Stream of Consciousness
Am I Anyone's Favorite Writer?. Top Story - October 2025.
Someday, you’re going to be someone’s favorite author. --Lucia Franco With the posting of my drabble “The Invasion” (link below), I hit 250 stories published on Vocal. I know that it should be a time of celebration for me. After all, that’s a lot of stories! Surely, I should be proud of myself. However, I find myself reflecting on my past three years on Vocal and wondering how I could have done better and, more importantly, if I have made an impact with any of my stories.
By Stephanie Hoogstad3 months ago in Writers
Recitation
I love reciting this poem. For me, there’s a glimmer of sadness embedded in the sardonic wit, and there’s also a small epiphany within it for me, in the line “thewoman wasnot/quite Fourteen till she smiled/then/Centuries.” There’s an acknowledgment of feminine wisdom and knowledge that’s generally lacking in masculine poetry, and there’s something in her value being double that of the room. I, of course, know she’s worth much more than that. There’s also something else in that six for me outside of dollars, an echo of Persephone’s pomegranate seeds perhaps, or maybe some other allusion I can’t articulate, but this poem does what poetry should do—it makes me look at things differently
By Harper Lewis3 months ago in Writers
Tunnel Vision
I had this fleeting thought when I was sitting at my go to cafe sipping my coffee wannabe since I only order half the espresso shot and a huge cup of milk to overpower how it tastes trying to get some work done .. What spiked the idea was (not to your surprise) if you’re a regular guest here is Absolutely music . I had my airpods on and shuffled through spotify to find the right song for the moment because the people chatters was louder than the speakers on , it wasn’t until I paused for a sec that I heard “Riptide” blasting through the speakers and realised I have missed my fav verse in one of my fav songs ever , it’s “there’s this movie that i think you’ll like, this guy decides to quit his job and heads to new york city“ if you were wondering .. sorry for wasting your time if you don’t care about that tho . That’s a bit dramatic huh ? ‘heavily sighing‘ … Well to my luck we have music streaming apps now, I can replay it whenever I want. But what about the things we don’t get a second chance at ? no re-dos, no another attempt or better luck next time you idiot. ? You see ummm .. the problem here is always one thing or the other, it’s either that we think we know it all , we have it figured out ,we know that this and only this is what we want blah blah bleh, OR! that we know nothing at all.
By Daisy Evermore3 months ago in Writers
His Freckle Too, Stayed Until Morning
I did not notice it before. That small freckle just beneath his left eye, the one the light always seems to find before I do. How many times have I seen his face and never really seen it? The mark itself is nothing special, really, a speck, a shadow of pigment the sun decided to keep for itself, yet tonight it feels like a secret I have finally been allowed to see.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast3 months ago in Writers
Fantasy and Science Fiction on Vocal
I love fantasy and science fiction. They are my favorite genres to read and write, although I have been leaning more towards poetry in my writing recently. I even enjoy reading fantasy and science fiction here on Vocal. Two of my favorite Vocal series are fantasy: Matthew Fromm’s Songs of the Silver Wizard and Amanda Starks’s An End of Gods & Dust (links to both below).
By Stephanie Hoogstad3 months ago in Writers
Remote Work Resorts
Let me be brutally honest: the traditional office is dying a slow, painful death, and frankly, it's about time. After spending the better part of two decades watching corporate Australia cling to outdated work models like a security blanket, I've witnessed something extraordinary unfold over the past few years. The pandemic didn't just force us to work from home - it exposed the glaring absurdity of forcing talented people into sterile cubicles for eight hours a day, five days a week.
By Narghiza Ergashova3 months ago in Writers
Final Fantasy: The Legendary RPG That Redefined Gaming Forever. AI-Generated.
Final Fantasy: The Legendary RPG That Redefined Gaming Forever Learn about the illustrious role-playing game series known as Final Fantasy, as well as its rich history, development, and influence. Explore its storylines, characters, and why it continues to inspire players in 2025.
By Zeeshan Haidar3 months ago in Writers
