3:00 AM Challenge Winners
An inside look into the Vocal Curation Team's favorite stories from the 3:00 AM Challenge
B. A. Durham’s False Memories blends dream and reality in a seamless mix. As his father, afflicted by Alzheimer’s, fades away, the narrator is haunted by a dream that may be a memory, returning to him insistently. The piece is full of wonderful detail (the father touching his lip where once there was a mustache, “but now he is clean-shaven—he has been for years” — and moving in revealing the complexities of a family’s life. A worthy winner which shows the power of dreams to influence us.
In second place comes D. K. Shepard’s Midnight Train, which also finds resolution in the wake of nightmare. We loved the way the piece begins in a real setting that turns out to be a dream; we felt drawn into the authentic life of these boys as their lives were disrupted by a terrible accident; a dream wreaks damage until it heals.
And there were some positively dreamy — you’ll forgive us — runners-up. Mary K. Brackett places for the first time with Red Sky at Morning, which has a compelling, Close Encounters feel to it; leaving mystery intact. Bravo to Lily Séjor for Dreams of Fish, with its easy dialogue and nice resolution. Dominic Casey-Lee’s Heaven is Behind Closed Eyelids is a loving tribute, rich with the details of life, its narrator drawing comfort from a cockatiel: we can feel the brush of wings.
As ever, thanks and congratulations to all our Vocal creators for putting your energy into our challenges. You’re a dream come true, and we’re always grateful.
You can check out the full list of winners HERE and learn about our current challenges below:
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Travel Snaps Challenge Winners
Travel changes us — if we let its lessons in. It’s possible to wander the world, even to take pictures, with our eyes as good as closed, never opening to the new self that a new place might make of us. So many of the entries to our Travel Snaps challenge were by creators who really wanted to look at the world, and themselves, anew. They were all inspiring to read — and to see, because photography was an important part of this competition. To us, the ‘quality’ of the photographs wasn’t the point; it was that these images were yours. It was a reminder of how much more that can mean — certainly when it comes to personal essays — than widely available or AI images. We really loved seeing these snaps.
By Vocal Curation Team17 days ago in Resources
Comments (26)
Congratulations to all the winners.
Ooh... This feels nice! 😊
Wow, these winners must be nocturnal unicorns! Congratulations to the incredible talents showcased in the 3:00 AM Challenge! Reading this article on Vocal made me hit the snooze button and question my own creativity at 3 AM. Keep shining bright, late-night creative geniuses!
nice work, pls read mine too and support
Hey there night owls! Just stumbled upon the 3:00 AM Challenge winners article and let me tell you, it's a thrill ride of talent and creativity. Gabriel's piece is like a caffeinated shot of inspiration! So go give it a read, but maybe not at 3:00 AM unless you're up for a challenge!
Congratulations, everyone!!
Congratulations everyone!!
👏 great job!
Fabulous effort by the winners & everyone who entered💖.
Well done to the winners and nuff-nuff respect to all who entered!
I just checked out the article on the 3:00 AM Challenge winners, and let me tell you, Hector really knows how to keep things interesting at all hours! His writing had me on the edge of my seat (and probably kept him up at 3:00 AM too). Kudos to him for a job well done!
Congratulations to all the winners! The stories from the 3:00 AM Challenge were truly captivating, blending dreams and reality beautifully. Great job, everyone!
Congrats to all the winners!!
Congratulations 🎉🎉 to all the winners and vocal curation team as well. Vocal is indeed a thrilling and energetic platform to keep the creators active, busy and more imaginative.
Hey night owls! Forget counting sheep and start counting the amazing winners of the 3:00 AM Challenge! This article is more exciting than a midnight snack. And let's not forget, Abraham Verninac's piece is a real winner, just like that last slice of pizza at 3 AM! Get reading and get inspired!
After reading through the thrilling stories of the 3:00 AM Challenge winners, I must say, I'll be setting my alarm clock for a different hour tonight! Max's article really caught my attention; it was as captivating as a suspenseful movie. I hope these winners stay far away from any haunted clocks in the future!
Congratulations to you all. It is good to see so many familiar names on this list.
So many excellent stories! Well done!
Congrats to everyone! So many great stories out of this challenge!
Excellent deliveries! 🙏
Congratulations everyone! It was a fun challenge
Wow! I’m beyond thrilled! It’s an honor to place out of so many tremendous entries! Congrats to everyone else! Excited to read the other winning pieces!
Wow, reading about the winners of the 3:00 AM Challenge on Vocal makes me want to stay up all night writing too! The creativity and talent showcased are simply mind-blowing. As someone who struggles to function past 10 PM, I am in awe. Vocal, you've got me hooked with this article!
Congratulations. Thank you for the compelling stories
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