Past Life

The Prompt

If you had the chance to be born in another era, what profession would you choose for yourself? In honor of the launch of the History Community, this challenge invites you to craft a compelling narrative or reflective piece, imagining your alternate occupation in history. Delve into the intricacies of your chosen time period, from ancient civilizations to modern revolutions, and envision how your skills, passions, and personality would shape your profession.

Whether you're drawn to the elegance of Victorian society, the intrigue of ancient Egypt, or the vibrant spirit of the Roaring Twenties, this challenge allows you to rewrite your personal history. Let your words paint vivid pictures of your alternate life, bringing together the allure of the factual past and the power of your imagination. Take part in this vibrant Community and connect with fellow history enthusiasts as you weave stories that bridge the gap between past and present.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must:

• Be between 600-5,000 words
• Be entered into the History community. Choosing a community is a final step in the submission process.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $250
• 10 Runners-Up: $50

For your story to be eligible, it should be between 600 and 5,000 words, and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until 11:59 PM ET on July 7th will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Past Life 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 residing 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 to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.