The Posthumous Author

The Prompt

Reputation is often shaped after the fact. This challenge asks you to step outside your own work and imagine how it might be interpreted without you there to explain it.

Write an author profile set after your death, as if critics are piecing together your life, work, and legacy. The voice can be analytical, speculative, or even contradictory.

What gets emphasized, misunderstood, or invented? What story do others build around your work, and how closely does it reflect anything you intended?

Thank you for the suggestion Amos Glade, 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:

• 3,000 words or less.
• Submitted to the Writers community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before July 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $500 each
• 15 Runners-up: $25 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be 3,000 words or less and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until July 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The The Posthumous Author 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.