The 2023 Vocal Writing Awards: Community Judging is Open

Our esteemed panel of judges, led by former Times literary editor, Erica Wagner, have sieved through all of the submissions to the Vocal Writing Awards to bring forth finalists that epitomizes craft and artistry. The shortlists for all eight categories are officially live and awaiting your verdict. Vocal community, the fate of the 2023 Vocal Writing Awards is in your hands (and reading minds).

Key Dates to Remember

• Community Judging Commences: 10/15/23
• Community Judging Ends: 11/16/23
• Winners Announcement: 11/17/23

Community Judging & Your Role

There are 6 shortlisted finalists per category. The entries have been anonymized, ensuring a fair and unbiased voting process. As you engage with each piece, let the quality of the content guide your scores.

After reading each story or poem, you will score it based on a category-specific rubric and have the option to provide feedback. Scoring will determine the winner; feedback will be shared with the authors, but will have no bearing on the results. The shortlists for each category are presented in no particular order.

Please note:

Why Rubric?

The evolution of our judging process from ranking favorites to adopting a rubric format was driven by a commitment to transparency, fairness, and objectivity. Ranking inherently relies on personal preferences, which, while valuable, can sometimes sideline certain kinds of creativity or specific narratives due to inherent biases or popular trends. By utilizing a rubric format, we provide a structured framework that ensures each entry is evaluated on consistent criteria, emphasizing craft, structure, and content.

This approach not only allows for a more comprehensive assessment, but also ensures that every submission is given its due consideration, with respect to the genre or style. This change underpins our dedication to celebrate the diverse voices in our community while maintaining the highest standards of evaluation. It is also reflective of the way in which we judge Vocal challenges internally.

How to Vote

1. Go to the Vocal Writing Awards voting site.
2. Click the category you want to vote for. You do not need to vote for all categories at once.
3. Enter the email address associated with your Vocal account. If you are not sure what email is associated with your Vocal account, please visit: https://vocal.media/settings.
4. Score each piece within the chosen category based on the provided rubric. You will have the option to offer written feedback at the end of the rubric questions for each piece.
5. Review your scores for all of the pieces in the category on the final score summary screen and click "Yes, I am ready to submit my votes" or "No, I want to review the stories again." Once you click "Yes," your vote will be counted and cannot be changed.

If you want to edit one of your scores, use the black arrows in the lower right-hand corner to navigate backwards and forwards, or scroll up and down.

If you recognize your piece in the shortlist, congratulations! You may vote for yourself - just once. Please support the anonymity and equity of the judging process by keeping that exciting news to yourself for the duration of the community judging period.

The belief that creativity flourishes when the community comes together is central to the Vocal Writing Awards. By voting, you're not just supporting the works that resonate with you, but celebrating in this shared ethos.

Let us know your questions and feedback in the comments below. We can't wait to see the results in November.

🔗 Read the Shortlists and Start Judging: