2025; The Writerly Solidarity Project

There are two schools of thought when it comes to writers; first, there are those who say that other writers are competition. Next, those who say other writers are allies... and of course there's boringly predictable me who says that two things can be true. You see, no matter how we wish it wasn't so there are a few choke points in the industry where we are forced to compete with other writers. Agents only have so much time, publishers will only spend so much on new releases per year, and the freelance market is becoming more and more congested.

So, yes, dear writerly friends there are times when we must compete with each other... even here on Vocal. But the interesting and wonderful thing about Vocal is the culture of celebrating each others wins, even if it means some of us lose out. It's lovely and truly inspiring.

I've already started (and written about) a personal creative project for 2025, but I'm a firm believer in the idea that busy people get things done... so I have one more. It's a Vocal project, in fact, and I've decided to get out of my own head and make it about you, all of you.

Sharing, Caring, and Growing Together

Conversation is the lifeblood of creativity and intelligence; we learn from others more often than we realize. This is absolutely true for writers and creatives, and Vocal has cultivated a space that makes it easier to connect, share information, and lift each other up; I want to take full advantage of this in 2025 and I encourage you to do the same.

Recently, not thinking about it much, I put together some information I had gathered together on magazines that are willing to pay for fiction. It was some legwork to get the information together and it felt silly to leave it sitting in a notebook. It would make an easy article, and I was sure at least a few people would find it helpful.

The response was a little surprising, and I realized that I may have done more good than I realized simply by sharing the information I had gathered for my own use. I won't lie, it felt nice and I find myself wondering if I'll get to see any names I recognize in these publications soon. That's where the idea for this project came from; a kind of conversation between us writers through a series of connected articles that are easy and free to access here on Vocal.

Stage One - Foundation Work

The long-term goal is to link in helpful articles and resources from other creators, essentially creating an easy to navigate web of information and helpful posts on topics such as writing technique, editing, and the process of seeking an agent or publisher.

Of course, before I can do that I need to lay the foundations, firstly by distilling what I know and want to share into easy to read articles. Secondly, I need to get reading. I know there are a wealth of helpful articles on this platform... the problem is finding them. Vocal is a huge and thriving website, but its archival system is... well, not as efficient as we might like at times.

The personal blog format is wonderful in many ways, but it has its limitations (as everything does).

So, I expect to spend at least a few weeks to a month reading, researching, and categorizing what I find before I can begin writing my contributions to any category. If there's a category you'd like me to investigate and collate articles for, please do let me know!

Stage Two - Writing, Posting, and Sharing

With the foundation laid, I reckon I'll be able to write a post every fortnight or so, linking in relevant articles from other creators as I go to create a hub for those looking to get a wide range of opinions and advice with minimal legwork.

Writing and posting these articles is only half the battle, of course; if I actually want to make this project a success I need to make sure people see the articles. That's really the only way to see if this idea works; in theory these articles should act as a launch pad, allowing people to find other creators and posts.

That means I need to get off my butt and start posting on social media and getting involved with the discord again (which I am notoriously bad at). The good thing is, I think I can shout from the rooftops for others; if this project works out I should be able to boost traffic and engagement for others as well as myself, which is a fantastic feeling.

Stage Three - Resource Lists and Master Posts

By the end of 2025, I want to have, or be ready to create, a series of resource lists and master posts that link to articles, writing and editing tools, and other resources both inside and outside of Vocal. Right now that idea feels huge and unmanageable (I'm already quaking in my boots), so I can't look at it for too long or I might chicken out.

Nonetheless, that's the goal. Two or three posts that gather together everything a fledgling writer might need to figure out their niche, polish their style a little, and plan for publication if that's their goal.

I don't think I've ever had such an ambitious project in mind, and I don't know for sure if I can meet that goal in one year... but I'm going to try. What really drives this idea right now is thinking about the people I could meet, the friendships that could be formed, if I just stick to it. The world is full of talented writers and while there may be an element of friendly competition, I simply don't see a reason to let that come between us.

I want to make this the year of doing for others as well as myself, the year of caring, the year of being open, and the year that I come together with other writers... and I know Vocal is the place to do it.