All Aboard! Train 2025 leaving the Station!
For the New Year, New Projects Challenge
The ball has dropped in Time Square. We’ve all sung Rabbie Burns’ Auld Lang Syne once more. People the world over have cheered, hugged and kissed to welcome the new year and say good riddance to the old.
But I for one was saddened to bid adieu to one of my favorite years in recent memory, both for my unexpected success in 2024 on Vocal and also within my personal life.
And to slather creamy icing onto the delicious cake the past year proved to be, I’ve gained a whole host of new friends in Vocal's communities.
But unfortunately, my initial experience on the platform was less than propitious when I posted my first story 'Where the Purple Mushrooms Grow' on January 21st, 2021.
Having finally found a media site that supported likeminded creatives, I had hoped it would prove an opportunity to promote my literary talents.
But few readers visited my initial story efforts and even fewer dispensed likes. 😢
The months slowly passing, each new story generated fewer and fewer reads till I began to post stories that were not read at all, their quality be damned. The Vocalsphere responded to my authorial brilliance with an epic meh!
Talk about a lesson in humility! After three years of posting my best efforts in fiction and poetry I earned a total of twenty dollars and 32 cents and two subscribers. 🤮
That's right campers.
It took me three years to earn enough scratch to actually begin withdrawing it from my Vocal wallet. Before that, when I opened it, animated moths fluttered out.
If you're wondering what the best strategy is to achieve such pitiful results, make sure that when you read other creators work on Vocal that you NEVER, EVER leave a comment. 😵💫
This will greatly increase the odds of hearing crickets when you post your beautiful stories and poems that might have led to world peace and caused the masses to weep for joy if they had only read them!
So, if that is what you’re currently doing, STOP IT! Introduce yourself. Say hi. Pull up a chair and have tea and a biccie.
Having finally learned my lesson, when 2024 began, I determined to roll up my sleeves and out comment everyone on Vocal. Well… everyone ‘cept Dharrsheena.
I mean, get real, I’m not superhuman!
If only I had figured that out in 2021! When I began reading, commenting and subscribing the floodgates opened. It literally blew my mind!
Once I began commenting in earnest, the impossible happened. After almost three years of hearing only crickets when I posted stories, I received my very first Top Story recognition for ‘Artisan’ after I posted it January 18th, in the Feast community.
Fast forward to years’ end, and I had Twenty Top Stories and placed for the first time with ‘These Things I Remember,’ for the Love Unraveled Challenge.
I also finished most of my story backlog (‘cept for my children’s book), posted several serial stories in the Chapter’s community to include an Elizabethan styled play in ten scenes plus epilogue - ‘The Death of the Queen,’ added the Feast, Serve and Future communities to my play list and sharpened my illustration skill set.
But best of all I found a core group of wonderful writers who have consistently read my stories and poems and provided encouragement and useful feedback.
Signing up for Vocal is like joining an international writers' group! That alone is priceless!
Not bad for a fella WHO COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET READS FOR THREE F&$!#%G YEARS!!!
Deep breath, old buddy, deep breath.
So now what? How on earth do I raise my game in the new year? It does not help that reading other creators project 2025 goals has intimidated the Hell out me.
I cannot rest on my laurels, not when everyone else is shooting for the moon and I had only decided to continue writing stories, articles, poetry and compete in challenges.
Come on, Johnny Boy, is that the best you can do?
But hang in there, fellow campers, there’s more! I have also set two major challenges for myself in 2025.
Our bad. Two whole challenges? Guess you covered January, at least. What about the rest of the year?
No, no, no. These are hard ones, I swear! I intend to complete my first children's book, 'No Sharks on the Trampoline!' And it’s a bigger deal than you may think!
Although I have toyed for years with the idea of illustrating and writing a children's book, I never really had a story concept interesting enough to put in the energy and effort for such a project. Creating the artwork alone can consume hundreds and even thousands of hours.
When my wife suggested creating one based my interactions with my grandsons Campbell (age 8) and Hunter (age 7), the idea of creating a story using their imaginings began to take shape in my mind.
But after preparing a few test drawings of our eldest grandson that my wife said looked nothing like him, I knew I needed to create a completely new style for the book.
This ultimately led to investing in a high-quality art program (Rebelle 5) and computer drawing tablet (Gaomon). After several months of learning how to best to use Rebelle 5 to achieve the vision that I had for the book, I started preparing illustrations using a new style that I describe as comic realism. The illustration of the three of us space walking is one of the completed ones from the book:
Second, I plan to really go outside my comfort zone and illustrate and write a graphic novella serial, 'Children of Wrath.'
I have posted two completed illustrations for the novella below, the first one shows Pilgrim and Fan, the story's main protagonists..
The second shows Pilgrim looking out of his cell at the reflection of his lost youth.
I’d like to give a special thank you to Vocal and all of those who regularly read my offerings, especially the readers who read my serial fiction as well. If not for you, I would not even consider creating a graphic serialized novella.
I wish all of you the very best in 2025!
About the Creator
John Cox
Twisted teller of mind bending tales. I never met a myth I didn't love or a subject that I couldn't twist out of joint. I have a little something for almost everyone here. Cept AI. Aint got none of that.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Keep reading
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Comments (26)
Belatedly back to say congratulations on placing with this one, John. This was a wonderful piece of writing!
Yippee 🥳… The train left the station with a well deserved “Honourable Mention “ 🤩.
congrats John on the HM! Well deserved!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your honourable mention! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
This was an engaging and entertaining read. Congrats on the honorable mention. Also, I just today realized you've been on Vocal longer than me. Hanging out in the weeds, were ya?
Just going through my saved stories list and remembered that I had already started reading this one. The children's book looks like it's coming along great. I'm not a child (well 80% of the day I'm not) but I'm positive I would enjoy it. Graphic novellas are a challenge from hell. But your love for creating will get you there. I had the same experience when first starting out on vocal. Only I started engaging more after the first year. I still have a few stories with zero reads and likes. Luckily, we can revert them back to drafts and republish them for the audience we have grown. I've done one so far and plan to polish others and do the same. Best of luck in 2025, Sir John!
Good luck with your children's book a graphic novel! I wish I had the art skills for something like that.
Loved the humor (and all too true reality) in this piece. I'm with you on being a slow learner, but since retiring, it has been a real pleasure to read - and comment - more frequently here on Vocal. I couldn't agree more that it's great to meet like-minded creative people and share ideas while also obtaining some critiquing. I am looking forward to reading both your children's book and the graphic novella you're writing. As you know, I think you're an amazing writer, so I have no doubt both will be superb! Here's to a glorious and successful 2025.
Great job & aspirations for 2025… I’m feeling exhausted reading everyone’s impressive goals😳😵💫🙃. Once, on holidays, I tried to place on the Leaderboard for Commenting (a non Dharrsheena week)… to no avail 😢. Did you get any sleep when you succeeded in placing?🤔
Whoa, graphic novella? Not sure I've seen anyone else take up a project like that (though Amanda Starks also loves her visuals). The sample looked quite well done. Would definitely be interested in getting a copy when it's finished, though I have no idea how long this sort of thing takes. Writing alone is hard enough without having to worry about illustrating, so I imagine it can be quite the time commitment.
Yayyyyy you placed on the Leaderboard! Congratulations! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Not sure how I missed this but I am sure glad i read it now. I too wish to d a children's book, plus a plethora of other stuff. So one step at a time. CONGRATUALTIONS
Amazing, John! Such special goals combining illustrations with written work! I love the title of your children’s book! Sounds like a fun and adventurous read! And the graphic novella draft looks outstanding! Very grateful for your presence in the Vocal community and the wonderful stories you’ve shared with us!
Fantastic John! Absolutely fantastic! You really had a very busy 2024. I kind of fell off track a few times throughout the year. But as of late, I’ve been sort of getting back into it and trying to read more. I look forward to reading more of your works throughout 2025. Great job as always!
I feel your pain. When I first signed up, you couldn't leave comments. I'd write my little bleeding heart out, and get maybe one or two likes and fourpence 😂
Great job on this article. When I first started here on Vocal about 2020 or so no one really read or commented on my work either. Then I started to subscribe to others, and they scribed to me, but it seems to me that now I am reading and commenting on my many notifications I receive now more than writing, but I am still writing and sharing my ideas and by the way I love the idea of the that children's book you are writing. Great job.
Wow, John!! You are certainly not resting on your laurels!! So excited to see these wonderful projects come to life with all the wit and humor and intelligence you bring to your work. Woohoo, 2025!!
FANTASTIC goals John!! I have always enjoyed the glimpses into your illustrative brilliance that we get from your cover images and profile pictures - so, SO cool to know that you are channeling that creativity into these projects! Wishing you the absolute best in these endeavors, and excited to see more of your work!
Well-wrought, John! Your illustrations made me chuckle for the best reasons. I'm a bit concerned, however, about whether or not that clown is qualified to drive that train. Vocal didn't have comment sections when I started, and the facebook groups were then and are now still full of supportive people. I have trouble keeping up with them, bone tired as I often am from the weeks drudgery at the factory. There are many good people here who have grown as writers not just from the support of others, but also from just writing consistently. I'm a lit and myth nerd, as you know, so seeing people's internal world take shape through story has been a pure pleasure, and yours is always worth a read!
John, this endeavor suits you. Your skill as a wordsmith and your genuine passion and talent will serve you well. You have earned your place in the hearts of many here on Vocal, and I for one have no doubt that you will blow this out of the water! We all anxiously await to share in your good fortune. 🍀well wishes for a exceptional 2025
Good luck for your projects John!
Hahahahahahahahahahaha I'm not superhuman either! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I wish you have wayyyyy more Top Stories and challenge placements! 🤞🤞✨️❤️
ooooh exciting stuff! John, you know I am glad to know you and looking forward to seeing and cheering you on with both projects, they both sound excellent! well done, sir, on pushing yourself! 2025 is for the taking!
Thanks for the Vocal tips, and best of luck on your books! Your grandchildren will treasure them.
Exciting times, John! So glad we connected on here. Always appreciative of my John moments. And those projects look wonderful. Good on you! Anything I can do to help, let me know!