Gothic Stories
Kenny's First Unofficial Challenge
I’ve been seeing a few unofficial challenges given by Vocal Community members, and I thought: You know what? As someone literally invested in Vocal, I should do that, too. So here is my official, nonofficial challenge to you.
Everyone who knows me will tell you I enjoy a good scare. In that spirit, I would like to invite you to write a story in the Gothic literary genre. It doesn’t have to be a horror, though. Feel free to interpret the genre however you see fit. Perhaps you want to craft a ghost story that unfolds in an ancient forest or a dark romance set in a mysterious old castle. I'm eager to see where your imagination takes you! Create stories brimming with glorious details and captivating characters, whether they be sinister or otherwise.
What is Gothic fiction? Well, let me paint you a picture. Borrowing heavily from Wikipedia, Gothic fiction is a realm of fear where supernatural events loom and the past intrudes upon the present. Imagine settings like ruined buildings, castles, monasteries, crypts, or convents, each with its own dark secrets. Plots often revolve around psychological or social conflicts, murders, imprisonments, demons, ghosts, and more. If it has a dark, spooky connotation, it's probably Gothic.
To qualify, submitted stories must be of the gothic genre, between 600 and 1500 words in length, and submitted by June 10, 2024. Sorry, everyone; I’m hoping to receive a lot of submissions and need to be able to read through all of them, so please, no 20-minute stories! I plan to have picked a winner and two runners-up by June 15. The winner will receive a $30 tip from me, and the runners-up will each receive $10.
To ensure I’ve read your story, please post a link to it in the comment section below. Also, let’s keep the submissions to no more than two per person. Thanks for playing, and good luck!
About the Creator
Kenny Penn
Thanks for reading! I enjoy writing in various genres, my favorites being horror/thriller and dark/epic fantasies. I'll also occasionally drop a poem or two.
For a list of all my work, and to connect with me, go to www.kennypenn.com
Keep reading
More stories from Kenny Penn and writers in Writers and other communities.
Journey to 1k
Woohoo! Over one thousand reads! There are quite a few writers on Vocal who can boast this statistic - and I know, some are well into tens of thousands - but this still feels like a huge accomplishment to me. So let me begin this little piece by saying thank you to every person who has read, liked, commented, and encouraged me on this writer’s journey through Vocal.
By Kenny Pennabout a month ago in Writers
Comments (34)
Here is my humble offering, Kenny. Thanks for the inspiration! https://vocal.media/fiction/bid-him-welcome
I done one for you! https://vocal.media/fiction/alice-hl1608qk
Ghosts and ghouls, my favorite people-ish. Cool challenge, Maybe I will give it a shot. Congrats
Ah, too bad my Purple Rose is too short. This challenge slipped my mind
Back again with a second entry, Dance Card. Hope you enjoy it! https://vocal.media/fiction/dance-card
https://vocal.media/fiction/mason-s-closet This was so fun, Kenny! Gothic fiction is the best fiction 😉 I’m looking forward to reading everyone’s work!
Here you go! https://vocal.media/fiction/operation-dagon
Back to contribute my entry in this wonderful competition. https://vocal.media/fiction/outside-the-lines-dx7x03nv Will let you know when the longer (and thus ineligible) piece is posted.
Most of the stories I publish have Gothic elements 🥹 I modified and changed this for an official Vocal challenge so I had to remove the alternate ending: White Walls : https://vocal.media/horror/white-walls-r1py0hz2 Death Treats the Company https://vocal.media/fiction/death-treats-the-company
Sounds awesome!!
perfect for me n the kids
Despite Vocal's best efforts to block its publication, I finally got this one live: https://vocal.media/horror/reaching-from-the-silence
Congrats on Top Story!
This is not as creepy as I thought it would be. It may not completely fit the gothic genre. But I went with it anyway because Gothic seems to fit a wide range of varieties. https://vocal.media/fiction/voices-part-two
Here is my first offering and thanks for the opportunity. https://vocal.media/fiction/a-macabre-profession A macabre profession For me the eerie silence of the secluded sepulchre was a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the wicked world outside I will also have a think about another angle on the gothic that I could attempt.
ooooooh, Mr Penn, what a tantalising challenge. Count me in...I have a few unfinished...unrealised ideas that will fit in with this...So we shall see. Glad to see this got Top Story, congrats, Kenny! I'm excited!
Sounds fun! I'll see if I can whip something up, ha!
Congratulations on your top story https://vocal.media/criminal/possession-is-9-10-th-the-law
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊 I've added the links to two of my stories in my comment somewhere down there hahaha
Looks like a success!!
Great challenge I’m A goth boi at heart 🦇
This is my gothic style take on Greek mythology https://vocal.media/poets/secret-admirer-tp913e0q1d
I'm actually getting ideas! Crazy, since I haven't written a fiction piece in ages. I love this prompt, Kenny! Poe just might be my muse for this one... You didn't specify if we should write one for this challenge or if it could come from our archives. Any specifications there?
This sounds like a good one Kenny!!! Congratulations on the Top Story!!!
Oh I’m so down for this one!