Tales of Hearth

The Prompt

Winter holds moments of shared warmth and comfort that echo through literature and memory alike. The Families community invites you to capture that timeless feeling through a story that reminds us why the chill outside makes the warmth inside all the more precious. Whether it’s a family tradition that fills a home with laughter, an unexpected act of kindness on a snowy evening, or a cherished ritual that brings comfort year after year, your story should leave readers wrapped in its embrace and longing for the glow of hearth and home.

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

• A story, 750 and 1,500 in length
• Submitted to the Families community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before December 18, 2024 at 11:59PM ET

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $200
• 15 Runners-Up: $15 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 750 and 1,500 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until December 18, 2024, at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Tales of Hearth 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 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.