Unspoken

The Prompt

Two characters are in a room (or space) together. They do not utter a single word aloud, yet they engage in a profound conversation. This dialogue can be manifested in a variety of ways, such as body language, written notes, or swirling inner thoughts. Your task is to bring their silent exchange to life — immersing readers in the raw emotions, subtle cues, and the unspoken understandings or misunderstandings that transpire between the two.

Some ideas to spark your creativity:

• Consider the setting. The ambiance of the room—whether it's dimly lit, bright and airy, or filled with the scent of a fireplace—can add another layer to the silent conversation.
• Incorporate other sensory details. The sound of a ticking clock, the distant hum of traffic, or the taste of salt from a tear can heighten the story's atmosphere.
• Experiment with formats. Perhaps the story is told in alternating internal monologues, through a series of notes passed back and forth, or purely through descriptive prose.

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

• Between 500-3,000 words.

The Prizes

• Grand Prize: $500
• Second Place: $200
• 10 Runners-Up: $50

For your story to be eligible, it should be between 500 and 3,000 words, and adhere to our Community Guidelines. Stories published on Vocal and entered into the contest up until 11:59 PM ET on October 19, 2023 will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The Unspoken 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 residing 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 to have a Stripe account created and connected in order to receive the prizes. For this reason, entrants located outside of any of these countries will not be eligible to win.