I dream of being a millionaire
They say a gift makes room for you and it's time my writing paid off.
I've been writing since age 12 when a classmate and I wrote stories about horses during our 7th grade history class. My friends complimented my poetry and told me I was talented as a teen. One poem was supposed to be published in the school magazine during my 11th grade year, only that publication never got off the ground. I found out at age 18 that my grandmother had been reading my diary so I threw away 3 years worth of my life and did not write for quite a while. In 1999 my pastor was preaching about everyone having a talent and how it should be used so I decided to revisit writing.
I applied for and was accepted to write a weekly column in a local newspaper which I did for 10 years. Along the way, I observed how many celebrities and preachers were getting books published and I became irate. In my opinion these people were not natural born writers and I felt those like me who were born with the gift did not have the money to get a book published. I began writing online in 2012 and was determined to make it big. Many writers were millionaires because of the sales of just one book. I think of the song by Calloway:
I want money lots and lots of money
I want the pie in the sky
I want my cake want to eat it too
I want the stars and the silvery moon
I want to be rich
This truly was not about the money, but the principle. I could be thankful for a livable wage but the idea of people purchasing my work and reaping royalties was enticing. I dreamed of being a famous writer who went on talk shows, and whose work sold well and I became a millionaire in the process. When I made $900.00 one month on a different writing site I thought I was on my way, but the following month things dropped and never picked back up again.
After disappointment and failure, a friend recommended Vocal. Initially, I wrote about 6 or 8 stories but they did not get many views and I was crushed. My friend who recommended Vocal, Margaret Minnicks was sharing stories regularly on social media and this encouraged me to keep trying.
I continued writing and found my niche with soap opera spoilers and breaking news. As I shared in Facebook groups and more people read what I wrote I felt empowered. I began writing in other categories and saw my earnings grow. My frustration comes from knowing there are billions of people on the Internet and all I need is enough to read my stories to get me to millionaire status. Everyone who writes for this platform should consider how vast the Internet is and want their piece of the pie.
I become angry when I think of articles that have been shared and reshared on Facebook for years and there is no truth to them. Someone somewhere is making money from the foolishness. There is one about a child having a nailgun shoot him in the head. It gets passed around and people comment with "praying" but it's not true. There are several versions of this story and they have different dates and times for when the incident allegedly took place. Some of them say the victim was a girl instead of a boy. Snopes.com indicates the story is false and I wonder why anyone would do such a thing.
Just imagine, Vocal creators if your social media friends shared and reshared even one of your stories for several years. That's all it takes and they do not even have to spend a dime. The Vocal platform motivates me as well to keep seeking the brass ring. Writing for Vocal can bring tips, bonuses, and winnings from challenges in addition to being paid for views. I read an article that said you could make up to $6,000 a month on this platform and that's a goal I am seeking.
One day I do desire to write a book or 2 but not just to have one in print. I know too many people who talk about having published a book but they admit that it did not sell very well. I want my tree to make a sound when it falls in the forest. I desire to leave my mark on this world.
Laura Ingles Wilder was 60 when she wrote her first book so it's never too late to start. Where ever you are today in the Vocal community, please set some goals and then attempt to reach them. The thousand mile journey begins with one step. The million dollars is attained by $1.00 and one story at a time. You must believe your work is worthy and that you deserve the monetary rewards. Go for the gold and enjoy the journey. Join me in reaching for the stars. We can enlighten the world, motivate, educate, bring joy and laughter or tears. Why not get paid what we are worth while doing it?
About the Creator
Cheryl E Preston
Cheryl enjoys writing about current events, soap spoilers and baby boomer nostalgia. Tips are greatly appreciated.
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Black folk please stop the in-house racism
I have dealt with racist remarks from other African Americans my whole life. Ive been called a white girl, asked if I am mixed, was told I was high yellow, light bright and damn near white, and referred to as a paleface. My mother’s paternal grandfather was white but my mom only looked like a light skinned black girl. I came out of the womb lighter than both of my parents and anyone in my family except a great aunt. . My 3 children have their dad’s coloring which is a few shades darker than mine.
By Cheryl E Preston5 years ago in Motivation
“He Kept Going When No One Was Watching — And That Changed Everything”
No one ever noticed the days he almost gave up. There were no messages asking if he was okay. No one wondered why he became quieter. No one asked how much effort it took just to keep going. To the world, he was just another ordinary man. His name was Ayaan. Ayaan’s life didn’t collapse in one dramatic moment. It slowly faded. Missed opportunities. Rejected ideas. Silent disappointments. Every failure was small, but together they became heavy. He had dreams once. Big ones. Dreams that kept him awake at night, imagining a future where his hard work would finally matter. But over time, those dreams began to feel unrealistic—almost embarrassing. People around him seemed to move forward effortlessly. They celebrated promotions, achievements, and milestones. Ayaan watched from the side, smiling politely while feeling invisible. At work, his efforts were ignored. Among friends, his voice faded. At home, expectations weighed heavily on him. Slowly, a dangerous thought settled into his mind: “Maybe I’m not good enough.” That thought followed him everywhere. It followed him on crowded buses. It followed him into sleepless nights. It followed him every time he tried again and failed. One night, after scrolling through endless success stories online, Ayaan closed his phone and stared at the dark ceiling. His chest felt tight, not because of pain—but because of exhaustion. He whispered quietly, “How long do I keep trying?” There was no answer. But that night, Ayaan made a decision—not a loud one, not a confident one. A tired decision. He decided to keep going, even if nothing changed. The next morning felt the same. The same routine. The same doubts. The same fear of wasting his life. But Ayaan showed up anyway. He worked when no one praised him. He studied when no one guided him. He practiced when no one believed in him. Some days, motivation disappeared completely. On those days, discipline took over. He reminded himself: “I don’t need applause. I need progress.” Weeks passed. Nothing dramatic happened. No sudden success. No recognition. No miracle. But something subtle began to shift. Ayaan became calmer under pressure. He learned to sit with discomfort instead of running from it. He stopped comparing his journey to others. The silence that once scared him now became his training ground. Months later, a serious problem appeared at his workplace. It was complicated, risky, and easy to blame on someone else. Most people avoided it. Some pretended it wasn’t their responsibility. Ayaan didn’t announce himself. He didn’t seek attention. He simply started working. Late nights. Mistakes. Corrections. Learning. There were moments he wanted to quit. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not ready.” But he answered back, “I’ll learn.” Slowly, the problem began to disappear. Not perfectly—but steadily. People noticed, quietly. One afternoon, his manager called him into the office. Ayaan expected criticism. Instead, he heard a question that stunned him: “Where did you learn all this?” Ayaan paused. How could he explain years of silent effort? How could he explain working when no one cared? He simply replied, “I kept going.” That moment didn’t change his life overnight. He didn’t become famous. He didn’t suddenly become successful. But it changed something far more important. His belief in himself. For the first time, Ayaan understood that life doesn’t always reward effort immediately. Sometimes, it watches. It watches who continues without praise. Who improves without recognition. Who grows in silence. Years later, Ayaan looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who thought no one was watching. And he smiled. Because he finally understood the truth: Life was always watching. Not to judge. Not to rush. But to see if he would keep going when it was hardest. The world doesn’t reward those who only work when they’re seen. It rewards those who build strength in silence. And sometimes, the moment that changes everything doesn’t come with applause. It comes quietly. After patience. After effort. After consistency. That is when everything finally begins to change. Final Message Keep going—even when no one is watching. Especially then.
By Inayat khan2 days ago in Motivation
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