š¢ Raise Your Voice Thread: 08/22/2024
Champion your favorite creators.
Our āRaise Your Voice Threadsā are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
How to join the š¢ Raise Your Voice Thread:
- Introduce yourself in the comment section of this story and tell us what you create on Vocal.
- Shoutout a Vocal creator you recommend reading. Include the URL of a writer or story that inspired you and why.
- If you like a story another person has recommended, send that story's creator a like, leave a comment, and/or subscribe to them.
Please follow Vocalās Community Guidelines and donāt spam your own profile or stories in the thread. We encourage the community to report users or comments that break these guidelines.
We'll start the thread:
Today, we are embracing "Throwback Thursday" by highlighting one of Rachel Deeming's first pieces on the platform, Positive Emotions, published 3 years ago! We love the deliberate, immersive pacing into the protagonist's inner world and the marigold as a metaphor for beauty and mortality.
Now it's your turn. Share your favorite stories in the comments below.
About the Creator
Raise Your Voice by Vocal
Every other Thursday @ 12PM ET, we come together to champion inspiring stories and outstanding creators on Vocal. Subscribe now
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Keep reading
More stories from Raise Your Voice by Vocal and writers in Vocal and other communities.
š¢ Raise Your Voice Thread: 08/08/2024
Our āRaise Your Voice Threadsā are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocalabout a year ago in Resources
Fair Exchange, No Robberies
Dark Memoirs - Index There are at least two kinds of people in the world: those who write this half-arsed kind of intro to a story that looks to separate the rare and the norm, and those who realise it's an overused framing device and don't.
By Paul Stewart6 days ago in Chapters
Comments (22)
Hello. I just encountered a story from several months ago that moved me to tears. It had the Top Story award, but I believe it is still worthy of further exposure. The emotion that this writer is able to reflect in his stories is overwhelming - this is just one of several. Thank you. https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/the-fish-song#comment-7acd003c-f8b6-4adb-abb7-eb8ac6e7f8a3%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cstyle data-emotion-css="w4qknv-Replies">.css-w4qknv-Replies{display:grid;gap:1.5rem;}
Hi all, I have just uploaded an unofficial challenge, I would love for as many to get involved as possible, please find it here: https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/1984-an-unofficial-challenge%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E There is cash prizes!!!
Hello, I'm Nafisa from Bangladesh. Got here from watching a video on writing platforms. I write poetry and short stories. My favourite writing so far here is https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/who-would-i-be-441vd00o9%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E by Kelli Sheckler-Amsden. Her poetry is so good I'll recommend them to everyone because they're inspiring and rich with emotions.
Hi yāall š„³ Iām Kayleigh. Scottish. 30 somethingā¦. I lost count after 33. Letās just call it that š I was originally lured here by the scent of a Ā£20,000 prize fund for a writing competition and Iāve been here ever sinceā¦ Creating is as essential as singing and dancingā¦ without these three, we are dying, not living. It took a while to find this link so please do give it a click! https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/memories-m57m07a0%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Iām giving a shout out to Mike. Mike is not only a prolific creator, but he also does a lot of work on the Facebook groups to promote others here in vocal. This is one of my favourites of Mikeās because it includes a video of him singing š„¹
Hi from ole ROCK in Sweden, the wayward American drifter of dreamers. I found quite a few to share with you rapscallions. 1. MikeyD's entry to the Overboard challenge was funny and wry https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/sculling%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 2. Sarah Parker's mindful lesson https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/saturday-night-drinking%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 3.L.C.'s got another twist to share https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/poison-gown%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E and one lug of my own...aww shucks, why not? 4. ROCK one that meant a lot to me and had some good comments that still sits alone from awhile back. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/conquering-hm1ff0gby%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E So there's my last kronor for the week. Peace to all!
Hello. š CJ from UK. One story that I am advocating is this one by Dane BH: https://shopping-feedback.today/theSwamp/the-shirley-exception%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Do swamp stories ever get TS accolades?
Still awaiting your response and actions Vocal. Whereās that Pride challenge at? Enough with these acrostics. QVV would even love to work with you on this. But you gotta show up at the table. https://shopping-feedback.today/pride/where-s-your-pride-vocal%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
I'm Muchtar and I'll occasionally drop a story or poem when I feel inspired to write. I'd like to recommend the incredibly talented R. C. Taylor and one of her latest acrostics: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/cosmic-playthings?fbclid=IwY2xjawE0bwpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHS8knV2x_UN3s1X_WJmrJFlsax_snW6S5bYltzonyFnF9-PuF9sE_x09SQ_aem_tY49A-Dybzvhr_b4dnV95w
Now I have collected some great content here: The first one is a beautiful and informative art piece from Rasma Raisters: https://shopping-feedback.today/art/cities-on-canvas%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Then we have an excellent challenge entry from Randy Baker: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/unending-day%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Continuing with Babs Iverson's nonet: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/breaking-point-6qt90cfc%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And last but not least two amazing stories written for the Overboard challenge: One from Dharrsheena: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/abyssopelagic%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And the other one from Mike Singleton: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/sculling%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Here are my five recommendations for Top Stories this week: 1: McKenzie Davis Playlist Prompt https://shopping-feedback.today/beat/the-wind-playlist-prompt%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 2: Cathy Holmes clever take on a recent Vocal Challenge https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/mr-tangerine-man%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 3: Anna's beautiful poem https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/a-true-friend-w21ff0z8l%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 4: And a wonderful poem from Colleen Walters https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/dappled-moonlight%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 5:Another great Vocal Challenge piece from Jaye Poole https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/the-birth-of-celina-knight%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Well, that was a nice surprise! Thank you, Vocal and thank you, Paul Stewart for being the first person who read it. I have read lots of great stuff this week and a lot of them are already Top Stories so I hope that others highlight their favourites.
I love this one from Aaron Morrison. He's extremely talented, writes a lot of horror, but I just love his style: https://shopping-feedback.today/horror/the-processor%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And this one from Addison Adler is so emotional: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/fierce-tears%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
It's that Scottish guy, Paul. I write stuff. Mostly poetry, horror, depressing and weird stuff. Did I say I'm Scottish? Accented and everything. Old too. Grey. Anyway...here are some picks... Hot off the press, Mr Matthew Fromm produced this sinister micro for the Epic Beginnings Challenge - https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/subject-443%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Melissa Ingoldsby offered this fiesty, steamy thing for the Moment of Silence Challenge - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/her-eyes-said-381py00iu%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Another steamfest from the official Origami Smut Queen, Donna Fox (check her profile for other stuff and to understand the reference lol) - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/it-s-not-fair-n910s0u%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E My reading is far too behind at the moment, but those are some I picked out :)
Hello all, I pen book reviews, fiction, poetry, and writing advice here on Vocal. I recently read this incredible piece by Gina C.: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/all-while-the-squirrel-monkeys-laugh%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E āAll While the Squirrel Monkeys Laughā is full of vivid imagery and incredible characters. I also thought it was a unique and well-written take on the Overboard challenge.
Hey there , Iām Jason , known as JBaz on Vocal. I mainly do fiction. This story I chose is one that hooked me onto Cathy Holmes quirky nature and talent as a writer. A throwback to Feb. 2023 this story is brilliantly humorous and touching (sort of). https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/sally-and-tom-a-love-story-nah-not-really%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Hi Vocalers, Myself Bhangs corporation has been on vocal for 6+ months mainly I write horror stories Check my stories if possible but today I am here to shout out to Silver Serpent Books I liked one of his stories ASPHALT - https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/asphalt-kkf50upy%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E I liked this story because it was a thriller, friendship, bikes, and my forte Horror.
Randy has been a bit quiet lately, so I am browsing through his work and found one I'd missed. Don't want anyone else to miss it- so sharing here: https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/whispering-woods-vzx0v4i%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
This one from a longtime Vocal Creator is a must-read. https://shopping-feedback.today/longevity/where-am-i-after-nearly-six-months-with-a-lethal-cancer%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Hi šš½ Iām Joe, a teacher from New Zealand whoās been living and working in the UK for a few years. I go between short stories and poems, and am working (slooowly) on my first novel- James The Wonderer. This week I liked reading D.K. Shepardās āPeaceful Placesā. It stands on its own as a story about a family broken by war, and shows his way with words, but itās also a Lipogram entry, and a darn good one at that! https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/peaceful-places%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
I enjoy Rick Martinez' works on writing. Never fail to learn something new. Here's one of his from about 2 months ago https://shopping-feedback.today/humans/10-surprising-ways-your-biggest-distractions-can-fuel-your-creativity%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
The waves of Vocal churn Still stoutest hearts yearn To see from this maelstrom A fate brighter than martyrdom For this shanty from Fromm: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/borne-aloft-upon-a-gale%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Thank you for highlighting a Throwback piece! Whoopie! Let the Wayback Machine begin!