The Second First Time

This Challenge is part of the Vocal+ Summer Writing Series. Learn more

The Prompt

This challenge invites you to explore the emotional weight of a return. A second kiss. A new job. A homecoming after years away. Something familiar that has changed, or maybe something that hasn’t, but you have.

Your story should live in the space between repetition and renewal. What does it mean to try again? What does it take to return to something with a different heart, a different mind, or a different history?

Let this be a story about transformation, about hesitation, about nostalgia. Or about courage. Let the past echo in the present, and make it feel both old and new.

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

• A fiction story (any genre or tone).
• Between 600 and 3,000 words.
• Submitted to the Fiction community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before July 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $200 each
• 15 Runners-up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 600 and 3,000 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until July 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The The Second First Time Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://goodofferxhub.live/vocal-plus%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-1923z11-Text">To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside 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 a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.