Top Stories

Stories in Motivation that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.

Do I Want Thick Skin As A Writer?
I’ve heard writers need to have thick skin. I’ve always agreed. But I’m starting to think that I need layers and layers of skin that I can shed, like a snake that brushes away disappointment.
By Stephen Kramer Avitabile3 years ago in Motivation
100 Genuine Ways to Live a Better Life This Year (Genuinely)
Picture this. It’s 8:32 pm on a bank holiday Monday, the first of the year, and I am sprawled out at an angle not too dissimilar to the Earth’s axial tilt, a blanket with stars printed on is draped over my knees like the night sky has been embroidered into my anatomy, and I’m clutching a half drank bottle of Indian tonic water whilst watching YouTube.
By em3 years ago in Motivation
Go Touch Grass
“Go touch grass,” is a popular way to insult someone for spending too much time online. The implication being that they have become disconnected to the real world. I admit, it’s an excellent burn, but I wanted to find out if there is any truth to it. Can the physical act of touching grass actually help your mental health?
By Leslie Writes3 years ago in Motivation
You Write What You Read
This is me, writing about writing. First of all, I am going to preface this by confessing that I am in no way qualified to say any of it. I'm not published. Here is something that is possible: I never will be.
By L.C. Schäfer3 years ago in Motivation
"The Farmer's Flock
Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the hills, there lived a farmer named Ram. Ram had a small piece of land that he had inherited from his ancestors, and he used to cultivate crops and sell them in the market to earn a living.
By Hamza Shafiq3 years ago in Motivation
Self-Reflection?
I began introspecting in 2006. That's a lie. I began introspecting at age 6. I began writing the process down in 2006. (Age 22, for anyone keeping score at home.)
By ARC3 years ago in Motivation
Signs of Life
My daughter came home from a friend's house and told me, “That was the cleanest house I’ve ever seen and they kept talking about how messy it was.”
By Leslie Writes3 years ago in Motivation
The Craft of Cinematic Prose
One Arabian summer, a notorious street rat cons his way into courtship with the local princess. Between swaths of Robin Williams one-liners and cultural stereotypes, he offers the princess a world tour via magic carpet. As they take to the skies, the suitor serenades his love with a now-iconic ballad, beginning with these words:
By Addison Horner3 years ago in Motivation
The Value of Web Presence
The Breakdown I’ve been writing on Vocal for eight months, and the experience has coaxed some of my best short fiction out. They reeled me in with their unique short story challenges. I spent a couple of months submitting and losing in contests like the Runaway Train and The Aquarium – but I caught early spirits with a Runner-Up placing in the New Worlds challenge.
By Zack Graham3 years ago in Motivation
Why Haiku?
So, if you’ve been on Vocal for a while now (or at least since November ‘22!) you may have noticed, what Mike Singleton - MikeyDred lovingly refers to, as the “Plague of Haiku.” Since November, Vocal has announced three separate haiku challenges, the most recent one even being the chance to write a “Quadru-Haiku.”
By sleepy drafts3 years ago in Motivation
Post #1: Death
This Week’s Topic: Death Answers to Last Week’s Question The question that was posed last week: "Think about a time where you have lost someone you loved or imagine that you have. What would your initial reaction be upon hearing that you lost someone?"
By Innominaire3 years ago in Motivation
The Life of Danny Trejo- From Ten Years in Prison to Superstar
Danny Trejo looks like he came straight out of a crime story. He wears leather clothes and has tattoos all over his body. The permanent lines on his face and the fact that he has a criminal record prove that he has had a hard life. When he was young, Danny Trejo almost died in prison.
By Rare Stories3 years ago in Motivation