Eighteen Months of Writing on Vocal

It may be nineteen months as I started the last half of May 2021 on Vocal. I am a new writer, even though I am an older woman. I was a technical writer in my jobs as part of what I did; reports, requests for proposals, proposals, budgets, case notes, and treatment plans.

My goal is to be more of a writer than a reader someday, but I can’t imagine that. Most of my writing is right off the top of my head as you may be able to tell. I read more than I write, even though I am writing something every week and most weeks every day.

I have self-published some books. Most have been for fundraisers and before writing for Vocal. Then, I wrote some books as memorial gifts for family and friends when my mom and sister died.

And I wrote a few family books as Christmas presents for family and a few chapbooks for people who won contests in A Poem a Day in February (APDF).

I started writing on NaNoWriMo a couple of times a year, several years ago now. They expect 50,000 words as a completed project in one month. It helped to set me up for a habit of writing daily. I did complete the 50,000 words 3 or 4 times.

I started writing on Facebook, and APDF when my grandson wanted me to write him some rap songs. He told me I wasn’t rhyming enough. I started APDF to help me with rhyme. I still use rhyme in most of the poems I write. I no longer want to write a rap.

I continue to have an interest in the spoken word and have publicly done that a few times.

Vocal helps to pay my monthly subscription fee and I am still ahead after a year and a half. I am not making money but the incentives, in the beginning, were nice.

Now it is primarily waiting for a top story on Vocal that pays $5.00, and then I will get a tip or two for my top stories. The largest tip I have received was $10.00. I have received 3 top stories on Vocal.

I figure I will stay on Vocal just as long as the money I bring in covers my writing there. The best part now is the relationships built on Facebook Vocal sites. The friendships there have been good and I enjoy much of what I read.

All of the comments that I read about my writing are appreciated and help me to continue writing.

It appears I am not getting many reads to my stories on Vocal. I get more reads on Medium. I know I read my subscriptions at least once a week, but unless I place a story on a Facebook Vocal page, most of the time they do not get read.

I said earlier that what comes out in my writing is off the top of my head, I haven't fretted over not being read. If I spent a lot of time on each story it would be bothersome. And If I needed the money, I would have to go elsewhere.

As a reader though, I will stay on Vocal. I have many writing pals on Vocal and will continue to write here. I never thought I would win a big contest, but I thought I may learn how to write here. I am a better writer and I have tried different types of fiction.

The last Top Story was one I published for a challenge I wrote on Medium. That challenge was about Christmas favorites and ended on 12-19-22. Even if I were to get a Top Story every month, it wouldn't be enough money to keep writing on Vocal.

Three top stories in 18 months are about one every 6 months. Unless I figure out how to get some people to sign on under me, I won't have enough money to stay on Vocal. That is what I learned in my time here!