Tattoo This Line
Write a short poem or micro-prose piece with a line so unforgettable, someone would want it tattooed.
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $500
- Second Place:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
10 Honorable Mentions will receive badges
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
May 05, 2025
Submissions closed
May 16, 2025 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 29, 2025
Prizes
- Grand Prize:
- $500
- Second Place:
- $200
- 15 Runners-up:
- $15
10 Honorable Mentions will receive badges
Status
CompletedTimeline
Submissions opened
May 05, 2025
Submissions closed
May 16, 2025 3:59 AM CUT
Results
May 29, 2025
About this challenge
The Prompt
Write a short poem or micro-prose piece with a line so unforgettable, someone would want it tattooed.
Some lines live forever—etched in skin, hearts, and memory. This challenge invites you to craft writing so emotionally powerful or philosophically sharp, it could become part of someone’s body. We’re not looking for clichés or quotes from someone else—we’re looking for original language that feels lived-in, personal, and unforgettable.
Your piece should stand on its own as a complete poem or lyrical micro-story, but somewhere inside it must contain that one line—the one that demands to be inked. Whether it’s quiet and soul-searching, bold and rebellious, or tender and timeless, your words should make someone pause and say, “I need that on me.”
This is your chance to leave a permanent mark.
In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:
- A poem or poetic prose piece between 50 and 250 words.
- Contain at least one original line intended to be “tattoo-worthy.”
- Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
- Submitted before May 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
- Your work must be original and unpublished.
The Prizes
- Grand Prize: $500
- Second Place: $200
- 15 Runners-Up: $15 each
- 10 Honorable Mentions: Badge
How to enter
For your story to be eligible, it must be between 50 and 250 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until May 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.
The Tattoo This Line 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.
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Challenge resources
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For Negative Space , we asked writers to explore how much can be said through what's left out. Our favorite entries found clever ways to make those silences, gaps, and unanswered questions feel just as important as the words themselves.
By Vocal Curation Team3 days ago in Resources
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