Every season is designed to invite stories that explore a different theme that readers enjoy. Havok is designed as an ongoing contest in which a winner is picked for each genre day of the week (mystery, science fiction, humor, thriller, and fantasy) and each monthly theme. Those top thirty are usually collected into an anthology twice a year, a collection designed to give readers a unique experience, both cohesive and chock-full of variety. In 2024 we’re awarding winners every month and will collect those stories into a single volume for the whole year.
For a better chance to nail this season’s theme and get noticed by our editors–and have a better shot at inclusion in the anthology–here’s the inside scoop about our current season and what we’re looking for.
Season 11: REMEMBER WHEN
The focus of this season is to tell stories with a strong narrative voice, ideally something that sounds autobiographical. If you have any questions about the theme, feel free to ask them on any of our social media platforms or via email to authorcentral@gohavok.com.
Overall Tips
- Your story doesn’t have to be in first person, but often that’s the best POV for a strong narrative voice.
- Make sure the story has some element that clearly marks it as set in the month you’re submitting it for. If it’s for February, then a Valentine’s Day reference works. Or you could start the story with the time and place, like at the top of a letter (“October 30, 1845, Appalachian Mountains”). If it’s for July, your character might be on summer vacation. Here’s a site to get a list of holidays in each month.
Narrative Voice Examples
Many stories in our archives are excellent examples of a “strong narrative voice”. If you are a Havok member, you might want to check these out:
- Professor Kettlewell by Olivia Gratehouse
- A Ghost’s Guide to Haunted Hugs by Kristiana Sfirlea
- Ghost of The Golf Course by Kristiana Sfirlea
- Vesper, Shadow Queen of the Death Swamp by L. G. McCary
- The Devil Tries Again by R. F. Gammon
- Words by Katherine Vinson
- A Good Night to Be Alive by Meaghan E. Ward
- Good at the Last Drop by C. S. Johnson
- Hunter and Hunted by Rose Q. Addams
- The Voice of Cancer by Ronnell Kay Gibson
- A Matter of Pride by Hannah Carter
- I Am Not A-Muse-d by Kenzie Keene
- An Invisible Picture of a Forgotten Girl by Olivia G. Booms
- Why God Made Beer by A. C. Williams
Get our author newsletter
The best way to stay in the loop about what we’re looking for and get story prompts and news about special author opportunities is to join our free author newsletter. Use the button below and click the checkbox for Writers on the signup page.
Back to Seasonal Themes & Deadlines
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