📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 12/04/2025
Champion your favorite creators

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.
How to join the 📢 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 Vocal’s Community Guidelines and don’t 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:
Check out Meet the Manananggal by Guia Nocon, it blends personal history, folklore, and colonial truth-telling into a cleverly told dive into one of the Philippines’ most fascinating and misunderstood monsters.
About the Creator
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Comments (15)
This haiku by Aarsh Malik is so profound. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/almost-va9sp0ziy%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, another one from me, I'm hosting an unofficial challenge - with prize 👀💵 The more the merrier, please come and check it out! https://shopping-feedback.today/writers/catch-22-an-unofficial-challenge#comment-d393c89a-a831-452f-9d53-de8aee01034a%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">
Tiffa go here 🌸; I write inspirational poetry, monologues & fiction. I would love to see Cathy Ben-Ameh's latest inspirational piece grace the front page. Thx. https://shopping-feedback.today/styled/wear-your-happiness%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E%F0%9F%92%95%F0%9F%92%95%F0%9F%92%95%F0%9F%92%95%3C/p%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv class="css-w4qknv-Replies">
Hey guys, can we make sure we're supporting Mikey's main whilst he can't access his account? Check out his writing here: https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/mike-singleton-mikeydred%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E You'll be glad to know he's active on his back-up account which you can find here: https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/mike-singleton-mikeydred-eba%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">
Late to this. Paul here you know me and if you don't I have a ton of stories and poems on my profile. Anyway here are my picks of the little I've read this week. I have to give Matthew Fromm a nod for his Roman era take on The Forgotten Room challenge. It put me right there in time, and while a long read never feels like it really is. https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/to-dust-vr9380fd6%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Michelle made note of International Slavery Day with a poem that focused on a different type of slavery. This touched me to my core as an addict. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/puppet-on-toxics%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Andrea published this stunning piece for The Last Flame challenge that is both fiery on description but also intent and meaning. Sublime work. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/flaming-lies%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E It would have been very easy to pick the poem Aspen Marie wrote to me, cos it's exceptional and I'm an arrogant bastid. However, I believe the piece that kick-started our poem for a poem mini challenge deserves more reads and love. It's beautiful, grounded and epitomises that love we'd all want and hope to have. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/map-e5ehs0vjt%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Last but not least a new writer, to me anyway, is Laura Rodben who wrote a heartbreakingly beautiful poem about one of the worst things that can happen to a new parent. https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/had-i%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E I am not going to lie. It's a hard but important read.
Tendonitis affected Sid here so apologies if I spell something wrong-hurts to type-Please read my Friend' s story-Rick Henry Christopher's Gloria hour https://shopping-feedback.today/humor/the-miss-gloria-hour-with-guest-dharrsheena-raja-segarran%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 there! I am ThatWriterWoman, and I have been writing on Vocal since 2017 (so long I admit to neglecting these threads!). I focus on writing short fictions, fables and poetry, all with a whimsical theme to them! I don't believe that growing up means we can't enjoy a bit of whimsy now and again! I am distinctly ANTI AI, and will never use it in my writing, so bear that in mind! I also spend my time on the internet running a writing club, and a community live on Twitch! The author I'd like to highlight today is Gina C. She is a truly amazing artist of the word and her poetry is second to none! https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/wander-root?modal=open This one made me ache in my chest for my ancestors - who knew that was even possible??
Five great tales worthy of a Top Story 1: A villanelle from John R Godwin https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/you-did-not-cross-my-path-of-urgent-things%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 2: A story from Natasja Rose https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/the-room-no-one-enters%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 3: A poem from Novel Allen https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/a-c-r-i-m-o-n-y%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 4: And one from Marie381Uk https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/candle-in-fog%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E 5: And finally a sonnet from D. J. Reddall https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/collapse-operator%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">
On 23rd November, Vocal stopped me from publishing, stopping me from entering challenges despite paying my subscription. I have lost half my readers. Justin said they were looking into it yesterday on this post, but I have heard nothing since https://shopping-feedback.today/critique/are-you-joking-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">
Hi, sorry that I’m a little late to the party. Stephanie Hoogstad, writer of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Here are some recommendations by me: This one is from Mike’s backup account because he’s having problems with his main account that are still not being addressed by Vocal, and I think that this poem sums up his feelings about the matter quite well: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/ditched-gp2af09xz%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E This one from Sara Wilson says what we’re all thinking about Black Friday sales: https://shopping-feedback.today/theSwamp/wack-friday%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E And this one, also from Sara Wilson, shows us how one can handle having their birthday on Christmas, and how that might evolve over the years: https://shopping-feedback.today/humans/i-am-the-gift-0w8l048o%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 thought this one by Lana V Lynx was wonderful https://shopping-feedback.today/pride/love-and-marriage-with-pride%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E Exquisitely written by Antoni De’Leon https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/inertia-38rok0asv%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E A captivating story by Imola Toth https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/the-museum-of-a-lost-girls-life%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 all, a shameful plug for myself today! I post mainly fiction short stories with the occasional poem here and there, this one posted yesterday for the Forgotten Room Challenge is an 8 minute read and I would much appreciate if anyone gets the chance! https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/dust-and-static%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">
Milan Milic's poetry has the best extended metaphors. Here's a recent one: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/i-remember-anyway%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">
Lightning Bolt's latest reads like a journal and hits the story-feels just right https://shopping-feedback.today/fiction/secret-seeds-never-planted%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 all, happy Thursday! Great timing because Harper just published this and it’s stupendous: https://shopping-feedback.today/poets/distraction-no4rr0luh%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">