Out of the Dream
Write a horror story inspired by a nightmare, ending with the character waking up in an unexpected place.
Prizes
- 5 Winners:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
- 10 Honorable Mentions:
- $5
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Apr 29, 2026
Submissions closed
Jun 13, 2026 3:59 AM CUT
Results
Jun 24, 2026
Prizes
- 5 Winners:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
- 10 Honorable Mentions:
- $5
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Apr 29, 2026
Submissions closed
Jun 13, 2026 3:59 AM CUT
Results
Jun 24, 2026
About this challenge
The Prompt
Write a horror story inspired by a nightmare, ending with the character waking up in an unexpected place.
Nightmares rarely follow logic, but they leave a clear impression. This challenge asks you to carry that feeling onto the page.
Write a horror story inspired by a nightmare and let the details shift or distort explanation, but keep the experience grounded in what the character perceives.
The story should end with the character waking up somewhere unexpected. Consider what that shift reveals. Is it an escape, a continuation, or something more unsettling than the dream itself?
Thank you for the suggestion Amanda Starks, if you have an idea for a challenge prompt drop it in the comment section here.
In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:
- Between 600 and 3000 words.
- Submitted to the Horror community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
- Submitted before June 12, 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- Your work must be original and unpublished.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
How to enter
For your story to be eligible, it must be between 600 and 3000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until June 12, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.
The Out of the Dream 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.
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Challenge resources
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