Sincere Gratitude

Over the past couple of weeks, I've seen so many amazing dedications thanking the Vocal community for their continued support. I'm usually not one to jump on a bandwagon, but after a (completely unexpected) successful week on Vocal and being the week of Thanksgiving here in the U.S., I wanted to take some time to say thank you.

At the end of 2021, completely burned out and needing a change, I decided to join an online writing group. It was my first experience with openly sharing my work with others for critical feedback. At that point, I had already been working on my novel for over a decade without any perspective but my own. I had been writing in a dangerous void.

Needless to say, I was terrified about sharing my writing, my most personal thoughts and ideas. But I also realized that it was time for me to step out of that comfort zone I had protected for so long. It was time to take my writing beyond just a hobby if I was serious about publishing a book in the future.

Then, all the doubt seeped through the cracks of my self-confidence. I am the awkward kid who doesn't know how to respond to positive feedback. I am the perfectionist who always thinks that I can do better. I am the anxiety-ridden adult that fears rejection and suffers from imposter syndrome.

How was I going to make this writing thing work?

I used to think I was alone in feeling these things. But then I attended my first writing retreat, and everything changed. Spending time with other writers opened my eyes to the world of writing I had been missing: the comradery.

Is this what it felt like to be around like-minded people?

I was in awe. For someone who has felt out of place my entire life, I finally felt I was in a place where I belonged. I finally felt seen and understood.

Vocal is a continuation of that experience for me. The support of the creators here is beyond amazing. Over the years, through interactions here on Vocal, on Instagram, in writing groups, on writing retreats around the world, and even meeting authors at book events, the overwhelming encouragement and positive feedback I've received has been so heartwarming. I've learned that writers are some of the most generous people, always willing to help others in pursuing their dedication to writing because they truly understand the struggle.

Thank you to all of the wonderful Vocal writers and readers who have supported and continue to support my writing here. When I first joined, I didn't know what to expect. Somehow, I had come across Vocal while searching for writing contests and challenges. I saw the Sleep Resolution Challenge and decided to enter. As expected, I was nervous about posting anything that I had written, especially a piece of writing that was so personal, on a public platform, but I jumped in with both feet.

Almost three years later and I am so glad that I made that first leap.

It was a slow start, but I've learned that consistency pays off. In the beginning, most of my stories were written for challenges as a way to branch out and try new things, like writing poetry, attempting different genres, and diving into more personal pieces. I was sporadic, only entering the challenges that piqued my interest. It didn't feel like enough, so I started using Vocal as an outlet and a way to take a break from writing my novel (although, I will admit, now it is more of a distraction and a procrastination tool...oops).

Of course, I've been frustrated when a piece doesn't get many reads or when my challenge entries don't make the cut. It's easy to get discouraged when there are so many great writers out there and everyone is fighting for a spot at the top. But it is part of the process.

The key is to keep going. You never know what will happen.

For me, the simple comments left by readers helps to keep me going. A short note to say someone dropped by to read is the perfect gift for a writer. It's always nice to know that someone took the time to read your writing. And it's not just the comments on my own writing, I find it incredibly uplifting to see the words of praise and encouragement for so many writers here. In the new year, I hope to spend more time reading and commenting on stories since I know I have not been consistent myself and I know how important it is.

We are here to lift each other up and motivate each other to keep going, even when the writing gets hard.

So, after all that rambling, I want to say thank you to everyone here on Vocal.

I sincerely appreciate everyone who has read, liked, commented, or supported me in whatever way over the past several years, and I am so grateful for the recognition I've received, especially over the past year and a half, as I continue on this crazy journey as a writer with you all.

THANK YOU!