young people sitting at a yellow table in the backyard of a bar, engaged in conversation and smiling. Their table has laptops, glasses, and plates, with green plants on either side and a geometric pattern on the wall behind them.

A man and woman dressed in costumes holding props, standing together in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event with hanging lights and background decorations.

Two people in costumes smiling in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event, holding a plastic sword, with colorful banners hanging in the background.

A person with short curly hair and a black shirt smiling next to a man in a patterned turtleneck and chef hat, sitting at a table in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event.

A woman wearing glasses, a light-up headband with horns and ears, and face paint with red lines standing in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event.

A man holding large, faux lobster claws alive. The man has dark curly hair, is wearing a white shirt and black tie, and in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event at night with plants and string lights in the background.

A young woman in a cream-colored suit holding a glass of wine in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event

Three men in costumes posing together in the backyard of a bar at a 21+ Halloween event with string lights in the background.

A person in a colorful sweater and glasses is being held hostage by another person wearing a ski mask, gathered at a lively party or gathering.

A young man in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween show in NYC, wearing glasses, a beige cap, and a brown jacket, holding a drink in one hand and a toy light saber in the other, smiling excitedly.

A woman smiling and holding a glass of wine in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween show in NYC, with people mingling in the background and string lights overhead.

A group of people gathered at a social event, with two women sitting in the foreground and smiling at the camera. The woman on the left has glasses and dark hair, wearing a dark top and a white skirt. The woman on the right has short dark hair, weari

A woman wearing a glowing green frog hat with large eyes, a gold crown, and a green hood, standing against a dark background.

Person dressed as a clown or actor with cat makeup, holding a playing card, wearing a colorful suit with a blue bow tie, standing indoors with graffiti on the wall behind.

Three young adults, two men and one woman, standing together in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween show in NYC, holding drinks and smiling at the camera. They are indoors with festive lighting and a wall with abstract art in the background.

Person in a sports jersey and fishnet tights holding a microphone and reading from a phone in the backyard of a bar at fun Halloween show in NYC.

Want to compete? Fill out the interest form.

Young person with short hair and glasses working on a laptop at a wooden table in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event, surrounded by others using electronic devices.

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Three young people sitting at a table in a cafe or workspace, working on laptops, in the backyard of a bar at a fun Halloween event.