Challenge

Beneath the Shadows, Beyond the Light
In shadows cast by flickering light, A boy with eyes dim, lost in the night. In the corners of a house, echoes of pain,
By Kelly Munala Brookes2 years ago in Writers
Fizzled
If Vocal taught me anything in my first year of membership, it was that other members hold a higher appreciation for the words fumbling from my keyboard than do the judges at Vocal. Had I written this four months ago, it would have been a bitter admission; today I state facts with a wry chuckle and a heavy dose of humility. My aspirations for 2024 are not to burn out or give up on writing.
By Mack D. Ames2 years ago in Writers
Crafting Your Unique Writing Aesthetic
This article provides an in-depth exploration of writing aesthetic, including its definition, significance for writers, tips for developing a unique aesthetic, incorporating aesthetics in different genres, examples of aesthetic writing styles, the impact of AI-driven content creation on aesthetics, the Writer Academia aesthetic, tools and resources for developing aesthetics, the benefits of having a freelance writing mentor, explaining writing aesthetic using adjectives and descriptors, and tips for crafting a unique writing aesthetic.
By Timothy A Rowland2 years ago in Writers
Lookout 2024 RHC is Here to Stay
My aspirations with Vocal in 2024. I am a data-driven person and thrive on structure and achieving goals. I have always had a high level of motivation. My level of motivation has not always been a good thing. But, at the same point, I have accomplished a lot in my life. I have experienced many wonderful successes and I have grown from the life learning failures.
By Rick Henry Christopher 2 years ago in Writers
Run it Back
I hate making New Years’ declarations, mostly because I can’t imagine a worse way of starting the new year than immediately breaking a promise you made to yourself. “30 minutes of cardio every day”, right? Yeah, I caught a charliehorse in the back of my left thigh getting off the toilet this morning, so that elliptical is getting a little dusty today. And now I’m sad, because I made this big to-do about “getting healthier” and “identifying my waistline” and here I am, in the drive-thru at Dairy Queen, paying in cash so my wife doesn’t judge me as she checks the credit card statement yet again.
By Bryan Buffkin2 years ago in Writers
This Year on Vocal
I came across this vocal challenge and I’m honestly stumped. Sure, I thought about my New Year’s resolution a lot and as always my goal is to eat healthier, drink more water, care about my body more possibly because I’ve been sick all of 2024 so far. As I write this from the comfort of my bed I have not really thought of Vocal Media and what goals I want to achieve here…I’ve earned too story in October of 2023 and I felt so proud to be writing about something most women feel to be true. Sure, it would be nice to be noticed again but I don’t think I am the best writer and it’s hard competing against writers that give more effort than I do. I write because I love it, I love sharing my perspectives and passions with strangers. I think to improve as a writer I want to spend more time editing, I hate that part of writing. The checking of commas, periods, semi colons, seeing if my sentences make sense. I hate the whole process it’s so gruelling and it makes me want to pull my hair out, even with that though I know I can be better by doing myself that favour and checking my work before submitting. However, before writing more often or checking my grammar I think I need to read more. I will be honest I do not read other creator’s stories…does that make me a terrible vocal founder? Umm…maybe? Lately, I have been reading the challenge winners though and I feel I have gotten better with reading more works of creators in the vocal community and in turn it will turn me into a better writer. I know, I know I can hear the vocal community yelling at me for not being more involved and I think that’s where I need to start is by reading other posts and maybe write a comment or two. The problem is that when I read something with too much detail I get super unfocused. I don’t want to read “The Lord of the Rings and the Two Towers” I want to read something that happens, something that is compelling and can draw me in right into the action of the story. I read fantasy and science fiction novels and series. I can’t read a fiction novel that is about absolutely nothing that’s not entertaining to me. I don’t know if it’s maybe that while doing my English degree I had to read so many classics such as “The Potrait of a Lady” and “The Sun Also Rises” and I can’t even fathom the idea of picking up another classic. It almost causes me to have PTSD to think about the books I had to read. They’re all just so boring and nothing ever happens in these novels. I did care for anything I read in school. I’d rather pick apart books like “Fourth wing” and see how the author creates a world where Dragons and humans need to bond. I’ve published my own book that sheds light into my customer service experience and all the things I’ve encountered. I don’t know what I was expecting from that, but I knew no one would buy it. I’ve made 10 sales in the last year. Self publishing is affordable but it’s hard to get a cut from it. Anyways, back to the goals I want to achieve with vocal media. I think I’d like to be more recognizable by earning more top stories this year. I could achieve that by winning a challenge as well and I think I need to edit more and maybe write more on topics that people find controversial, but that can be difficult as people will not agree with my conservative mindset. Then, I would be getting more hate and I think it’s better to keep my opinions about certain topics to myself. Yet, the reason why I don’t get people to notice me is because I avoid risk. There’s always a risk associated with speaking your voice. In this year of 2024 I need to learn how to check my grammar more often, I need to take risks and hopefully I will win a challenge in the 2024 year and read more community posts. These goals I’ve set up for myself can happen I just need to get out of my shell a little more. Here’s to more writing!
By Ada Zuba2 years ago in Writers
Fake Judges
Hey! Wait! Wait! Wait! You saying all those shits about me, Writing all that craps about me, Pointing your stained fingers at me,
By Sylverline Chigaemezu2 years ago in Writers
Reverberations and Desires: An Excursion into Vocal's 200th Test
As I plunk down to ponder my goals for myself as a maker on Vocal in 2024, I end up encompassed by the reverberations of the previous year, a year that has been both testing and groundbreaking. Vocal's 200th test feels like an achievement, a second to respite and set goals for the inventive excursion ahead. Thus, how about we leave on this excursion together, writing down my goals with the expectation that they'll mesh into the embroidery of my imaginative advancement throughout the following a year.
By Manjit@6400..2 years ago in Writers
"Silent Shadows"
In the not-so-distant past, the world found itself engulfed in a quiet chaos, a silent storm that altered the very fabric of existence. This is the story of those whose lives were intertwined with the unfolding drama of "Silent Shadows."
By Daniel Okololise2 years ago in Writers
My aspirations for Vocal
New Year’s resolutions? Not really my thing. But I’ve got some exciting stuff on my bucket list for 2024, and the biggest goal? Changing my name. I really hope my old fanbase sticks with me, but honestly, the past decade has been rough. I’ve dealt with terrible advice and retreated into my own little bubble, and I fear I might’ve lost a big chunk of my loyal followers along the way.
By Christian Bass2 years ago in Writers
#200
Happy New Year! We've all taken another trip around the sun and before us is a brand new year for all those goals, dreams, and checklists we weren't able to manage in 2023.
By Elise L. Blake2 years ago in Writers
Whispers of Rain
I love rain, strange, I know. I can see myself in it, sometimes raining so calmly, and other times pouring so heavily. It’s as if it has feelings too. In one instant, it’s serene, and in another, it’s fierce and furious. I can relate, no words need to be spoken. I can simply feel its emotions, its ups and downs.
By Ina Zeneli2 years ago in Writers