Announcing the Vocal+ Fiction Awards Finalists

Three months ago, Vocal launched its most epic Challenge to date: The Vocal+ Fiction Awards.

As a recap, here's what our head Judge and Vocal's Lead Editorial Innovator, author and former Booker Prize judge Erica Wagner, had to say about this Challenge:

[The Vocal+ Fiction Awards] aims to truly celebrate our creators: after all, you’re the folks who make Vocal what it is. What are we looking for in the winners? Sure, it’s hard to boil down what makes the "perfect tale," but I can tell you a few things I’m always after. Our winning stories will be distinguished by great storytelling, first of all. How do you draw us in? What makes us want to read on? Strong voices, that’s what. And then there’s a sense of narrative commitment: raise your flag and your readers will follow along. Last but certainly not least, we’re after a diversity of experience and style. At Vocal we believe that great stories come from everywhere and everyone: so let us know who you are.

Now, we are thrilled to announce that the shortlist of 1,025 stories is complete, and you can find the full list at the link below. All of these finalists will receive a free year of Vocal+ membership, and we will select the 25 Grand Prize winners from this shortlist of stories, which represents the best of the best from a record-breaking pool of more than 13,000 submissions. On February 25, 2022, we will announce those Grand Prize winners, who will each receive a prize of $5,000 and a spot in Vocal's first-ever print and digital book: a Vocal anthology of short stories.

Our curators and judges have been working hard to read every single story and curate this shortlist of incredible contenders for the Grand Prizes. If your name is on the list, congratulations. We believe you've created something truly special. If your name is not on the list, please don't be discouraged. The competition was truly next-level, but keep an eye on the Challenges page because we will have more exciting opportunities coming soon.

Without further ado, here is the shortlist of stories for the Vocal+ Fiction Awards Challenge. Good luck, and from the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who participated.

The Finalists: