On Writing On Vocal
Just A Few Thoughts On How And Why I Write On Vocal And How I Am Inspired
Introduction
These are just some observations on how I write and get ideas, I know everyone has their own path, but this is just how I do things and hopefully may give ideas to others who read this.
I am an absolute attention whore but I feel that people see me as a doer and supporter rather than an actual creator and writer. A lot of people appreciate my work otherwise people would not have read my stories as often as they have.
When Vocal went down I think I only had seven reads on that day, but I know there are creators who do not get that in a normal week, so I may feel that I am being ignored, but the reality is I am not.
So What Do I Do?
This was my first Vocal post that talked about posting on Vocal, though at the time I didn't have a clue what I was doing and some days I still feel like that.
I then started to write poetry and enter a challenge or two and liked the fact that work was moderated and we had to write at least a minimum amount of words to get published.
I find that I need something to prompt me to create a story. Sometimes the prompt is from friends, in the form of a suggestion like this from Cathy Holmes that was featured in a recent Vocal "Raise Your Voice" article:
This was for a more formal Challenge from Cendrine:
I was once at a loss wondering what to write about and Judey Kalchik gave me five subjects to tackle, I have only used two of them so far, but here is one of them.
I still don't rate myself as a writer as I feel that I have to place in a Vocal challenge before I can be considered a writer, in my own mind, but it's a bit like that you have to be able to play "Angi" by Davey Graham before you can consider yourself able to play the guitar. I can't but can still get up in front of people and make a noise.
I think this proves that I am just not very disciplined.
Vocal's two latest challenges, the Awards and The Next Great [American] Novel are so far beyond my capabilities and belief in myself that I will not be taking part in them, I only do that if I believe I have a chance however slim.
The thing is, this is the third Vocal story that I have written today, and I know it will be read and appreciated.
Since joining Vocal I have written many pieces like this, but also consider myself a poet, and can sometimes create fiction that people enjoy reading. When I see the comments, it gives me confidence and inspiration to write more. I know this is at odds with me saying I don't consider myself a real writer, but I know I can write and know that there are many who cannot see that, and when it's the ones in control that don't see you that when the dogs of doubt come sniffing around, but I will send them packing.
The Visual Side Of My Writing
Someone once suggested using emojis to split up my poetry, I'm really sorry I have forgotten who that was. But I started doing that and believe it makes my work more interesting. One of my great friends Call Me Les taught me the value of presentation in fiction, poetry, interviews and informative articles and I suggest you check out her work to give you ideas to put into your own work. This is a great one of hers including video as part of the deserved Top Story
This is one of my visual pieces
I Am Sorry
This seems to have gone off track and become full of self-pity, but I will listen to music, talk to friends, go for walks and will hit you all with stories and poetry and maybe even Vocal will one day deem me worthy of a challenge place, but it won't be in their latest challenge.
I've included Janelle Monáe's "The Way You Make Me Feel" for my friends and audience.
So I am going to wrap this up now and consider my next piece of work.
About the Creator
Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred
A Weaver of Tales and Poetry
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More stories from Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred and writers in Confessions and other communities.
Being Perfect
Introduction A Vocal Creator Friend Grz Colm made a comment on the story below which inspired this piece. These are just some thoughts about how we can all be perfect in lots of small ways. Things may not be technically perfect but they will be perfect for us.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 years ago in Confessions
Comments (27)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I have a question for you: if Vocal disappeared tomorrow, what would be your "ok now I'm a writer" goal?
Your work is great! Congrats on your Top Story!
Congrats on top story🎉🎉🎉
congratulations on your top story!!
I had thought to write a self reflective piece on "the day Vocal went down" but then other distractions arrived. You def captured the emotion of receiving recognition for our writing, even if we don't plan on writing the next great american novel! Happy to see you wrote such a good essay and also showcased many other great writers too, and congrats on making top story.
Someone on one of the writing groups I follow asked what in each person's personal opinion makes a writer. The following was my response: An author is a word associated with a single action: the author of a social media post is as much an author as the person who wrote a high school assignment, a blog or a news article. What seperates a writer from all of the people who have ever written anything in their lives is consistent action. A Writer IS an Author. Not all Authors are Writers. YOU, Mike, are not just an Author. You. ARE. A. Writer.
I love your work!
Thank you Mike for sharing Terrence! I loved creating that story.
Your stories are entertaining and they seem to like you for top stories. I do not know what they are looking for in their challenges. I think you should have placed at least runner-up in some of them. I wish you the best of luck in the next challenge you enter. I have had no luck either.
Your skillful use of word, image, and above all the way you weave a musical experience into the readers world, is an inspiration to innovative creation. I like to listen to the tunes as I read along, let it soak into the impressions of the poetry or prose.
Many cheers on your Top Story Mike, things on many of our minds, I'm sure! Well done as always.
I can understand your hesitation on calling yourself a writer. As much as I write for business and otherwise, I still often don't call myself a writer (kind of what I was getting at with my last story with Vocal Is On Trend). May you come into your own as a creator and writer. As I learned in a recent online therapy class, us creatives need to tame those beasts in our minds that like to implant self-doubt. Congratulations on Top Story!
Mike, this is terrific!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!!❤️❤️💕
Congratulations on your Top Story📝💯🎉🎉
Another great insight into the mind of you… Congratulations
💙👏💙
Glad this made it to the Top with the rest of the cream, Mike!
We definitely all feel this deeply seems every other day I contemplate quitting. I stay for the connections we share. I struggle with the stuff I write, seeping into what anyone wants to read. So, I try to write my feelings, hoping and succeeding mostly, to connect with this awesome group we belong to
Hi there Mike, I can’t do anything about your not feeling like a writer, I’m very sorry you do feel that way since I enjoy what of your work I’ve read. This story was deeply personal to me, because I’ve felt similar a fair few times. I do my best to enter as many contests as possible because of the challenge they present to my skills, I’ve long since given up hope of placing. Inspiration to create is a complicated thing, and feeling like a writer even more so. But consider: cogito ergo est, a foundational piece of modern philosophy that means “I doubt, therefore I exist” (not a literal translation). This applies to writing, I think: “ scribo ergo sum scriptor” or “I write, therefore I am a writer” By finishing a piece, and going so far as to publish it, I consider you a writer, and putting both together puts you in a select group of writers many of whom never even finish the pieces they start. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself, I know my - a random Canadian on the internet - opinion might not mean a ton to you but: I see you as a writer, and a thumping good one too. Best, Alex
Congrats on the TS.
Congrats on Top Story, Mike! 🥂
Excellent introspection here my brother! Love your honesty and it made me smile!! Congratulations on top story
Hey Mike! 👋 I’m new here and still learning to navigate what I want and need from Vocal. This helped me a lot! It seems that while reads are great, this community is where the real gold is. 🙂
Oooo, can I give you a prompt? I'll take that as a yes 🤣 I would love for you to write a poem (any format) about the colour you hate the most. Roast the hell out of it!
I feel ya, man, I feel ya.