One Of Those Moments
A Few Thoughts On Now
Introduction
This starts off whiney and complaining but is a very positive and pro-Vocal story, so please stick with it.
I am feeling a bit down at the moment because I have a vague paranoid feeling that because I have left Discord that Vocal has stopped awarding me Top Stories. I know this is pure paranoia on my part (I hope) but it still affects my mental state. I did document this in this story.
The reality is a lot of people read my stories and are extremely positive in their comments.
Many have remarked on how many Top Stories I get, and I do get a lot, but I feel that is just because I publish a lot. Also, some of my Top Story awards flabbergast me while the ones that are missed make me wonder why they were not chosen.
The Is Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Though It Might Be An Oncoming Train)
There is a challenge I am waiting on that many have said is perfect for me, and have been very complimentary about my entries but I do have this feeling that someone who shares a random Spotify playlist has more chance than me. I feel that my name on a story is seen as toxic by Vocal challenge moderators. This is of course complete paranoid rubbish, but until I place in a challenge it is something that will still haunt me.
People tell me that Top Stories are about engagement but I do see a lot that have no engagement til they get their Top Story status, so I don't if that is a random AI choice, the right keywords or what.
Now after all my whining and complaining here is what is positive, even if I never get another Top Story and never place in a Challenge.
I still get a lot of reads and positive comments so friends and my audience confirm my belief that I am at least an adequate writer. I am very successful on Vocal in remuneration from the Top Stories and the Ambassador's program, although, ironically I think that has been hit because the Challenge top prizes are a lot lower.
Actually, I believe that more challenges with lower prizes create more engagement on Vocal. Ten Challenges with a $500 Top Prize is better than one with a $5,000 Top Prize. At the moment there are six live challenges all with a $500 Top Prize, three of these I don't think I am capable of entering, two are short-format which I am a little ambivalent about and my two entries to the "Painted Prose" Challenge have had great responses, so that is something I believe I can do a few entries for because I do love art in many forms.
Vocal does give me a great platform to share my stories and has allowed me to develop beyond what I thought I was capable of.
There will always be times like these when I feel that things are not going well (that is as well as I would like) but I do know how privileged I am to be in the position that I am in.
There are many on Vocal who have never had a Top Story, or any Bonus, or a Challenge entry and I would say, Keep Trying and YOU WILL BE RECOGNISED.
Join the groups that are in the poem that I have included at the end of this and become Facebook friends with other creators and they will show you how good you really are.
Conclusion
Well, I have got that off my chest in this confessional story and I have included "The Light at the End of the Tunnel (Is the Light of an Oncoming Train)" by Half Man Half Biscuit, probably one of the greatest documenters of UK life you will ever hear. You need to listen to that song, they always put a smile on my face including Sylvia Plath, Eva Cassidy, New Mills, The Buena Vista Social Club and lots more.
It is Saturday morning and despite my whining. I am in a very good place.
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.
I Have Achieved Nothing On Vocal
Introduction The title is pure clickbait but I look at my friends' profiles and see their Vocal achievements, first place in this challenge, runner up in that challenge and so so on then look at the blank space on mine. This piece is going to be super positive.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 years ago in Confessions
I Was Almost Forgotten by Life, Until I Chose to Remember Myself
Story There was a time in my life when I felt invisible. Not the kind of invisible where people accidentally overlook you, but the kind where it feels like the world has already decided you don’t matter. I walked through my days quietly, carrying thoughts I never shared and dreams I didn’t dare to speak aloud.
By On thatabout 8 hours ago in Confessions
Comments (7)
Just got my first Top Story last week, so let's litmus test the theories set forth here on how they're selected: - Joined the Vocal Discord ❌ - Had more than two hearts and zero comments prior to its ascension ❌ - Had target keywords ❌ - Random AI choice ✅ I'm being a bit facetious on that last point, since I'm in the rare position to actually have been given reasons why it was chosen (but the cynic in me likes to believe they came up with these after the fact): https://shopping-feedback.today/resources/raise-your-voice-thread-6-15-23%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E But really, who knows what goes on behind the curtain. I've had theories, only to see them fall apart because their selection process and criteria seem to evolve with the rest of the platform.
I don't even know how to use Discord. I'm not sure what the value of it is. I can relate to your feelings though. I feel like my name has become literal Vocal poison. I could write the most stellar story on this planet and I'm just not going to get a look in on the challenges anymore. I feel like they've decided that I've won and placed enough and now every once in a while, they throw me a Top Story as a bone. The kicker is, the top stories are never the ones I think they'll be. And reads....forget about it. I'm almost shouting into the wind as far as that goes. It's always been that way here for me, getting reads is a huge challenge. But I'm still here, at least for now. It's natural to get frustrated sometimes, but the one thing that Vocal will always have over other platforms is the community we;ve created in the various Facebook groups, etc.
I am yet to see any advantage to using Discord. There is sure be one, I just am not tech savvy enough for it. I know the feeling though. Somedays I think I have produced something fantastic and absolutely a Top Story and it bearly gets reads. And flip side is something I think is not my best work gets a Top Story. But at least we both love what we do 😊
Well, I've pretty much ignored Discord, and it's been a long time since I've had a Top Story, too, so, there's that. Regarding the $500 challenge prizes, I think one advantage may be a much shorter delay in actually receiving the funds. I'm still waiting for the deposit for the only one I've won, and can probably expect to wait another couple of weeks. According to what I've read, $600 is the threshold for the extended delay. Finally, I'm not qualified to remote-diagnose paranoia, but I am a fan of your writing, so I don't think the quality is the problem.
Hey Mike, It’s good to have a vent sometimes as (hopefully) that’ll clear the way for better things coming.😊 I always like reading your work when I get a chance.
Sometimes I also wonder how top stories are being awarded. One thing I'm pretty sure about is that the more one engages with other creators the higher chances they have to get recognized, and hence eventually receieve a top story (if one's writing is not too bad ofc). Personally for me, engaging with other creators is I would say the most difficult task, as you should keep doing it consistently day after day. It takes time. It sure is easy to leave a comment like 'Great story' or smth similar, but for me it doesn't feel like engagement. So I think, I leave my comments to the stories after reading them in 10-20% cases only. I really like the Vocal comunity, it's really supportive and welcoming. But there's a lot of things I have to do in real physical world, so I don't have much time for the virtual one. All in all, I personally prefer to see just a few comments under my stories from people who really say something of value - critique, remarks on things they liked/didn't lilke, rather than a lot of 'Good work' etc etc
Mike, Mike, Mike. I like how you identify the problem you're facing, you assess the situation, you think rationally and come up with a solution all by yourself! In my book, that is genius and brilliance in it finest form! You just have so much potential to the extent you're able to become your own therapist! Also, yes you're just being freaking paranoid. It's ridiculous to think that you're not getting Top Stories just because you left Discord, lol! So many of those who get Top Stories aren't on Discord. So you just take a chill pill and have more faith in yourself. Sending you lots of love and hugs! ❤️