My 2024 Game Plan on Vocal: From Sporadic Scribbler to Consistent Creator

As the clock struck midnight this New Year’s Eve, a thought struck me: despite our diverse backgrounds, traditions, and stories, we are all bound by a universal Truth: the passage of time. Around the world, New Year's celebrations reflect this shared experience, each with its own unique flavor. In the US, ringing in the new year is all about the glittering ball drop and that countdown to a hopeful kiss. Meanwhile, in Spain, you'll find folks with 12 grapes at hand, hoping for 12 months of luck in the year ahead. These traditions, while unique, point toward the new year as one of opportunity, wherever you are in the world.

The very essence of New Year’s Resolutions speaks to this opportunity. A ‘resolution’ is a firm decision to do or not do something, stemming for the Latin root resolvere, 'to loosen' or 'release'. For me, this fits my needs perfectly. This year, my resolution is about letting go--letting go of fear, hesitation, and self-doubt in my craft, and embracing the opportunity to express myself more freely and authentically through my writing. And what better way to channel this than through Vocal’s 200th challenge? 2024 offers a chance to not just write more, but to connect, explore, and grow more. The Vocal community thrives when we all share our individual voices, as well as our shared experiences.

On Vocal, it’s been quite the ride since I first dipped my toes into the creative waters. Like many others, I was enticed by the “Little Black Book” challenge a few years ago. Who would have thought that a simple social media ad would set me on such an exciting path (score 10 points to the marketing team!)! From the initial excitement of the first challenge to now, it’s been a bit of a learning curve. The challenges, far from the only way to interact on the platform, have been a way for me to fight through moments of writer’s block. Sometimes all you need is a prompt. But I’ve had a lot of fun with community-driven challenges, too, like the “I’d Read Your Grocery List” challenge from Mackenzie Davis.

and Poppy’s 1.2.3. challenge was another fun one:

Through these, I’ve found new writers with distinct voices who I may not have otherwise have found without the social function, here. It’s one of the things I think that sets Vocal apart from other writing communities.

This year, I'm pumped to dive deeper. I'm eager to branch out new genres, polish my craft, and really dig into the community. 2024 is going to be my year of truly embedding myself into this vibrant community, and I can't wait to share and grow with you all.

Reflecting on the Past Year

Looking back at the past year, I see a path marked by both achievements and challenges. Every article, every story, every poem I shared on Vocal was a step towards finding my voice. The feedback, the likes, the occasional tumbleweed when something didn't quite hit – it’s all been invaluable. The challenges? They often pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I'm grateful for that. I’d often get to the end of a short story or poem, only to realize that I had delved deep into a topic I hadn’t explored in a decade. It’s one of the many beautiful things about writing. When you write, you find what stories you need to tell, if only you learn how to listen.

The diversity of topics have also stretched unfamiliar muscles: topics I wouldn’t normally write about, but one’s I’m eager to explore. Overall, they’ve helped me to find my voice. And because I write with a pseudonym, I have a bit more freedom to write about topics that I would otherwise shy away from in a public forum. In the coming year, I want to get more comfortable with the uncomfortable, and stretch myself even further. I want to write more diverse character lines and be comfortable with getting feedback. The end of 2023 found me with my first ever poetry chapbook completed and submitted. I’ve finally put my work out into the world. This step has helped pave the way for some of my 2024 writing goals, including publishing my first complete book of poetry.

Honing the Craft & Staying Connected

As for my skills, there's always room for improvement, right? This year, I'm zeroing in on narrative structure and character development. I want my characters to leap off the page, and my stories to flow so seamlessly that you’re swept along without realizing it. I’m planning to soak up advice from workshops, books, and fellow Vocal creators. Improving these skills is not just about making my stories better; it's about elevating the quality of content on Vocal. When we all bring our A-game, it makes for a richer, more engaging platform – something that benefits us all as creators.

This year, it's all about hitting the keyboard regularly. I'm setting a goal to write something every week – be it a short story, an opinion piece, or just sharing experiences. But it's not just about putting words out there; it's about staying connected. I plan to read and engage with other creators' work as often as I write, so at least once a week with multiple creators. This two-way street of sharing and supporting not only helps me stay in tune with the community but also adds to the lively, interactive vibe of Vocal, making it a go-to spot for readers and writers alike.

Project Goals for 2024 & Envisioning My Impact

As for specific projects, I've got several up my sleeve. There's an ongoing ongoing sci-fi novel that I’ve been working on for a few years, a segment of which was shortlisted for the Vocal+ Fiction awards. I’ve built it into an almost complete manuscript, and I aim to bring my 50,000+ word count to a finished novel. I’m applying again to a short story challenge overseas, despite a failure in last year’s entry. This year’s prize offers a writer’s residency, as well as consultation with an agency. I know that flexing my writing muscles each day, and publishing regularly on Vocal will help me to reach this goal.

As I look to the year ahead, what do I want my impact to be on Vocal? I want to be a creator who not only shares stories but also fosters connections, inspires others, and contributes to the platform's vibrancy. This last year, a piece that I had originally written for a Vocal challenge on the war in the Ukraine was awarded overseas. A woman from the Ukraine approached me for my autograph, and shared that, though she had read many stories about her country, that mine resonated with an authenticity and brought back many of the memories of her home country that she had been forced to leave. She thanked me with a hug. I want more experiences like that: to have an impact on an individual level, as well as on the community. I want my journey this year to be one of growth, not just for me but for the community we're all building here.

We have a diversity of stories to tell, and our stories deserve to be told.