Write Like Poe: Submit Your Horror Story to the Edgar Allan Poe Legacy Contest

When you think of horror fiction, one name haunts the literary world more than any other: Edgar Allan Poe. Master of the macabre, inventor of the modern detective story, and poetic explorer of psychological torment, Poe’s legacy lives on not only through his unforgettable tales—but now through you.

The Edgar Allan Poe Legacy Contest invites student writers from around the globe to channel the gothic genius of Poe in their own original stories. Whether it’s suspense, horror, madness, or mystery, this is your chance to write fiction that crawls under the reader’s skin and lingers.

Open to students worldwide, ages 13+, this writing contest for students offers an opportunity to build your portfolio, earn awards, and celebrate the legacy of one of literature’s most haunting voices.

🔗 Submit your story today

What Makes Poe So Powerful?

Poe’s writing is known for its eerie atmosphere, rich vocabulary, psychological tension, and chilling twists. His famous stories like “The Tell-Tale Heart”, “The Fall of the House of Usher”, and “The Masque of the Red Death” show his mastery of tone, repetition, and unreliable narration.

“I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad?” — The Tell-Tale Heart

He uses first-person narration to pull readers into the mind of unstable characters, vivid imagery to set a mood of creeping dread, and precise pacing to build to terrifying climaxes.

Tips for Students Writing Poe-Inspired Fiction

Whether you're new to gothic storytelling or already a fan of psychological thrillers, here are a few tips to help you craft your entry:

1. Embrace the Unreliable Narrator

   1. Tell the story through a voice that might not be trustworthy—then let readers piece together the truth.

2. Use Atmosphere as a Character

   1. Think crumbling mansions, stormy nights, or suffocating silence. Your setting should feel alive—and sinister.

3. Write with Rhythmic Precision

   1. Poe was a poet, and it shows. Use rhythm, alliteration, and repetition to create mood and momentum.

4. Keep It Tight and Tense

   1. Most of Poe’s best work is short. Focus on a single event, fear, or twist and make every sentence serve that tension.

5. Explore Madness, Guilt, or Death

   1. Don’t shy away from dark themes. The horror should feel internal as much as external.

Start Your Legacy

This short story competition is more than a contest—it's a tribute. So sharpen your quill (or keyboard), dim the lights, and write a tale that would make Poe proud.

Deadline: Summer: June 30th Fall Contest: September 30th

Word Count: 700–1,000 words

Submit here: legacycontests.com/edgarallenpoecontest