Unveiling the Winners of the 2023 Vocal Writing Awards 🥁

We've judged, you've judged, and we've all waited... It's finally time to announce the winners of the 2023 Vocal Writing Awards! This year's winners, comprised of the highest caliber works across 8 categories — haiku poetry, free verse poetry, romance fiction, young adult fiction, horror fiction, fantasy fiction, science fiction, and flash fiction — are so worth the read.

Each entry surprised and delighted us, and we seriously enjoyed watching the community judging round results trickle in. Lead Editorial Innovator, Erica Wagner, shared her reflection on the Awards:

"Flash fiction, free verse, horror, romance… it was a truly epic experience to judge the Vocal Writing Awards, a challenge that showcased the rich variety of our Creators’ talents. I loved jumping from category to category and seeing such energy and invention in the entries — and seeing that energy expressed in the community judging process was really special. We’ve always known our creators supported and valued each others’ work: these results were even more proof of that."

Without further ado...

⭐ The Winners ⭐

🥇 First Place: Nature's Morse Code by Jessica Dowding

🥈 Second Place: Heaven's Curtain by Cathy holmes

🥉 Third Place: Rock Bottom Mantra by Alexis Wellmaker

🥇 First Place: Nôhkom by Jen Gossoo

🥈 Second Place: Loss and Gain by F Cade Swanson

🥉 Third Place: Reasons for waking up by Mesh Toraskar

🥇 First Place: The Pavement Kids by Kelsey Syble

🥈 Second Place: Sideswiped by david love

🥉 Third Place: What Shall I Take With Me by Stephanie Ginger

🥇 First Place: The View from the Sails by Lena Folkert

🥈 Second Place: Forecast by Erin Shea

🥉 Third Place: Waiting to go to School by R. J. Rani

🥇 First Place: The Lion and the Pilot by Zack Graham

🥈 Second Place: Deepest, Darkest by Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock

🥉 Third Place: The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Caroline Jane

🥇 First Place: Meat, Walking by L.C. Schäfer

🥈 Second Place: The Siren's Purse by EJ Ferguson

🥉 Third Place: Red by Lauren Everdell

🥇 First Place: The Little Coffee Shoppe at the End of the World by Suze Kay

🥈 Second Place: Holy Terra by Alexander McEvoy

🥉 Third Place: Rise High by SC Wells

🥇 First Place: French Onion Soup by Matty Long

🥈 Second Place: I Fall to Pieces by Catsidhe

🥉 Third Place: Always on my Mind by Megan Anderson

As we celebrate the conclusion of the 2023 Vocal Writing Awards, we extend our sincerest congratulations to each winner. Your stories did not only earn recognition from the Vocal judges, but captured the hearts and minds of the Vocal community.

Until our paths cross in the next chapter, keep writing, keep sharing, and keep bringing your unique voices to Vocal. To the winners and to all who participated – thank you again, and here's to the next year of absolutely brilliant written word! 🥂