Community Challenge
My writing goal on Vocal for 2025
If there is one thing that I have learnt from 2024 it is to never underestimate what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. I've written a little about this in my recent challenge entry Project Me as well as other goals that I have for 2025, so I will not repeat myself here.
What I am going to write about here though is branching out writing-wise. In 2024, I wrote a microfiction piece every day, 366 of them, some of which formed part of series; some of which were stand alone. I'm proud of every piece as they are all crafted by me, to a deadline and whilst being no more than 366 words, they have had to be involved, with clear progression and character development in order for them to be readable and rounded. I like to think I achieved this in each and every one; that, at least, was my intention.
And now, it's over. Done. It's been hard, I'm not going to lie. But I do feel a little sad that it's finished. I know that my fellow participants are still going and I commend them for it. Me? I need a break from it.
But that doesn't mean I need a break from writing.
What I've noticed about my writing is that it's mainly in two communities on Vocal: Fiction and Poets. Now, I think that I am playing to my strengths here but am I? I mean, these are the forms into which I pour most of my creativity but what if I have talent elsewhere? How will I ever know if I don't try?
I have to admit that I am more comfortable in the kingdom of make-believe i.e. fiction, and meditative introspective wordplay i.e. poems. I don't know if I've yet to find my voice in other forms. I find writing about myself hard although when I do it from the heart, I like the ring of it. But it doesn't come easily to me. In fact, I think that other than the swimming pool changing room or a group role-play at a team meeting, it is probably the place where I feel most self-conscious.
But I am a great believer in "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" and so, the challenge that I am going to set myself this year for Vocal is to write a piece in every community, choosing a different one every week and submitting a piece to it on a suitable topic for that community. Yep, even Filthy. Let's give erotic fiction a go. Why not? I'm not sure it's where my strength lies but let's allow ourselves a little sauce and put ourselves into something tight which can be unlaced, slowly and seductively and slipped to the floor, revealing...
Steady. Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
Some of these communities I think will be relatively straightforward to write for, like Wander but Potent might be a struggle as might Trader. They are well out of my sphere of knowledge but where's the challenge if there's not a struggle? And I love to learn. I genuinely, truly, love to learn and I hope that this is something which I never lose.
And so, here is my first piece: setting out a challenge and writing for the Writers Community.
I don't want to be defined by one thing. I am many things and I want that to show in my writing, the writing that is again only a part of me.
So, anybody else with me? Let me know if you care to join me on this adventure. Let's explore a little.
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Comments (30)
I love this idea! Not sure if I can hit all of them, but it definitely seems like a fun idea to try and hit more of them.
Inspiring! I may not be able to take them all on but will definitely take a deeper dive into the ones outside my usual. Thank you for this and best of luck!
Great idea! I'm looking forward to reading your contributions in each community. I'm pretty sure I've never read anything in Trader, so that'll be a first!
Wow, I have never heard of such an impressive achievement in 2024! I know how hard it is to do what you have done because I have tried and failed to write every day as I intended to—more than once.
Well done Rachel! I have been so impressed with your commitment to seeing this challenge through!!!! I haven’t read all of them, of course, but whenever I saw your name in the notifications I would smile and think well done 🤍 xx
Yay Rachel!!! Congrats on finishing first for most discussed story!! 🎉
Yayyyyy you placed on the Leaderboard! Congratulations! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Great challenge and I wish you luck. I feel you will succeed in this as you have in the past And Congratulations on the leader board
Oooooh, okay, okay I see what you are putting down and I am intrigued! Like you, there are some communities that I have 0 experience with, but I do love research and trying new things so...what the heck? LET'S DO IT! (:
An admirable new self-imposed challenge, to be sure. Best of it all with those endeavors.
This is an excellent goal and a worthy successor to your daily stories in 2024. Looking forward to reading them!
Should I try? I guess I could count what I wrote today in Bookclub as my 1st entry.
This is a characteristically courageous conceit! I have been scribbling occasionally for GEEKS and UNBALANCED, but Filthy?!? Some of my former students have been kind enough to suffer through my humble, Vocal offerings; do you think they would be scandalized--and perhaps inclined to complain to bureaucrats or administrators--if the old nerd ventured into that spicy domain?!?
I love this idea! Making it be one story a week seems reasonable and easier to keep honest with than a daily thing.
Yea, LC and Gerard are still going and I'm here feeling secondhand exhaustion for them 😫😫😫 Oooo, a piece in each community. Mike and Loryne are the only ones that I know of that have already done that. I wish you all the best, Super Rach!
Oh Rachel, what a great challenge to yourself!! I love this idea!!!
Why doesn’t this come as a surprise?😉 Another challenge for you!🙃 Several of Judey Kalchek’s writing prompts to see out 2023 involved writing in other communities. This is way beyond my league but I will appreciate your masterpieces.✅
Do we get to pick the community every week, or is it set? 🧐
Good on you Rachel. I’m excited to see your work in all those different communities. Gosh I didn’t realize there were 48. Gulp. Wondering if I can “cheat” and write fictional stories linked to those communities….. got to be honest, I’m not very good at writing stuff about myself. Anyway. GOOD LUCK!
Look forward :) Interested in what you will find out about yourself.
That is a bold initiative. You go, girl. Likely I won't join, but I'll cheer you on.
The last time I said, "Count me in," well...you know. Like you, "It's been hard, I'm not going to lie. But I do feel a little sad that it's finished. I know that my fellow participants are still going and I commend them for it. Me? I need a break from it." Me, too. I fired off another two, but I think I've made my point (to me, that is). But this challenge is fresh and inspiring. More details: Each week? What day of the week, what deadline? Are there 52 communities? Please advise.
I look forward to reading your posts in new communities, Rachel!
This is a very impressive challenge - and while I know I won't be able to join you on every single one, I highly commend you for this brilliantly ambitious goal!! Looking forward to many of the new genres you look to explore; your challenge from the past year has made it clear that you can write something brilliant about just about anything! :)
I might join you in this, Rachel!