Sorry About That
Write a humorous piece in the form of an apology that gradually reveals a situation the speaker is responsible for, growing more complicated as it goes.
Prizes
- 5 Winners:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
- 10 Honorable Mentions:
- $5
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Mar 27, 2026
Submissions closed
May 02, 2026 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 13, 2026
Prizes
- 5 Winners:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
- 10 Honorable Mentions:
- $5
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
Mar 27, 2026
Submissions closed
May 02, 2026 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 13, 2026
About this challenge
The Prompt
Write a humorous piece in the form of an apology that gradually reveals a situation the speaker is responsible for, growing more complicated as it goes.
Apologies tend to simplify. They smooth things over, reduce what happened to something manageable.
Begin with a straightforward apology, then let the situation unfold piece by piece. As the speaker continues, something larger and more complicated should come into view, revealed through what is said and what is left unsaid.
Keep the tone controlled. Let the humor build through escalation and contrast, rather than punchlines, as the full extent of the situation becomes clear.
Thank you for the suggestion Kendall Defoe, 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 3,000 words.
- Submitted to the Humor community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
- Submitted before May 1, 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- Your work must be original and unpublished.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 3,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until May 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.
The Sorry About That 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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