The Cemetery Gates Society is a space for a monthly no entry fee fiction contest, interviews with editors and up-and-coming writers, and a monthly column about the writing/publishing biz from Gabino Iglesias.

Our Nov/Dec 2021 joint issue theme is: “Creepypasta”

Send us (cemeterygatesmedia@gmail.com) a horror piece (1000-3000 words) based on our theme between November 1st and December 8th. In the subject line of your email state the theme, your wordcount, and story title. Multiple winners will be announced here and on Twitter on December 15th, and paid $100 for First Publishing Rights for a 2022 print/electronic anthology, and also grant us the option to publish the story on our website in December as an anthology preview. We will ask for a reprint embargo on the winning stories until after publication of our 2022 “creepypasta” themed anthology. Send only one story per contest as a doc/rtf attachment. Creepypasta tends to read better in first-person narrative, though not essential. Winning stories will join a number of other pieces already accepted for this special anthology.

October 2021 Issue, theme “Halloween Party”

On Editing and Publishing with The Dread Machine

Winning Stories:

“Bloodlust Boulevard” Greg Sisco

“Bunny” Ali Seay

“Twilight Zone Party” Mark Allan Gunnells

“Hallows Harvest” Laura Keating

“Pigman, Pigman” Joanna Koch

“Tomato Heart” Stephanie Parent

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New Voices in Horror with Jonathan Duckworth

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September 2021 Issue, theme “Stories inspired by Coil”

On Editing and Writing with Sara Crocoll Smith

Winning Stories, chosen by Joanna Koch:

“The Sounds of Secrets” Blake Johnson

“Corridors” Matt Neil Hill

“The Weight of it All” Sarah Musnicky

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New Voices in Horror with Rowan Hill

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August 2021 Issue, theme “The Perfect Drug

It’s Drama Time! Just Kidding, Let’s Talk Books! by Gabino Iglesias

On Editing and Writing with Wendy N. Wagner

Winning Story:

“My Heart Stopped Beating But I’m Jonesing For A Fix” Alicia Hilton

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New Voices in Horror with Eric Raglin

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July 2021 Issue, theme “Summer Camp”

The Sacrifice Table: Making Time to Write by Gabino Iglesias

On Editing and Writing with Jessica Landry

Winning Stories:

“The Last Night at Camp St. Michael’s” Tom Coombe

“Just Til Morning” K.S. Walker

“The World is Hard for Little Things” C. O. Davidson

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New Voices in Horror with Brennan LaFaro

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June 2021 Issue, theme “Funeral Parlor/Crematorium”

Ten Tips to Survive Twitter by Gabino Iglesias

Winning Stories:

“An Angry Man” Ali Seay

“Emmet” Mark Allan Gunnells

“The Embalming Room is Off Limits” Corey Farrenkopf

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New Voices in Horror with Corey Farrenkopf

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May 2021 Issue, theme “Inspired by True Crime”

Doing the Agent/Big Four Thing by Gabino Iglesias

The Gospel of Horror Fiction and the Message of Short Stories by Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann

Winning Stories, chosen by Mother Horror:

“Offerings” Jude Reid

“Resurrecting the Strangler” Mark Allan Gunnells

“I Will Not Be Forgotten” Elford Alley

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New Voices in Horror with Christi Nogle

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April 2021 Issue, theme “The Burial of the Dead”

So You Wanna Go the Indie/Small Press Route… by Gabino Iglesias

Winning Stories:

“To Garden the Bodies” Sara Tantlinger

“Legacy” Red Lagoe

“The Witness Tree” Shane Douglas Keene

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New Voices in Horror with Jessica Ann York

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March 2021 Issue, theme “Haunted Church Confessional”

Ugly Lies and Painful Truths by Gabino Iglesias

Winning Stories:

“The Church on Bethel-Cannon Road” Elford Alley

“No Body, No Miracles” Corey Farrenkopf

“Man of The Cloth” Joanna Koch

“Last Dance” Alex Ebenstein

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New Voices in Horror with J.A.W. McCarthy

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February 2021 Issue, theme “February Stars”

The Five Things That Matter by Gabino Iglesias

Winning Stories:

“Turn the Lights Off on Your Way Out” Mark Allan Gunnells

“The Farthest Corner” Michael J. Moore

“Got a Bite” Laura Keating

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New Voices in Horror with Donyae Coles

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January 2021 Issue, theme “Arctic/Antarctica”

Sometimes the Path Chooses You… by Gabino Iglesias

Winning stories:

“Tupilaq” Bev Vincent

“The Lights” Greg Sisco

“A Different Kind of Fish” Rowan Hill

“Trivia Night at the Dr. Neil Trivett Global Atmosphere Watch Observatory” Corey Farrenkopf

“In the Hands of an Angry God” Mark Allan Gunnells

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New Voices in Horror with Cameron Ulam

Dabbler. Hobbyist. Hobby-Pro. Pro. by Joe Sullivan, An Editor’s Note