Small Heat

The Prompt

Winter compresses the world. Cold sharpens attention, and even the smallest warmth can feel momentous.

In a haiku, that warmth doesn’t need explanation. It might be a mug between your hands, a shared breath, a light left on. Let the image do the work. Trust what three lines can hold when they’re precise and restrained.

Write with care for scale. The quieter the heat, the more clearly it should glow against the cold.

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

• A haiku (Strict 5-7-5 syllable structure)
• Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before January 9, 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• Your work must be original and unpublished.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 a haiku (Strict 5-7-5 syllable structure) and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until January 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Small Heat 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.