Here we are once again, nearing the end of August. Another October is rapidly approaching, and you know what that means. Halloween is coming!
It also means that it’s nearly time for me to announce the theme and rules for this year’s Halloween Horrors Contributors Series! Therefore, I now need to find the people who will be writing the various articles, essays, and reviews that truly make up the series. That’s where you come in! However, I should probably start by explaining just what the Halloween Horrors series actually is, or at least what I intended it to be… just in case you are discovering this site or this series for the first time. In which case, welcome!
Since its creation back in 2014, nearly all of the reviews that have been posted on Horror And Sons have been written by one person: me. As such, Horror and Sons is undeniably a reflection of my own personal preferences and tastes. That said, I have always treated the site’s socials, particularly our Facebook page, as something of a “clubhouse” for other horror fans with varying tastes and preferences to share their own opinions and thoughts. You know, just as long as they weren’t a dick about it.
I started the Halloween Horrors series in 2015 by inviting a few friends to contribute their own thoughts on the Halloween season and films that they enjoying watching during October. The Halloween Horrors series was opened to other contributors the following year, with even more friends joining in, as well as a few readers and writers/reviewers that I had met through the site. Starting in 2017, the Halloween Horrors series began to be themed, with contributors required to write about a topic that fit the given theme. The series has continued in this fashion ever since (excluding a year with no theme and two in which the series was cancelled) with new contributors joining the series each year. The one thing that remains constant is that the Halloween Horrors series is still intended to be a celebration of not only the Halloween season, but also of all the horror films that so many us find ourselves instinctively and somewhat religiously turning to each October.
Once the theme for each year’s series is announced on this site, potential contributors should start thinking about what film topics they would like to discuss. Just make sure that the topic that you wish to discuss fits the given theme. For example, if the theme were “slashers”, you’re not going to be allowed to write about films such as Paranormal Activity or The Exorcist. In the past, themes have included made-for-TV movies and Halloween-episodes of television series, movies released in a specific year, or random characters from horror media.
The post revealing this year’s theme will also announce the date and time at which those interested in writing an entry for the series will be allowed to start emailing me to “claim” the topic that they wish to write about. HOWEVER, in an attempt to keep our topics varied and provide a bit of challenge for our writers, no two contributors will be allowed to write about the same topic! This means that if you want to discuss Night of the Living Dead, but another contributor has already “claimed” that film as their topic, you will be asked to choose a new topic if you still wish to contribute. “Claims” are made in a “first come, first served” basis determined by the order in which emails are received.
If you are interested in joining us for this year’s Halloween Horrors Contributors Series, but still need more information, please feel free to email me at horrorandsons@yahoo.com. Full rules will be disclosed later, but (as always) submissions must be a minimum of 600 words.
Now, on to this year’s theme….
LET’S HAVE A LITTLE FUN, SHALL WE?
Pictured above is a list of 45 various titles, most of which I made up. One of these titles is your theme for this year’s Halloween Horrors series. The question is, which one?
The answer to that question will remain a mystery for just a short time longer, ghoulies. What I can promise you is that the theme will be fully revealed no later than August 29th, with sign-ups and claiming of topics beginning no later than August 30th.
For now, I recommend looking over the 45 titles listed above. If you plan on joining us as a contributing writer for this year’s Halloween Horrors series, just know that one of these is your fate.
Horror And Sons 