3 Minute Scares is back for its seventh spooky year!

North Manchester FM's Halloween creative writing competition is open for submissions for 2022.

North Manchester FM's Hannah Kate wants your scary stories for Halloween! She’s asking people throughout Greater Manchester to submit their 3-minute stories for her annual creative writing competition. Writers keen to be crowned Greater Manchester’s Spookiest Wordsmith can submit a recording of their mini-tale via Hannah’s website, with the best entries being broadcast on the Halloween edition of Hannah’s Bookshelf on Saturday 29th October.

We’re delighted to announce that this year’s best entry will receive a prize from Breakout Manchester, the live escape room game. Entries need to be 3 minutes long, meaning a word count of around 350-400 words. The judges will be looking for style and originality, as well as how scary the story is. The deadline for entries is Friday 14th October, at midnight.

Last year’s competition was won by R.L. Halsall, whose story was described by guest judge Ramsey Campbell as a 'remarkable achievement' showing 'considerable originality'. Hannah Kate says: ‘Last year's competition was wonderful, with such a wonderful selection of creative and atmospheric entries. Can we top that this year? I'm looking forward to seeing if we can!’

All writers need to enter the competition is a computer with a microphone… and a good story. Entries can be recorded via Hannah’s website. More information and rules of the competition, including information for people unable to submit a recording, can also be found on the website.