Three winners split $500 in cash.

1st Place : $250

2nd Place: $150

3rd Place: $100

*Winners will be announced on November 13*

Key Dates:

Oct 25- Contest opens

Oct 31- Halloween Spotlight

Nov 3- Halfway Point

Nov 13, 11:59 PM ET- Contest closes

Nov 14-19- Judging and review

Nov 20- Winners announced

How to enter:

1. Publish your Horror or Thriller saga on SagaSurf.

2. Turn on the contest entry for that saga in Creator Studio.

3. Grab your personal contest link from Creator Studio.

4. Share your link with your readers, followers, and community.

5. Publish at least five chapters by November 13.

Eligibility:

To qualify, your entry must meet every requirement below.

• Tagged as Horror or Thriller. Crime, Mystery, and Suspense stories with thriller elements are welcomed. 

• Your own original work, and you hold the rights to it.

• At least five published chapters by November 13, 11:59 PM ET.

• Each chapter is at least 1,500 words.

• Published or substantially updated on SagaSurf between October 1 and November 13. Stories you've posted elsewhere are welcome.

• One entry per creator.

• You are 18 or older.

• Your creator payout account is set up before winners are announced.

How winners are chosen:

*Each entry gets a score out of 100, combining listener results with a quality review from our judges.

New listeners you bring (30 Points)

• New SagaSurf listeners who join through your contest link and finish at least one chapter

Sustained tension (25 Points)

• How many listeners who finish Chapter 1 keep going through Chapter 3

Overall reach (15 Points)

• Total unique listeners on your saga during the contest

Judges' score (30 Points)

• Story quality, atmosphere, pacing, and how well it delivers on horror or suspense

*Only listening activity between October 25 and November 13 counts. If two entries tie, the higher judges' score wins, then the higher sustained tension score.

Fair play:

We want real stories reaching real listeners. Every entry is reviewed before winners are announced.

• Your own listens don't count toward your score.

• Fake, duplicate, or paid-for accounts don't count.

• Listens and sign-ups are verified before scoring.

• Any attempt to manipulate results leads to disqualification.

*SagaSurf has final say on all scoring and eligibility decisions.

Tips for a strong entry:

• Hook listeners in the first two minutes of Chapter 1.

• End every chapter on a question, a reveal, or a cliffhanger.

• Share your link early. The contest runs 20 days, and early shares give listeners the most time to catch up.

• Post updates as new chapters drop to bring readers back.

• Have everything ready before October 25 so you can focus on promotion.

FAQ

Can I enter a story I've already published somewhere else? Yes. As long as it's your original work and you hold the rights, you can bring it to SagaSurf and enter it.

Do I give up any rights by entering? No. You keep full ownership of your story. There are no exclusivity requirements.

Can I keep publishing chapters during the contest? Yes. Five chapters is the minimum, and more chapters give listeners more to enjoy.

Do existing SagaSurf listeners count? They count toward overall reach and sustained tension. Only brand-new listeners who join through your link count toward the new listeners category.

How do I get paid if I win? Prizes are paid to your SagaSurf creator payout account after winners are announced.

Who are the judges? The SagaSurf team, plus at least one guest judge.

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. This contest is sponsored by Haskins Global LLC, which operates SagaSurf. Apple Inc. and Google LLC are not sponsors of, and are not involved in, this contest in any way.