I Made It Worse

The Prompt

Trying to fix something can feel like progress, even when it isn’t. Good intentions have a way of complicating things.

Start with the moment something goes wrong, then follow the attempt to set it right. Each step should move the situation further off course, whether through misjudgment, overcorrection, or simple misunderstanding. The voice can be reflective, defensive, or matter-of-fact, but it should stay close to the logic that led things there.

Let the piece hold on the outcome. What matters is not just that it got worse, but how and why it did.

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

• Between 600 and 3,000 words.
• Submitted to the Confessions community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before May 15, 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• Your work must be original and unpublished.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 May 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The I Made It Worse 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.