The 500 Reads Haiku Challenge✨

🧡 Why This Challenge?

Haikus brought me back. Back to the page. Back to myself.

In April, I wrote 17 Syllables in April—a haiku collection that reignited my writing spark. If it weren’t for those small poems, I wouldn’t be at 500 reads. So, I want to honor the form that lit the spark.

Read it. Get inspired. And then write your own.

This challenge is my thank-you to that moment—and to you for being here now.

🌱 The Prompt:

Write a haiku—on anything.

Grief. Faith. Laundry. Love. Heartbreak. Anything that inspires you!

Just 3 lines, 17 syllables, and your voice.

🧾 How to Enter:

Write a haiku: 5 / 7 / 5 syllables

Post it in the Poets section

A title for your haiku is optional—if you'd rather not choose one, feel free to simply use "My Entry to the Haiku Challenge" (or something along those lines).

Include a short note at the end if you’d like to share what inspired it (optional but highly encouraged)

On your post, mention this challenge and link back to this announcement so others know where to join

Drop your entry in the comments and you're all set!

Deadline: June 30, 2025

Winners will be announced in early July

🥇 First Place:

• $5 tip
• A featured shoutout in a future Vocal post listing the top 3 haikus
• A Threads shoutout (FYI: Threads is still new, but growing—and it’s favoring new voices right now 👀)
• You can choose any post of yours (Vocal, Threads, or other) for me to share on my Threads account

🥈 + 🥉 Runner-Ups:

• A shoutout in the same Vocal post listing all winners
• Bragging rights, of course

I will also be posting four honorable mentions in the Vocal post listing the winners.

A Final Note from Me

This is a small challenge, but it’s from the heart.

I hope to offer bigger prizes in the future, but for now, I’m grateful to be here—reading your words, building this little corner of community, and celebrating every syllable.