With a bit of preparation, you can make the experience of writing a scary story as creepy as the story itself.

First, find a skeletal finger — preferably with its nail sharpened to a fine point — that you can use like a quill pen.

Then, procure an inkpot full of blood and some parchment made from skin — remember to stir the blood so it doesn’t clot. (Blood-red ink and skin-like paper work fine as substitutes. We can’t tell the difference.)

Now, scrawl your fevered imaginings, your most disturbing visions, your most frightening nightmares onto the parchment — connecting them with some sort of vague narrative structure — and submit the results to the annual Scary Story Contest, run by Coquitlam Public Library and Port Moody Public Library, and sponsored by The Tri-City News.

If the above sounds a little elaborate, just send something done on your word processor at home.

For the contest, the following rules apply:

• Each story must be an original work by the submitting author.

• Authors must be no younger than 11 and no older than 18 as of Oct. 17, 2008.

• Authors must live in Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Anmore or Belcarra.

• Stories must be no longer than 500 words (provided they’re not outrageously long, titles don’t count towards story length).

• Each story must include three words: gibbous, shrouded and mouldering

• Each submission must include the author’s name, age, city of residence and home phone number.

• Email submissions must be sent to cmiller@library.coquitlam.bc.ca.

Typed or neatly printed submissions can be dropped off at Port Moody Public Library (100 Newport Dr.) or Coquitlam Public Library’s City Centre branch (3001 Burlington Dr., at city hall). If they’re in envelopes, make sure the outside reads “Attention: Scary Story Contest.”

All submissions must be received by Friday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m.

There are two prize categories: for ages 11 to 14 years and 15 to 18 years.

Prizes for each category are as follows: $75 for first prize, $50 for second prize and $25 for third prize.

Winning entries will be published in The Tri-City News on Sunday, Oct. 26.

Anyone with questions about the contest should call Chris at 604-927-3561.