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Being a Fantasy Writer in a Real-World Crisis
“Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory. If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don’t we consider it his duty to escape?” — J.R.R. Tolkien
By Georgia6 months ago in Writers
Four Years On Vocal
Introduction I started on Vocal over four years ago with this piece, although it seemed to me the focus was on fiction and poetry, two things I had not really touched since school, although there were other "communities" which I did not explore for a while (I have now posted in every community).
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 6 months ago in Writers
Why I Left Vocal, Why I Came Back, and Why Writing Feels Like Coming Home
I joined Vocal Media back when it felt like an empty high school gym before prom, just a few of us awkwardly swaying in the corner, wondering if anyone else would show up.
By The Arlee6 months ago in Writers
The 3 Questions Every Fantasy Writer Should Ask About Their World
"No matter how fantastical the setting, the world must feel real enough to live in." - Unknown Let's be honest: we fantasy writers are a passionate bunch. We will create entire languages, draw maps down to the last mountain range, and write 15-page treatises on magical goat herding if left unsupervised. (No judgment - I have been that person.) But even with all that detail, it's easy to forget the core thing that makes a fantasy world work: the questions you ask about it.
By Georgia6 months ago in Writers
Fortnightly Reading Round-Up #2
The time has come for my second reading round-up on Vocal. However, it is a couple of days late because I spent a long weekend celebrating a friend’s 50th birthday.
By R.S. Sillanpaa6 months ago in Writers
Goulhearth’s Marvelous Institute of Wizardry and Other Magical Creations Opens Its Doors to the Public
A Hidden Realm of Magical Education Emerges Goulhearth’s Marvelous Institute of Wizardry and Other Magical Creations, long considered a myth by even the most devout magical scholars, has officially revealed itself to the modern world. Tucked within the Enchanted Thistlewood Forest, the prestigious school announced a historic public opening for select non-magical visitors and aspiring magic-wielders alike.
By CyberFlex-TV6 months ago in Writers
Overused Words You Can Cut from Your Writing Right Now
"The road to hell is paved with adverbs." — Stephen King Let me tell you a secret: I used to be a literary hoarder. I clung to every single "just," "really," and "very" like they were emotional support words. My paragraphs were padded like a poorly packed suitcase—crammed with fluff, just in case. I figured more was more, right? Turns out, no. Definitely not.
By Georgia7 months ago in Writers
The Clockmaker's Secret
In the quiet village of Windmere, nestled between green hills and silver lakes, there lived an old clockmaker named Elias Greaves. His shop sat at the corner of the cobbled main street, filled with the soft ticking of countless timepieces, from tiny pocket watches to grand floor clocks that boomed on the hour.
By Hamdan Khan7 months ago in Writers
The woman who wrote through silence . AI-Generated.
Do you see this woman? She was mocked, dismissed, humiliated, and cast aside… simply because she was born a woman. Her name was Grazia Deledda. Born in the rugged hills of Nuoro, Sardinia — a land where girls were taught to sew, not to dream.
By Muhammad sufyan7 months ago in Writers
The Art of Revision: 7 Things to Look for Before You Hit ‘Publish’
Writing is rewriting—but not everyone knows what to look for. I used to think that once I typed the final sentence, my piece was done. I’d do a quick skim, fix the obvious typos, and send it off—confident and a little smug. But over time (and after cringing at a few too many posts I hit "publish" on way too fast), I learned that writing the first draft is just step one. The real magic? It’s in the revision.
By Georgia7 months ago in Writers
Why I Keep Writing Even When No One’s Reading (Yet)
“Sometimes it feels like I’m writing into a void — but I keep showing up anyway.” I’ll admit it… there are days when hitting “publish” feels like shouting into the void. I stare at the screen, re-reading a piece I poured my soul into, only for it to get… three views (at most) and a polite thumbs-up from my best friend (sometimes). And while I tell myself it’s not about the numbers (because it’s not), that little voice still pipes up: Is anyone even out there?
By Georgia7 months ago in Writers
100 Tiny Joys: How Ordinary Moments Create an Extraordinary Life (No Grand Gestures Needed)
I was elbow-deep in dishwater, scrubbing burnt oatmeal off a pan I’d neglected again, when it hit me: Life wasn’t happening "out there." It wasn’t waiting for a promotion, a vacation, or some seismic shift. It was here. In the stubborn oatmeal. In the lukewarm soap suds. In the way the morning sun hit the bubbles, turning them into shimmering, temporary galaxies. I almost missed it – again – chasing the phantom of "extraordinary."
By Muhammad Sabeel7 months ago in Writers