Introduction
The reason why we love Vocal is that we can share our creativity with others and support them by commenting and encouraging them, and we hope that they will reciprocate.
Now, just because I comment on your piece does not oblige you to comment on my work. My work may bore you, and the same happens with me; sometimes people leave nice and supportive comments, and I can't find anything of theirs that I can leave a word on.
So Reciprocity
I have touched on reciprocity in the past and was sad to see how many of these wonderful creators I don't see anymore on Vocal and Facebook:
I did wonder if reciprocity was cyclical. I sometimes want to say I don't get as many comments as I used to, but then see the lack of interaction on Top Stories and Challenge placements, and think, "It's not just me".
These are virtually all my Vocal posts on reciprocity:
And a piece on reciprocity would not be complete without a link to Judey Kalchik's excellent piece on the subject:
While I get a lot of reads outside of the vocal community, it is the comments I receive on my work from other Vocal creators that make my day.
Sometimes I wake up and have so many comments that I don't have time to reply to them, let alone reciprocate. While I criticised the Vocal Home page addition to hell when it was implemented because I get exactly the same information on my Subscription feed, I now do use it to comment on the latest stories on there that catch my eye, so I feel I am just giving a bit of support to the creators I am subscribed to.
Conclusion
As I stated, we should not feel obliged to comment on someone's work because they commented on our story, but by the same token, we should not expect people to read our work if we don't read the work of other creators, and there are a few Vocal creators who expect to be read without reciprocity. Needless to say, they get no reads from me.
Thank you so much for reading, and I would love to know your opinions.
The song I included is Supertramp's "Give A Little Bit", and now you have read this, go and read some other story in your subscription feed or by someone you have never read before.
About the Creator
Mike Singleton π Mikeydred
A Weaver of Tales and Poetry
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Creationati
Call Me Les β₯ Gina β₯ Heather β₯ Caroline β₯
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Comments (12)
Great share Mike Thankyouβ¦οΈβ¦οΈβ¦οΈπ
I'm very new to Vocal, and I have noticed that the lack of engagement from a Top Story can differ greatly. I mostly wrote via Medium, and the read-for-read was harsh because the pay per read there was so much higher, and it made everything feel like a machine, rather than just the beauty of finding a piece that resonates and wanting to leave a comment, rather than feeling coerced.
I used to be really bad about not reading and commenting on other people's pieces, mostly because I didn't feel as though I had the time. Lately, though, I've been trying to get better. I realized that it helps to generate a sense of community in addition to getting more reads for my own pieces, so I would like to contribute to that in any way that I can. Plus, I like to see when I have helped to make another writer's day. I don't think that means that we absolutely have to reciprocate with comments because, as I indicated before, we might be busy with real life (sacrilegious, I know) or going through a hard time, but if we can, I think we should at least give it a try.
Thank you for sharing, Mike. I think sometimes we move through long slow waves: sometimes more reading, sometimes more writing, sometimes just quiet.
I'm trying to do more reading on other people's stories - but sometimes it can be difficult especially recently with things on Vocal not really loading. But I am always glad for others to read my work - sometimes it doesn't happen but it doesn't bother me as much as it used to. Thanks for sharing mate x
I think I'm improving on leaving comments and making the effort to make sure that I contribute to the community. It's always good to get a reminder.
I don't have the time I used to have, but when I do read, I read most everything I come across, especially from my subscriptions. I've cut back on commenting, though, especially if the piece doesn't move me. I've gotten lazy and leave an emoji when I like a piece, but if the piece really strikes a chord, I try to leave some words. I just don't have much time with all the things I do. (That comment sounds a little greedy to people who don't know me, but to you Mike, and a few others, who know who I am off Vocal, you know it's not.)
Great article, Mike and you gave us a lot to think about. I always try to read as many stories and articles as I can.
As they say, we cannot get without giving. Thanks for the reminder, Mike.
I so agree. Kind of disconcerting...likes don't get reads from me. Comments do, even though I too am lax in the reply departments...apologies. time constraints.
I try not to read with the goal of getting entertained, although I know I may fall into this sometimes. When I read, it is to get to know the author, through my comments regardless of what they are writing about. I like the different personalities, and how we can all be like family. It's nice to know though, that we don't have to feel pressured to reciprocate if you drop by on our stories. I try to leave comments on Top stories where I feel like there are very few, like you said. I do hope that others would come along and join in. Well done for speaking on this more than once. I do understand that reciprocating, can be exhausting sometimes. Even for me too, but I try my best. I like that you had two opposing views on this topic, this would help to keep us talking. Well done, fantastically presented π€β€οΈ
So strange, that topic has been on my mind lately. Firstly, Thanks to those who still comment on stories. Vocal no longer pay people to read...so barely any read. I read and comment on a few, people may then drop a like on one of my stories and away they go. I doubt they even read it. So I tend to ignore them ever after. Or they hit subscribe and never return a read. I agree with you. I feel discouraged here lately...not just about that, but the whole different feeling on Vocal...a huge chunk of motivation and happy has disappeared. I am here in a lack lustre state of being. Not even the poetry challenges are cheering me up...and I love to write poetry. I miss the old days.