Calling all creative minds! LockHouse Escape Games is running our first ever flash fiction writing competition, on the theme of escape. Send us your stories for a chance to win a free escape game for 4 players. Keep reading for details!
What should I write?
This could be you
We’re looking for flash fiction stories of up to 1500 words. Part of the fun of an escape room is the time limit: you’ve only got an hour to solve the puzzles and escape, so every second counts. We want to see that same thrill captured in your writing! Keep it short and exciting, and make every word count. The maximum word limit is 1500. The minimum word count is 1.
The theme for your stories is ESCAPE, literal or metaphorical. Feel free to send us stories set in an escape room (if you’re stuck for inspiration, you can use one of our three escape rooms as a starting point!)—but an escape-room setting isn’t a requirement. Your story can be in any setting, any genre, and any style, as long as it deals with the theme of escaping. At LockHouse we’re fans of the eclectic, the weird, and the downright silly, so let your imagination run wild!
How should I submit my story?
Submissions will be open from Friday, 15th October 2021, and close at midnight on Friday, November 12th, 2021. To submit your story, email it as an attachment (.docx, .pdf, or other easily-readable file format) to marketing@lockhouse.co.uk, and make sure to put ‘FLASH FICTION SUBMISSION’ in the subject line!
Make sure that your submission includes your name or pen name, and an email address that we can use to contact you. We do not require any other information, such as your age, address, or biography, at this stage! If we pick your submission as the winning story, we’ll be in touch again to ask for any further information we need.
Only one story per author, please. If you’ve already sent us your story, but you want to replace your entry or update it, send along the updated version to the same email address.
Who can submit a story?
Short answer: anyone! Whether you’re a professional author or whether you’ve never written anything before in your life, we’d love to see what you can create.
If you’re under 18 and your story is selected as the winner, we’ll need confirmation from an adult before we post your story or send you the prize.
What is the prize for winning?
The writer of the winning story will receive a gift card for a free escape game at LockHouse Escape Games! Explore a cursed Egyptian tomb, save the world from an impending asteroid, or complete a super-secret spy mission. Your free game will be for up to 4 players, any day of the week, at any time.
The winning submission will also be published on our blog, and shared on our social media, for our followers to enjoy.
Writers retain all rights to their work, and are free to submit or publish it elsewhere simultaneously. We may work with you to proofread your submission before it’s posted to our blog, but we won’t make changes to your work without your agreement.
Final bits and pieces
No submissions promoting any kind of bigotry, hate speech, or excessive violence will be accepted. If your story deals with dark or heavy themes, we ask that you endeavour to be respectful in your handling of them, and include content warnings at the top of your submission.
LockHouse reserves the right not to select a winner, in the unlikely event that no suitable entries are submitted.
Any further questions? Email marketing@lockhouse.co.uk, and address it for the attention of Mo.
We can’t wait to read your submissions! It takes a lot of creative thinking to solve an escape room, and we’re excited to see the kinds of stories your creative minds can come up with. Remember, submissions close on November 12th, so you’ve got a month to get your flash fiction story written and sent to us. Good luck, and have fun!
LockHouse Escape Games is currently open! Find out more and book your game on our website. Plus keep an eye on our Facebook for everything from updates to brainteasers!