A Peculiar Holiday Challenge

A Peculiar Holiday

Groundhog Day might seem like a lighthearted tradition—waiting to see if a shadow foretells more winter—but there’s something inherently strange about it. A holiday built around a single moment, a single creature, and a single question holds endless possibilities for twists, turns, and surprises.

This challenge invites you to take this peculiar holiday and turn it into something unforgettable. Use a set opening sentence to ignite your imagination, the rest is up to you.

The Challenge

Write a story of 2,500 words or less, starting with this required opening sentence:

"We watched as the groundhog emerged, searching for its shadow—but this year, it got more than it bargained for."

Your story can be any genre—mystery, horror, fantasy, comedy, or anything else that inspires you. Groundhog Day should play a meaningful role in your story, but how you interpret it is up to you.

The Prizes

To celebrate your creativity, I’ll be awarding prizes to the most compelling entries:

First Place: $10

Two Runners-Up: $5 each

As a bonus, I’ll read, like, and comment on three additional stories written by the winners and runners-up to support your writing and help boost your exposure!

The Rules

• Stories must begin with the provided sentence:

"We watched as the groundhog emerged, searching for its shadow—but this year, it got more than it bargained for."

• The story must be 2,500 words or less.
• Groundhog Day must be central to the plot.
• Deadline is February 2 (Groundhog Day)
• Entries must include a link back to this post. If you’re not sure how to add a link, here’s how:

In the Vocal editor, click the little plus sign that appears on the left when you go to a new line.

Choose "Embed link" and paste the link to this page in the box. Done!

• Submit your story by leaving a comment below with a link to your published entry on Vocal.
• You can enter as many times as you like, but each entry must follow the rules.

Winners will be announced no later than February 16th, 2025, and prizes will be sent via Vocal’s Tips feature. Make sure your Stripe account is in good standing to receive payments.

Tips for Catching My Eye

• Proofread your story: Typos and grammar issues might distract me from your amazing plot.
• Think outside the box: The opening sentence sets the stage, but where the story goes is up to you. Make it surprising, emotional, or wildly inventive.
• Avoid the repeating day trope: Yes, we all love Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, but try not to retread that ground. Instead, take the holiday in a fresh direction—what else could happen on this strange, quirky day?
• Build tension or curiosity: Draw me in with intriguing characters, a twisty plot, or vivid descriptions. Make a hole in the page for me to fall into!

And In Closing

This is meant to be fun for everyone, so be sure to read other entries, leave comments, and share the contest to get more writers involved. I can’t wait to see what you all create—let’s bring the mystery of Groundhog Day to life!

If you’d like to show your support for the challenge, feel free to leave a comment, click the heart, and subscribe. Now, let’s write some unforgettable stories!