Writing contest: Who writes your words?

Does a text that you write always really feel like your work? And what happens when someone or 'something' else changes your text and you have to decide whether to put your name to it?

Thomas Heerma van Voss, this academic year's Writer in Residence (Vrije Schrijver) of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, invites students to an experiment in authorship and ownership.

What will you do?

• Write a personal text (in Dutch or English) of 500-600 words about something that feels real to you, and describe why.
• Start the text with an experience, observation or doubt.
• The text can be about something you have created, written, said, read, shared or experienced.
• Your text may be searching, contradictory or unfinished. You do not have to write an academic argument or report.
• Write the text entirely by yourself, without help from AI.

What can you expect?

From all submissions, Thomas Heerma van Voss will select three students to participate in the experiment.

The selected students:

1. Engage in a conversation with Thomas Heerma van Voss about their text.
2. Then watch AI rewrite their text.
3. Decide whether to put their name under the new version or choose to withdraw their authorship.

Why participate?

• You explore your own authorship around a fundamental question.
• You engage with the Writer in Residence.
• You have the chance that your work will be visible during the Abraham Kuyper Lecture on 21 May 2026.
• The three selected students will receive €100 as a prize and recognition for their time, effort and openness that participation in the experiment requires.

You don't have to be an experienced writer to participate.

Do you dare to take up the challenge?

Submit your text and take part

Important dates

Deadline submission: 17 April 2026
Selection: 1 May 2026
Interviews and video recordings: 6 May 2026 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

Requirements 

• You are a student at VU Amsterdam.
• The text you submit is your own work.
• You are available for an interview on 6 May and its video recording.

Time indication

Interview with the Writer in Residence: 20 minutes.
Participation in the video recording: about 30 minutes.

Do you have questions about the contest or the project? Please email schrijver@vu.nl.