Revision
Trump’s Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Go Into Effect
President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum went into effect on Wednesday, escalating America’s trade spats with global competitors, including close allies already reeling from his on-and-off approach to trade penalties.
By Md Mirajul Islam10 months ago in Critique
Canada’s most consequential election is on the horizon
The contest that resulted in Mark Carney becoming the leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada has turned out to be a dull fait accompli. Chrystia Freeland, the once-reliable confidante and trusted deputy prime minister of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, played the role of Judas in the drama that appeared to inevitably result in Carney's persuasive coronation on Sunday evening.
By Md Mirajul Islam10 months ago in Critique
Editing Like a Daredevil: How to Take Creative Risks Without Crashing
Are You Editing, or Just Playing It Safe? Ever feel like your writing is missing something? You tweak a sentence, polish a paragraph, and yet, the spark isn’t there. Maybe the problem isn’t your writing—it’s your editing. Too often, we treat editing like a cleanup job instead of what it truly is: an opportunity for risk-taking. What if you stopped seeing revision as a process of smoothing things out and instead, as a chance to push your creative boundaries? Welcome to the world of fearless editing, where breaking the rules, defying conventions, and making bold choices transform good writing into unforgettable storytelling.
By Alain SUPPINI10 months ago in Critique
The Meta of Writing
Writing about the process of writing is difficult these days because of two main technological advances: word processing software and AI. Editing on Word is much easier than the “old-fashioned” way of writing by hand and making editing suggestions in the margins as Shakespeare and Coleridge did. Most spellings are autocorrected, making that bit of proofreading almost obsolete. I edit as I write, revisiting my piece days later with fresh eyes. Using AI in original work is completely unethical. To approach this prompt, I had to write on paper. I chose the first part of the next challenge. I examine one sentence at a time.
By Barb Dukeman10 months ago in Critique
Backroom Cat Nap
THE 1ST DRAFT Warehouse Backroom Cat Nap “This is the stockroom warehouse where we keep our surplus. The most common items are stored up front. The whole place is basically a twisting tunnel of eclectic furniture. Most of the floor displays are directly for sale, but we keep extra stock in here. It’s primarily mattresses.”
By Amos Glade10 months ago in Critique
Judge reduces Adnan Syed’s sentence, allowing him to stay out of prison
Adnan Syed, the subject of the “Serial” podcast, will be allowed to remain free after a Baltimore judge on Thursday agreed to effectively reduce his sentence to the time he had already spent in prison.
By Md Mirajul Islam10 months ago in Critique
How My Brain Works. Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
As a proud owner of a Bachelor's degree in creative writing, I'd like to think I have a basic understanding of the editing process. On paper, it seems fairly easy: you write, you look for flaws in what you've written, you revise. Below is an excerpt from one of my college assignments, which may look familiar to some who know my work. I've since uploaded it here, as the prologue to a series I've named "Aidan and the Forest of Enq."
By Natalie Gray10 months ago in Critique
A Deeper Gaze at "Her Gaze". Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
I have written a lot of pieces I believe are challenging. It's always my goal as a writer to push myself outside of my comfort zone, and in turn, hopefully to push my readers there too. For this challenge, Vocal has asked us to pick an excerpt from a piece that we consider both imperfect and brimming with potential.
By Paul Stewart10 months ago in Critique
Can I whip it into shape?. Top Story - March 2025.
How hard could it be, to write an absurd story? After all, life is one constant struggle reigning in absurd behaviour and thinking. Strolling alongside the creek with my daughter and beloved dog, I shared my ‘brilliant’ story ideas. Then I hustled home to record them before they fell out of my sieve of a brain.
By Angie the Archivist 📚🪶10 months ago in Critique
Dissection: Letter to the Past
When I first wrote this piece, I was trying to capture memory, grief, and the way the past lingers—how it resurrects itself in recollection, and how, in doing so, it leaves the one who remembers stranded. There’s a kind of desolation in being the one left to remember. In the first draft, I took a safer approach. I knew I had to take risks, but I hesitated—afraid of sounding too emotional, too juvenile. And yet, I was drawn to that desperation, the need to keep someone alive through memory. That tension—between restraint and urgency—was something I wanted to explore more deeply.
By Monica Theresa10 months ago in Critique
