Haus of Taylor Gallery Presents: Hollers to Haunts: Our annual Haunted Writing Contest in the Heart of the Appalachia.
The moon hung low over Tazewell County, its pale light spilling across the rolling hills and dense Appalachian woods. The locals always whispered about the old coal mine on the outskirts of town, abandoned for decades after a collapse claimed the lives of twenty miners.
They said the mine was cursed, that the spirits of the trapped men still wandered the tunnels, searching for a way out. But for seventeen-year-old Ellie Harper, it was just another ghost story—until the night she heard the knocking.
Ellie had been walking home from her friend’s house, taking the shortcut through the woods. The air was heavy, the kind of stillness that made every sound feel amplified. As she passed the boarded-up entrance to the mine, a faint, rhythmic tapping echoed from deep within. Knock. Knock. Knock. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. It was probably just an animal, she told herself. But then it came again, louder this time. Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Hello?” she called, her voice trembling. The knocking stopped. For a moment, there was only silence, and Ellie felt a wave of relief. But then, from the darkness of the mine, a voice rasped, “Help us.”
Ellie stumbled back, her heart pounding. She turned to run, but her foot caught on something—a rusted pickaxe half-buried in the dirt. When she looked down, her blood ran cold. The handle was slick with fresh blood, and the ground beneath her feet began to tremble. From the shadows of the mine, a figure emerged, its face pale and hollow, its eyes glowing like embers. It raised a skeletal hand and pointed at her.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” it whispered.
And then the ground gave way beneath her.
Calling all storytellers and lovers of the macabre!
Tazewell County Writing Contest: This Halloween season, the Haus of Taylor Gallery, located on Historic Main Street in Tazewell, Virginia, invites you to unleash your creativity and share your most spine-chilling tales. But there’s a twist—your story must take place in Tazewell County, Virginia, and include a historical reference to the area.
Whether it’s a ghostly encounter in a historic building, a goblin lurking in the Appalachian hills, or a cursed artifact tied to Tazewell’s past, we want to hear your fun, spooky, historical, and amazing stories!
Contest Guidelines
Theme: Your story must be spooky and set in Tazewell County, Virginia.
Include at least one historical reference to Tazewell County. This could be a real event, location, or figure from the county’s rich history.
Eligibility: Open to writers aged 18 and over.
Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted by October 30, 2025.
Story Requirements: Word Count: 1,000 to 3,000 words.
Original Work: Stories must be original and unpublished.
Language: Submissions must be in English.
Prizes: First Place Prize: A Cash Award of $250.00 and the honor of having your story featured on the Haus of Taylor Gallery website.
Honorary Mention Prize: Recognition and a $50.00 gift card as an award of appreciation for your creativity.
How to Submit: Email your story as a PDF or Word document to hello@haus-taylor.com with the subject line: Shadows of The County: A Haunted History Writing Contest.
Include your name, age, contact information, and a brief (50-word) bio in the email body.
Judging Criteria:
Creativity and originality.
Effective use of the spooky theme.
Integration of Tazewell County’s history.
Overall storytelling quality.
Winners Announcement:
Winners will be announced on Halloween, October 31, 2025, via the Haus of Taylor Gallery’s website and social media channels.
So, grab your quills, summon your muses, and let the haunting history of Tazewell County inspire your tale. We can’t wait to read your spooky creations!
