Crushing on Vocal
Where I would like this relationship to go...
Finding Vocal has been exhilarating. Writing. Making friends with other Vocal creators. Entering Challenges. Learning the platform.
As it turns out, I landed on Vocal during a very exciting time. A time of change. The Challenges were new. They drove membership to new heights. A friend saw a Facebook ad for the Doomsday Challenge - on the last day, three hours before the deadline! I scrambled hard to open an account, subscribe to Vocal+ and get something written so I could submit. Was it even remotely likely something written in under an hour and a half could possibly win? Well.... one could hope right? It was a short piece - more than 600 words but less than 1,000. And yet, no matter the odds of it actually winning, I was elated to be participating in something so epic.
My Doomsday piece. Pressing submit for this piece in the middle of the night was an adrenaline rush that kept me awake for hours after. I couldn't wait to get to work and thank my friend for the link and share with him the piece I wrote. He has a daughter that writes prolifically but at not quite 12, she was too young to enter. I was the only other writer that he knew. Thankfully, it put me on a path that has been very, very good for my sense of purpose. Though it can't be determined, the story photo is actually a picture of me that I darkened to set the tone of what I felt for the woman in my story. It just so happened that I had on a necklace with a heavy chain in that photo that gave just the hint of the locket necklace that I needed. I took the word "diary" literal in my piece and wrote a journal style entry. I personally used to write in a journal that I called "The Dark Days Diary". Now I write in one, when I take the time, that I call "The Book of Mirrors" where I record my reflections on things of import in my life or the world around me.
Quick Edit launched shortly after my joining. OMG! How did they ever get along without it? That had to have been a gift of manna for all the writers that joined the platform ahead of me. Thankfully, because of the timing of when I joined, I never really had to experience the platform without it. What a wonderful tool it is. And I am quite certain it lifted a great editing burden off the Vocal Team. Now all those embarrassing little peccadillos that we did not catch before hitting submit can swiftly be remedied once the story drops.
Enter Subscriptions! This was pretty awesome. To be able to "Subscribe" to Creators. To have their works show up in your feed. I wish there was a way to default to my Feed.... but, that is a minor desire that can be remedied with a click.
AND STILL MORE TO COME. Even with all the neat things so far, there are rumbles of still more things to come! EEEKS! I very much love upgrades. And it got me to thinking....what exactly would I hope was on my Wish List to be amongst those things to come?.....
My Vocal Wish List
Show Creator Publications by Community. How do I describe this... on our Creator page, I wish it summarized our works by the Communities we have published in. Like it would show a little Bubble for the Community just like we have for our Creator Photo. And on that bubble there would be a little red number that indicated how many stories we had published there. AND if we clicked on that Bubble, it would take us to a list of that Creator's Stories in that Community. Am I the only one that thinks that would be really cool? And of course it would have an option to Explore Community to see everything by all creators in the Community. Of course, none of this would erase listing our stories like it presently does. This would be an add on to what is already there. :)
Story Feedback / Communication with Creators. And that brings me to this -- be able to comment or somehow message Creators on the Vocal Platform. If I'm feeling a story or loving a Creator's work, it would be awesome to be able to give more than a heart or a tip. To be able to express exactly how the piece effected you. BUT having said that, I know it could open things up for rude remarks. So, since it is on a Creator's story, give the Creator the power to block people as well as hide or delete comments that they don't want on their story. That way it doesn't put a load on the Vocal team but provides some nice perks for the Creators and their readers.
SAVE STORIES in Lists / Collections. How totally awesome it would be to SAVE STORIES. You know how like on it's done on Pinterest, or Etsy or the way you make lists on Amazon, and a gazillion other places where you can make Collections of things and name them however you want and put whatever you want in them? That! That is what I want to do. I want to be able to make lists of the stories and series that I want to find my way back to. I'm still frustrated that I was reading a series and for the life of me can't find my way back to it. I can't remember the name of the Creator :( and I can't remember what Community it was published in. :( I remember what the cover picture looked like but no matter how scour the communities looking, I can't find it. I mean, remember, all those Challenges have been going on and thousands and thousands of stories have published. So, it is literally like seeking a needle in a haystack. I keep hoping the creator responsible for the series will drop a new episode in one of the Facebook groups but it's been nearly three weeks now and I've seen nothing. Ugh! I hate being dead ended in the middle of a good story. sigh....
Visible Hearts. And about those Hearts. We can see them in our Stats but can they be made public where we can ALL see them everywhere on everyone's story? Why would I ask that? Because it is done EVERYWHERE on Social Media. It gives readers and creators a sense of reach and acknowledgment to the world what has been loved on. I like landing on posts on social media and see how much buzz the post has gotten. The number of hearts, likes, reactions, comments etc. I'm not trying to reinvent FB or IG or anything here, but I am sort of used to that kind of look and feel and it would let you see it in real time on a story instead of digging around through your stats.
Top Story Badge & Profile Bubble. Oh - and this one too please! A Bubble on your profile once you get a Top Story where all your Top Stories can always be found by clicking that Bubble. Ok, I only had one Top Story so far. It was AWESOME to get. And it would sort of be nice to have it memorialized in perpetuity. I mean seriously, what if it is the only one I ever get? It would be nice to be able to have it on strut on my profile for all the world to see. And well, if there is ever the good fortune for it to have sibling Top Stories join the family, they all sit cozily together. AND if the story could have a Top Story Badge. Nothing fancy. Just something that commemorates that it achieved that honor.
As a tech geek and software support tech, I could really get on a roll. All of these are little things but I understand that doesn't mean it would be easy to roll them out. I totally get it that Vocal has to have a growth plan and prioritize based on their agendas. But, hey, just put this in a bucket list for a rainy day maybe? And let me think that Santa Claus or the Great Pumpkin might make some of this happen for me if I be a really, really good girl. (fingers crossed)
Even the Charlie Brown gang knows about The Great Pumpkin. He is King of Halloweenland. (flow with me, I'm a writer and I'm pantsing right now - yeah, that is a new word I saw another Creator use and fell in love with it). So, oh Hallowed One, Pumpkin of Greatness, King of All Hallows Eve, I ask these things of you. So mote it be!
Now let's see if things get cracking (winky face) -- oh, emojis. Could we have emojis please? We can leave out the poo one....
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If you're wondering just who exactly wrote this piece, you can find more about me here. If you're intrigued to see what else I've written, more stories by me can be found here.
On the off chance you appreciated this piece, a heart would be appreciated. It is inspiration to keep moving forward on this writing journey. There is also a tipping option for those who may want to part ways with their hard earned money and for some odd reason impart it to me.
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About the Creator
Pam Reeder
Stifled wordsmith re-embracing my creativity. I like to write stories that tap into raw human emotions.
Author of "Bristow Spirits on Route 66", magazine articles, four books under a pen name, technical writing, stories for my grandkids.
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Good Night and Good Luck”: Why These Four Words Still Matter in a Noisy World
Few phrases in modern media history carry as much weight as “Good night, and good luck.” Simple, calm, and almost understated, the line became famous through legendary American journalist Edward R. Murrow, who used it to sign off his television broadcasts in the 1950s. Decades later, the phrase resurfaced as the title of George Clooney’s acclaimed 2005 film, reminding audiences that its message is not locked in the past. In an age of information overload, misinformation, and shrinking trust in institutions, these four words feel more relevant than ever. The Origins of a Quiet Defiance Edward R. Murrow worked during one of the most politically charged periods in U.S. history: the era of McCarthyism, when fear of communism led to blacklists, censorship, and public intimidation. Murrow’s broadcasts did not rely on shouting or sensationalism. Instead, he practiced something radical for his time — measured truth-telling. When Murrow ended his programs with “Good night, and good luck,” it was not a throwaway farewell. It was a subtle acknowledgment of uncertainty. Viewers were navigating a world shaped by fear, propaganda, and political pressure, and Murrow knew that journalism alone could not guarantee safety or justice. What he could offer was honesty — and a wish for resilience. Journalism as a Moral Act The phrase came to symbolize journalism not as entertainment, but as a civic responsibility. Murrow believed that the press should challenge power when necessary, even when doing so carried professional or personal risk. His calm confrontation of Senator Joseph McCarthy remains one of the most studied moments in broadcast history, precisely because it relied on facts rather than theatrics. In today’s media environment, where outrage often drives clicks and algorithms reward extremes, Murrow’s approach feels almost revolutionary. “Good night, and good luck” reminds us that journalism’s strength lies not in volume, but in credibility and courage. A Film That Revived the Message George Clooney’s film Good Night, and Good Luck reintroduced Murrow’s philosophy to a new generation. Shot in stark black and white, the movie avoided modern spectacle and instead focused on newsroom debates, ethical dilemmas, and the quiet tension of speaking truth to power. The film resonated because it was not just about the 1950s. It was about any era in which fear threatens free expression. Clooney’s work suggested that the fight for honest journalism is not a single historical moment, but a recurring challenge. Why the Phrase Still Resonates Today In the digital age, information travels faster than ever — but truth often struggles to keep up. Social media has blurred the lines between opinion, fact, and performance. Deepfakes, manipulated headlines, and viral misinformation make it harder for audiences to know what to trust. Against this backdrop, “Good night, and good luck” feels like a quiet anchor. It acknowledges that certainty is rare, that truth-seeking is difficult, and that integrity matters even when outcomes are unclear. It is not a promise of victory, but a commitment to effort. Beyond Journalism: A Broader Meaning The power of the phrase has expanded beyond newsrooms. It now speaks to anyone navigating uncertainty — students questioning authority, artists pushing boundaries, activists challenging injustice, or ordinary people trying to stay informed in confusing times. At its core, the message is human. It recognizes fear without surrendering to it. It accepts risk without glorifying recklessness. And it reminds us that sometimes, all we can do is act with principle and hope for the best. The Cost of Silence Murrow once warned that television could teach, illuminate, and inspire — but only if people chose to use it that way. Otherwise, he cautioned, it would merely distract. That warning applies equally to today’s digital platforms. Silence, complacency, and passive consumption allow falsehoods to flourish. “Good night, and good luck” challenges both creators and audiences to stay engaged, skeptical, and thoughtful — even when doing so is uncomfortable. A Message for the Future As societies face political polarization, climate anxiety, technological disruption, and global instability, the phrase endures because it does not pretend to have easy answers. Instead, it offers something rarer: moral clarity without arrogance. It reminds us that truth is not guaranteed, freedom is not automatic, and courage often appears in small, quiet choices rather than dramatic gestures. Conclusion “Good night, and good luck” is more than a sign-off or a film title. It is a philosophy — one that values truth over noise, integrity over popularity, and responsibility over convenience. In a world that often rewards certainty, Murrow’s words accept uncertainty while refusing surrender. And perhaps that is why, after all these years, they still feel like advice worth carrying with us — into the night, and into whatever comes next.
By Fiazahmedbrohi 2 days ago in Geeks
Comments (1)
I know its a year old but this is excellent Pam , so great observations and points