Winners of Haunting Hooks
Thank you to everyone who RSVP’d to Dictionary.com’s 2026 Haunting Hooks writing contest: The Invitation Edition! These opening sentences took us to strange places, introduced us to unsettling possibilities, and left us wanting more:
Judge’s Choice: Guest judge Kimberly Ramsawak, founder of horror publication Horror Concierge, has selected the winning entry:
Caught on a carpet seam, the rolling cart juddered, tumbling books to the floor. Mira hated reshelving at night. Crouching down, one had fallen open. Rust‑colored. Leather bound. Fingers grazing the page, she flinched at its heat. In wet ink, thick and coppery red: “You’re invited, Mira. Don’t scream.”
By Ashlee Vieregger
Fans’ Choice: The votes have been tallied and we all felt the chills with this hook:
In 249 years, Abby had learned three things about invitations: Never accept one written in blood. Never accept one delivered by something dead. And never, ever accept one addressed in her mother's handwriting. Abby broke all three rules Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning, something else was living in her apartment.
By A.C. Frei
Still craving more scares? Read all of the honorable mentions on Dictionary.com.
|
