
Unexpected Uncovering
Write a fiction story about someone who has just discovered something awful about their partner.
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $1,000
- Second Place:
- $250
- 10 Runners-Up:
- $25
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
May 03, 2023
Submissions closed
May 18, 2023 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 31, 2023
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $1,000
- Second Place:
- $250
- 10 Runners-Up:
- $25
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
May 03, 2023
Submissions closed
May 18, 2023 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 31, 2023
About this challenge
The Prompt
Write a fiction story about someone who has just discovered something awful about their partner.
Write a gripping fiction story about a person who unexpectedly discovers an unsavory truth about their partner. What dark secret did they uncover, and how did they react? Will they take matters into their own hands by calling the police, seeking revenge, providing solace and aid, or simply leaving without a trace? Will they confront their partner, or will they keep the discovery to themselves? Will it be something as innocuous as liking pineapple on their pizza, or something far more sinister such as an affair, a secret double life, an ex-spouse missing under suspicious circumstances or plans for world domination?
This challenge was inspired by Aphotic’s contribution to Shape the Future of Vocal Challenges. Thank you, Aphotic!
In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:
- Between 600-5,000 words.
The Prizes
- Grand Prize: $1,000
- Second Place: $250
- 10 Runners-Up: $25
How to enter
For your story to be eligible, it should be between 600 and 5,000 words, and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until 11:59 PM ET on May 17th will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.
The Unexpected Uncovering Challenge is open to all Vocal+ members.
To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or runners-up prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and residing in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.
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Challenge resources
Say It Plainly Challenge Winners
A pattern showed up pretty quickly reading this shortlist: these poems don’t circle what they’re about. They just say it. That makes for some tough, raw reads. Miscarriage, infidelity, chronic pain, money, addiction, fear for someone you love. Not much is softened or dressed up. By the end, I felt like I needed a cigarette, and I don’t even smoke.
By Vocal Curation Teama day ago in Resources
Something Is Beginning, I Think Challenge Winners
This challenge wasn’t about clean starts. It was about that weird in-between where something is beginning, but no one really knows what yet. A lot of these stories leaned into hesitation, into pauses and false starts and that feeling that something is about to happen but hasn’t quite.
By Vocal Curation Team8 days ago in Resources






