Absurdist Awakening

The Prompt

Enter the realm of the bizarre by transforming everyday moments into extraordinary, laugh-out-loud escapades. Your story should blend the mundane with the utterly absurd—imagine a world where a simple trip to the grocery store evolves into a chaotic quest involving sentient produce, quirky characters with unexpected ambitions, and dialogues that defy conventional logic. Push your comedic boundaries to create a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is humorously unpredictable.

Explore themes of randomness and irony, using unexpected twists and vivid imagery to leave your readers both bewildered and thoroughly entertained. Whether your absurdity stems from a subtle shift in reality or an all-out collision of the fantastical with the ordinary, let your imagination run wild and celebrate the joy of unpredictability.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $200
• 15 Runners-Up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: Badge

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 500 and 1,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until March 20,, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Absurdist Awakening Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win the grand prize, second place, or runners-up prizes, you must be over the age of 13 and reside 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 a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.