Wanted: Weird Tales

Slowly, ever so slowly, the door swung open. Jack and Sam were startled by the squeak of the hinges and . . . .

As Halloween approaches, Southern California Living invites you to enter its seventh annual Scary Stories contest.

Your story can be scary-scary or funny-scary but not gruesome-scary, please. Stories must be original, a maximum of 600 words and typewritten.

There will be four winners in each of two categories--authors 18 or older and those 17 or younger.

Perhaps you’d rather tell your story in a drawing. Drawings must be 8 1/2 by 11 or smaller, and you can use any medium (crayons, watercolors, etc.). There will be one winner in each of two categories--artists 12 or older and those 11 or younger.

Entries must be sent to Scary Stories, Southern California Living, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Or fax them to (213) 237-4888. Or e-mail them to socalliving@latimes.com. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Oct. 11, and winning entries will be published in the section on Halloween, Oct. 31.

Please include your name, judging category and phone number (for verification only).

We are sorry that the volume of entries does not allow us to accept phone calls or to return entries.