This October, our Lansing High School students tapped into their creativity with hair-raising tales for the annual Scary Story Contest, sponsored by the National English Honor Society chapter, Pen & Paw. Each month, the Pen & Paw chapter hosts a story contest that invites all students to participate, not just NEHS members, creating a fun and inclusive environment for budding writers.
Guided by Pen & Paw Sponsor Sarah Dametz, the contest allows students to improve their writing skills through anonymous submissions judged by a student-led panel. Dametz expressed her admiration for the students' dedication to their craft, saying, "Our contests are all student-run. I am so impressed by the submissions we receive every month; I'm glad I'm not the one who has to decide the winner!" She added, "With every story, I've seen them grow as writers and become more confident."
This month's contest featured winning entries that captured the eerie spirit of the season. The runner-up story this month is by LHS Junior Haven Kane. It follows a trio of friends who spend time in an ominous forest. After a scary story contest gets a bit too scary, our protagonist feels paranoia at every turn. Is she the victim of a haunting? Or is it all in her head?
Our winning story this month is by Sophomore Katie Croley. It's about a young girl named Ellie. After moving to an old house with her family, she can't help but get a bad feeling about the antique mirror bolted to the wall of her new bedroom. One night, a figure appears in the mirror and whispers, "Help."
In addition to monthly contests, Pen & Paw celebrates National Novel Writing Month each November, challenging students to push their limits by writing 50,000 words within the month. Dametz shared her enthusiasm for the challenge, noting that about a dozen students are joining the effort.
"While none of them are particularly optimistic about hitting their goal, they're still excited to see how far they can make it," she said. "I'm so proud to work with these young writers on their literary journeys!"
As part of the contest prizes, winners enjoy publication on the Pen & Paw website, a free book from Dametz's classroom, and an email notification sent to their parents highlighting their success.