Future Fragments
Imagine the world in 2050 and create a story that explores hope, innovation, or the unexpected future.
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $500
- Second Place:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $25
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Nov 06, 2024
Submissions closed
Jan 11, 2025 4:59 AM CUT
Results
Jan 24, 2025
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $500
- Second Place:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $25
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Nov 06, 2024
Submissions closed
Jan 11, 2025 4:59 AM CUT
Results
Jan 24, 2025
About this challenge
The Prompt
Imagine the world in 2050 and create a story that explores hope, innovation, or the unexpected future.
The future holds endless possibilities, and the Futurism community invites you to be the architect of a world unseen. Set your story in 2050, where society may be reimagined by technological advancements, cultural shifts, or new frontiers of human experience. Will it be a world where innovation paves the way for peace, or one where humanity finds unexpected resilience amid challenges? Your story should inspire readers to dream of what could be and explore how humanity might evolve.
In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:
- A story, 1,000 to 2,500 words in length
- Submitted to the Futurism community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
- Submitted before January 10, 2025 at 11:59PM ET
The Prizes
- Grand Prize: $500
- Second Place: $200
- 15 Runners-Up: $25 each
How to enter
For your story to be eligible, it must be between 1,000 to 2,500 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until January 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.
The Future Fragments Challenge is 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.
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Challenge resources
Out of Season Challenge Winners
We’re trying something new with our challenge awards structure. Starting with Out of Season , each challenge will recognize one grand prize , four winners , and ten honorable mentions . That’s 15 stories to celebrate, with a little extra love for the top pick. For this challenge, the strongest stories made the timing matter. Something showing up early or returning when it shouldn’t changed what people did, what they assumed, or how they saw each other. There was humor in trying to carry on as usual, and sadness in realizing why the usual schedule no longer worked. Sometimes the wrong time of year turned out to be just when someone needed it.
By Vocal Curation Teamabout 2 hours ago in Resources
Already Here Challenge Winners
Useful tools can change your life before you think to question them. That’s really what made these Already Here entries interesting. Writers looked past the initial “how is this possible?” and paid attention to how quickly something remarkable becomes part of the routine. The strongest pieces didn’t ask us to choose between being impressed and being uneasy. They understood why people welcome these changes, then noticed what else shifts once we get used to them.
By Vocal Curation Team14 days ago in Resources
Last Call Challenge Winners
There were plenty of ringing phones and closing bars in Last Call , but the prompt took us to some unexpected places too. A fading birdsong, a goodbye that doesn't quite get finished, and people who don't suddenly become better versions of themselves just because time is running out. Some held on, some let go, and some missed their chance entirely. That's what made these stories stick.
By Vocal Curation Team21 days ago in Resources
