📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 09/25/2025
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Check out Textbook Assassin by long time Vocal writer Tom Baker. It uses the film Videodrome as more than a cult horror reference, it becomes a sharp commentary on how screens, algorithms, and digital identities blur reality today, suggesting that Cronenberg’s “New Flesh” was less science fiction and more of an unsettling prophecy of our mediated lives.
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📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 09/11/2025
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” 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 Vocal4 months ago in Resources
Standing While Falling
Quotation from Friedrich Nietzsche "He who wrestles long with monsters should beware lest he himself become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you. Man is not destroyed by suffering, but by the meaning he makes of it."
By LUCCIAN LAYTH2 days ago in Critique
Comments (23)
Give it a read, and you'll love it. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-sonnet-of-shadows-dehsn0n0j%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;}
A short uplifting poem. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/an-anthem-for-the-new-scholar-new-arrival-student%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 by Novel resounds. Deserves upliftment. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/a-descendant-s-burden%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">
A short uplifting poem. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/golden-in-the-green%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 recommend Rommial's sonnet for a little cricket. Pulling at the heartstrings for a little creature is a feat and I love it. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-lonely-cricket%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">
Check out one of VSS featured writers in Dynamic Duo this week, Reb Kreyling: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/september-beauty%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 recommend Kristen Keenon Fisher works for a read. More to come as i read along/ https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/i-love-you-different%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">
There are so many authors and poets on here that I'm really impressed by. I don't often show up in the raise your voice thread because I'm not really time-organized enough for that. There are a couple authors who I want to shout out, I'll link their profiles. This is less about specific pieces and more about an overall, consistent quality to most everything I've read from these folks. I know there are others I'm following who impress me, so this list is not complete. But these are the writers I thought to shout out this morning: https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/k-b-silver%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/tim-carmichael-yzzpl0v3v%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/joe-o-connor%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/lamar-wiggins%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/cathy-christine-acheini-ben-ameh%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E If there are any author's on my list that you aren't following, and you have time to explore, check out their pages and see if any of their pieces jump out at you. These authors are all worth a some time if you have any to spare!
This sonnet by Antoni really touched my heart: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/the-shadow-of-guilt%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">
Hey, I enjoyed Daniel Hook’s (AKA Alien poet) dark, quirky and empowering new poetic piece “Boy in the corner”. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/boy-in-the-corner%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 late to the party and I haven't had much time this week to read but I have to second Paul's shoutout for Rachel's incredibly creative Haiku. I never knew fall trees could make me blush so much! Definitely worth the read and a re-read! https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/striptease%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 was in class at noon, but I may be able to join next go 'round. Kind of new here.
Hey all! I figured I'd share two of my absolute favorite haikus for the challenge - C. Rommial Butler's lovely, gently wistful piece: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/songs-of-parting%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E As well as Sean A.'s brilliantly striking piece: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/season-s-fashions%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">
Sean here, just wanted to shout out another D.J. Reddall stream of awesome consciousness: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/safe-e54hd08qa#comment-152bae8b-8c16-4e94-9d0e-d98978ba1eef%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">
two stories I loved and need more recognition-Novel Allen's https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/a-descendant-s-burden%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E and Marie381uk https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/she-is-anorexic%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E I apologize if I missed some-been struggling with sleep and season changes and wrapped up in work
Hello creators, I am DJ Nuclear Winter. My creations revolve around poetry, politics, and music with a recent series exploring the career of Sabrina Carpenter. The Shift That Doesn't Exist by Parsley Rose https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/the-shift-that-doesn-t-exist%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E I love how the quaintness in the narrator's observations. The piece captures a fleeting intimacy, a speck of whimsy in an otherwise standard affair. Many are resistant to elevating connection beyond pleasantries - I like how this piece documents the tensions between strangers. Are You A Catalyst by Cathy (Christine Acheini) Ben-Ameh https://shopping-feedback.today/humans/are-you-a-catalyst%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E I love the uplifting of the catalyst who deserve their flowers for enhancing small moments and conjuring necessary drama for ultimate progress. I love the framing of the catalyzed, positioned as witnesses who carry the torch of the catalyst. I love the recognition of both archetypes as undervalued yet necessary to life. This piece is incredibly engaging and thought-provoking. I view these two works as companion pieces. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Please take care of yourselves. DJ Nuclear Winter
Afternoon/evening everyone! Hope you all are busy writing right now. If not, I’ll happily consider your excuses, haha. Anyway… Rick Henry Christopher just dropped a new challenge for Halloween, Featuring generous prizes. Check it out and don’t hesitate to enter. https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/tales-from-beyond-the-haunted-letter-challenge%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Also, I really enjoyed this Haunted Haiku by Brie Boleyn. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/beneath-the-ice-qu56t080t%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Happy writing!!!!
In addition to my original suggestions, I want to draw attention to Kristen Balyeat's very newest, minutes-old, haiku. h e a r k e n - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/h-e-a-r-k-e-n%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">
Hey, arsehole Paul here. Scottish-Italian. Salt-n-pepper hair. Which basically means grey as I'm turning back to dirt. And some stray sinew. Anyway, I write a lot. Mostly poetry and fiction. Blah blah blah blah. Here are some standout pieces from the last, however long. Imola Tóth has been on a real creative high recently and has produced a stunning variety of haikus for the leafy challenge. This one is for the sonnet challenge is just exquisite. Grapes of Putrescence - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/grapes-of-putrescence%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Rachel Deeming got darn sexy for the leafy challenge with this one - Striptease - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/striptease%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Click to see L.C. Schäfer's tasty buns - https://shopping-feedback.today/feast/butter-buns%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E John Cox showing us mere mortals how it's really done - when the madness came - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/when-the-madness-came%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Stephanie Hoogstad wrote a truly poignant sonnet. It's beautiful. - That New Dawn - https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/that-new-dawn%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 Stephanie, writer of a variety of things, though I mostly stick to fiction and poetry (heavy on the poetry lately). I want to bring attention to our King of Form Poetry, Mike Singleton. He has written another wonderful sestina, this time an ekphrastic for a beautiful painting that I think everyone should check out: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/magic-at-the-ring-of-brodgar%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 To[ Story Recommendations for Today A wonderful history poem from Stephanie Hoogstad https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/mother-wolf-dzhku03fb%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Brilliant Brutalism from DJ Reddall https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/bruxism%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Love the Lunar Work from KB Silver https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/moon-gazer%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E A wonderful cat drabble from Susan Fourtané https://shopping-feedback.today/petlife/the-cat-and-the-ant%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And a knock at the door from Sandy Gilman https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/a-knock-in-the-night-ob4biq0h27%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">
How dare you think this was in order of favourites? It’s not. Plus I only have three. Down to poor planning only, because I’ve read a lot. I wanted to be early this time. Why? I have no idea. Hello hi and goodbye 🤗♥️ Tanya Leyenhorst https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/perfect-disguise-o68s50dhp%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E My comment : I love the tone in this one. Like the way you turn 'happiness' and being 'pretty' against each other. 'Tear my skin open like it's nothing' I feel you ripped your heart open to write such a powerful line. I love that when the door finally opens again. You will laugh hard. Because that shows to us the reader that it's fake. The loudness of it. I absolutely love this line. 'thinking everything is gravy'. Damn. 'that I already killed myself'. 😲 Oh my gosh. I didn't expect to be sliced Into two the more I read. That's a good thing. But I feel this as if I am seeing through your eyes and feeling through your body. 'but if I were a slut, wouldn't I sleep with them' that was a good comeback. 'The only one left who can destroy me now is myself' 🤯 👌🏾👏🏾 If nobody knows, than I, Caitlin, knows now. Fantastic and original words Tanya 👏🏾🤗❤️ A. S. Lawrence https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/peeking-w81u0n0dq8%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E My comment : This is good. Like that you used the word toil instead of any other contending option. Your attention to detail is admirable. Especially the horizon when it barely budged. Love how the words started to drip down the page after this. Almost like the sweat from a hike. I like how you were hinting at the rest of the day being down to bed. Finally resting. This was powerful, I felt like I was the one who was on the hike. You brought the atmosphere and the vibe forth effortlessly. Nice work A.S 🤗❤️ Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred https://shopping-feedback.today/humans/me-8d2gq061c%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E My comment : I haven't read the requirements for this challenge yet. But to see you entering them is awesome. Oooo that's that clever. Describing yourself as like a mansion. 'Mind mansion' love this. I am actually getting goosebumps now. This challenge is bringing out the absolute best lines out of you, Mike. You're a writer. A good one. Don't let anyone tell you differently. Sometimes we just need the right prompt. I love the sugar in tea anology. 'it may be different' love the repetition of this line. I too, like when I enter that room. Where I sound like am an expert in certain subjects. I would ask you now. How did you think of this, lol. Brilliant. I hope you do find more treasures today. This was absolutely outstanding. And I mean that in all the letters of what made up this comment. 🤗❤️
Withering Heights by Caitlin Charlton at https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/withering-heights-3981k0whv%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And, Susan Payton's "I have entered a lot of challenges" at https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/i-have-entered-a-lot-of-challenges%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">