Stream of Consciousness
When Books Choose Us
I almost walked past it. Wedged between a stack of outdated cookbooks and a pile of travel guides to countries I’ve never visited, there it was: a thin, faded paperback with a cracked spine and someone else’s handwriting on the inside cover. I don’t even remember why I picked it up. The title didn’t call to me, the cover wasn’t particularly attractive, and if I’m honest, I wasn’t even looking for a new book.
By Shehzad Anjum4 months ago in Writers
How to Kick?. AI-Generated.
Introduction: A Bizarre Inquiry Alex's first encounter with the phrase "how to kick" was not in a self-defense course or on a soccer pitch. Instead, he heard this phrase murmured by an elderly male, resting at the deserted bus shelter around midnight. Alex believed he did not hear what he thought he heard.
By Zeeshan Haidar4 months ago in Writers
Look Like a pain. AI-Generated.
Introduction Have you ever heard someone say, "You don't look like you're in pain"? It's as if people think pain is something you can see. But pain doesn't really announce itself. It hides behind smiles, straightened spines, and the words we choose. This is the story of Maya, a woman who mastered the facade of everything being fine when her whole life was coming apart.
By Smart blend4 months ago in Writers
Bukowski Was Right: Don't Try
I considered writing yesterday, Sunday 15th September, and nothing was working—so I didn’t. In case you are wondering what constitutes Paul Stewart not writing, I finished editing and published an ode to Donna Fox. So, it wasn't exactly an unproductive day.
By Paul Stewart4 months ago in Writers
Plagiarist!!
**EDIT** THE USER AND HIS STORIES HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM VOCAL It has come to my attention that we have another serial plagiarist. Michelle first reported it in our plagiarism group chat on Facebook Messenger this morning when she noticed one of her stories had been stolen by this user. We immediately went into action.
By Mother Combs4 months ago in Writers
Are You Building a Career or Just a Brand?
Let’s face it: we’re all living double lives. There’s the version of you that gets up, does the work, and delivers results. And then there’s the curated, polished, LinkedIn-friendly version of you - the one who seems effortlessly successful, constantly grinding, and always "on." Over time, it feels like this second version of ourselves has taken center stage. We’ve become performers in our own career dramas, and honestly, the show is exhausting.
By Narghiza Ergashova4 months ago in Writers









