Everyone Is Acting Normally

The Prompt

Normalcy is often maintained through agreement rather than truth. People follow cues, repeat behaviors, and avoid naming what would disrupt the surface of things.

In this story, something is unmistakably wrong. The tension doesn’t come from revelation, but from collective refusal. Characters may acknowledge the details, but not their meaning. They adapt, accommodate, or rationalize what should resist explanation.

You don't need to escalate the wrongness or resolve it. What matters here is the gap between what is happening and what is being said, and how long that gap can be sustained.

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

• A fiction story.
• Between 600 and 3,000 words.
• Submitted to the Fiction community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before March 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $200 each
• 15 Runners-up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 600 and 3,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until March 6, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Everyone Is Acting Normally Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://vocal.media/vocal-plus.

To be eligible to win, 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.