Nonfiction
The Hidden Messages in Your Favorite Childhood Cartoons:
Introduction Childhood cartoons are often dismissed as colorful distractions for kids, but beneath their slapstick humor and whimsical animation lies a treasure trove of hidden messages. Shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Simpsons, and Adventure Time are far more than just entertainment—they’re cleverly disguised commentaries on society, politics, and the human condition. Let’s dive into the secret layers of these beloved series and uncover the surprising depth lurking in plain sight.
By Sanchita Chatterjee10 months ago in Critique
Self-Editing Epiphany. Top Story - March 2025.
People Pleaser: A blessing or a curse? I am the youngest of six, to a mother that struggled her whole life with Bi-polar disorder, before there was positive treatment. She was the daughter of an English teacher and the oldest granddaughter to a preacher. Because of this, she struggled to let the mask fall and get the help she needed.
By Kelli Sheckler-Amsden11 months ago in Critique
The Reflections of Time
• Below is my original introduction to my story, followed by its revision. On the morning of my 67th birthday, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at a face I barely recognized. Where had the years gone? Where was the young man I once knew? The one who had dreams as vast as the sky, who believed, with the conviction of youth, that time would never touch him?
By Anthony Chan11 months ago in Critique
Why We’re Exhausted by Reboots, Remakes, Sequels, and Prequels
There’s something powerful about a story that stays with us. The kind of story that lingers in our hearts, shapes the way we see the world, and calls us back to it time and time again. But there’s a difference between honoring a story’s legacy and draining it of all meaning by repeating it over and over again. And right now, we are drowning in repetition.
By Talea Weeanor11 months ago in Critique
Vocal Media Did Not Approve My Story
Okay, so I may have to go back and read the rules again. That was a fast not approved. No time to even read any of it. It reminded me of my daughter putting her fingers in her ears, and making loud noises when I would start to talk about sex. It was a part of my job. And she is a registered nurse.
By Denise E Lindquist11 months ago in Critique
The Write Stuff
Vocal is many things to its many people: a meeting ground for those who love to write, particularly those who MUST write; a place to hone one's writing skills, be they narrative, lyrical, fiction or non- ; a rich source of material to while away many an hour in reading sessions that could continue, I'm sure, for months; and the gift of a platform where those of us who may have long toiled in obscurity find an outlet for what we feel compelled to share, where there is feedback and just the welcome opportunity to publish.
By Marie McGrath11 months ago in Critique
