Top Stories

New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.

Reflections. Runner-Up in The Shape of the Thing Challenge.
Cool blades of grass tickle my back while I lay gazing at the clouds, remembering the images created in my mind as a child. The soft rustle of leaves in the summer breeze, smells of a fresh cut lawn lingering long after the mower is stored away. The steady hum of bike tires racing across hot pavement.
By JBaz5 months ago in Fiction
Multiple Names in September
September playground teeter-totter days are dwindling as Autumn brings the days for wanting kindling Campfires with marshmallows browning, then
By Andrea Corwin 5 months ago in Poets
Top 5 Books from 2025.. so far
I have not read as much as I wanted to this year. I set myself a goal of reading twenty books at the beginning of January. It's now September and somewhere in between working, being a mom, and my regular life- I managed to read 14 books/audiobooks so far. I actually am quite proud of that number as it's only September.
By Chloe Rose Violet 🌹4 months ago in BookClub
no stars no more
In the evening they escort us to the bunker, after the Careggi's hospital, and we all go like cows, slipping. We go like cows, except the cows went back to their stables themselves, no herding needed. My sister Sasà accepts everything, docile. I wonder what her head has been thinking for the past fourteen years. Her hair, still wet from the shower, reach down to her ass. She has short shorts and tanned legs.
By M.4 months ago in Fiction
...the next room...
…. he waits silently eyes full of compassion appraising me determining my sanity waiting for my answer he wears a kind smile
By A. J. Schoenfeld5 months ago in Poets
Digital Diarrhea
George Carlin's "first real book" was Brain Droppings and contains many of Carlin's best stories and jokes. According to the cover, the book contains "jokes, notions, doubts, opinions, questions, thoughts, beliefs, assertions, assumptions, and disturbing references" and "comedy, nonsense, satire, mockery, merriment, sarcasm, ridicule, silliness, bluster, and toxic alienation".
By Scott Christenson🌴5 months ago in Fiction
Birthstone
See the sapphire shining bright Eternally beautiful, like your soul Pulling in, charming those around you To make them a part of your following and
By Stephanie Hoogstad5 months ago in Poets
Misidentified & Misunderstood:
They wag their tails, lick your face, and ask for nothing but love — yet thousands of dogs are dying in shelters and rescues each year. Not because they’re aggressive, but because they’ve been mislabeled.
By Dr. Mozelle Martin5 months ago in Petlife
First Shift
“This is a nice, simple Cardiac event. Easy first call, new guy,” Ethan’s lieutenant said as they turned off the sirens outside a dusty apartment block.
By Matthew J. Fromm5 months ago in Fiction
📢 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
When Ears Implode.
When I first read about this challenge, it wasn't difficult to locate qualifiers in my head that are otherwise banned from it.
By Lamar Wiggins5 months ago in Beat
Down
Your words fell Losing their footing As they tumbled Down the stairs Your voice cracked Losing its strength As it shattered
By Alyssa Musso5 months ago in Poets
Monday Night, Final Flight
As the days went by and as the evenings pass. Many didn’t know the night of September 10th would be their last. Some had dinner with their families or a night out with friends.
By Joe Patterson5 months ago in Poets
Spirits and Ghosts
The first time it happened, I was six years old. My neighbor friend, Barry, who was eight, was trying to convince me to climb a tall, old tree. Up he went, without a hitch. I hesitated.
By Julie Lacksonen5 months ago in Fiction
STEAL ME STEAL ME
Steal me steal me I'm just a bit of verse Steal me steal me My author will not curse You for doing so He knows you are just a thieving little shit
By Raymond G. Taylor5 months ago in Poets
Speaking Ill of the Dying . Content Warning.
Charlie Kirk was pronounced dead at 4:40 PM, EST. Right now, as I begin writing this, it's about 10:39. So officially, Kirk died about 6 hours ago.
By Sam Spinelli5 months ago in The Swamp
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 09/10/2025
Welcome to our weekly Leaderboard update! We're delighted to highlight Vocal's most popular stories. Join us as we recognize this week's standout contributors and their remarkable achievements.
By Vocal Team5 months ago in Resources
The Neon Sign in Easter Candy
“Ope, let me just grab a quick photo of this for future reference,” I said to my husband as our then-six-year-old daughter proudly showed off her Easter candy haul sitting on my mother-in-law's living room floor, her legs tucked under her tiny body.
By Ash Ylvisaker5 months ago in Families
The Season of Sadness Approaches!
I’m not taking any chances this year! Despite the suns efforts to keep me smiling like the joker all the way through Autumn, I know myself too well these days.
By Simon Aylward5 months ago in Psyche
A Lost Trait In Today's World
We have a lot of "Experts" in Our World Today... Or at least Self-Proclaimed Experts, which many may or may not agree with.
By Dr. Cody Dakota Wooten, DFM, DHM, DAS (hc)5 months ago in Psyche