Top Stories
Stories in Journal that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
Whiners, Climbers, and Shiners
I joined Vocal + almost three years ago, intending to blow away the world with my skills. Instead, I realized I had to learn to write. You see, I've had story ideas ginned in my head for decades that I thought might get me committed to an insane asylum. I wonder if Edgar Poe or Stephen King were worried about that. I'd watch movies, streaming shows, or read stories and think, Wow! I can do better than that. What were they thinking? The same old plots keep getting recycled. I was openly critical. Then a friend said, "Put your money where your mouth is; prove it."
By J. S. Wade3 years ago in Journal
Would You Continue To Write Microfiction if Vocal Allowed it?
Writing is one of my favorite things to do. Writing: Makes you think. Puts your thoughts in order. Makes your mind work better. Takes you to other worlds, times, and places. Allows your imagination to run wild. Challenges your creativity.
By Carol Ann Townend3 years ago in Journal
Just Being Vocal
Introduction Part of the reason for my writing this is the fact that this week I have written seven playlists over Wednesday and Thursday for the latest Vocal Challenge and while I thought it would be simple it did take a lot out of me resulting in over eight thousand words of text, and while I am proud of what have I have done I don't expect anyone to notice the latter pieces even though they are linked.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 3 years ago in Journal
Why the Microfiction Challenge is My Favorite Challenge
Since joining Vocal in January 2022, I’ve entered many challenges. I even won runner-up in the “After the Parade” challenge. Each challenge has had its merits. The timing of “After the Parade” complemented my coming out as omnisexual, “The Fantasy Prologue” gave me an excuse to write in my favorite genre, and “Christopher Paolini’s Fantasy Fiction” had the best prize I’ve seen so far. Others, such as “The Mystery Box,” “The Runaway Train,” and “Under Purple Clouds” have allowed me to experiment with style, genre, or both. However, there’s something about “Microfiction Magic” that has caused it to stand out from all the others as my favorite challenge thus far.
By Stephanie Hoogstad3 years ago in Journal
You know what Vocal needs? A reading list
It's a Friday night and I've just finished cooking. The scent of satay chicken is still fresh in the air as I sip away at the bottle of soju I've shamelessly cracked open (it's been a long week, ok?). I'm scrolling through the latest submissions of some of the incredible Vocal Creators I've subscribed to, but I can't help but notice some of my favourite writers are missing from the list in my notifications. I know they've posted recently because I saw their work on the 'Top Stories' page when I briefly scrolled past this morning, but I can't see them yet.
By J. R. Lowe3 years ago in Journal
When Vocal Earnings Started To Beat A Writer's Medium Earnings
Six months to a year ago, I would not have imagined the possibility I'm about to share. I wouldn't have bet it would become a startling reality. As it has, I'm going to share the facts with you and let you draw whatever conclusions you may.
By Jason Ray Morton 3 years ago in Journal
Classmate Moms
When you’re a little kid in school many thoughts come to mind about your fellow classmates. You think so-and-so is your best friend, maybe your worst enemy. Maybe they’re very good on the blacktop playing basketball or they’re the fastest runner on the track during gym class. One thing you never think about until you get older is the fact that these classmates will one day grow up and become parents. Yes, one day your fellow toddlers and teenagers are going to have kids of their own who will follow in the footsteps of their youthful decadence.
By Joe Patterson3 years ago in Journal
Choosing the Right Tense for Your Novel: Past, Present, or Future?
If there was one thing from my second creative writing class that is going to haunt me for the rest of my career it would be my Professors scribbled handwriting on the coversheet of most of the work that I turned in with the words STOP SWITCHING TENSES written in increasingly larger letters as the semester went on.
By Elise L. Blake3 years ago in Journal
