Top Story Ranking
All the stories that Vocal have deigned to give Top Story ranking in one place for your perusal
Getting a Top Story is a treat. We all appreciate them as a nod in our direction from the Vocal team. I am lucky to have received this more than once although the first time it happened, it made me feel so good, a real arrival, of sorts.
Other writers have amalgamated their top works as recognised by Vocal into a post for easy access and I thought that I would do the same in a prideful moment as well as a count-up of what I have achieved on Vocal since I first arrived here in 2021.
So here goes in chronological order of the pieces being written:
This was my third story on Vocal to be published but it only received a Top Story status in 2024. It was revisited and highlighted and I am super grateful for this. A brief piece centred on a woman and an afternoon with the marigold as a focus point.
My actual first Top Story about being challenged about what were considered "bad" book reviews by the authors whose books I'd reviewed. Some people can't take criticism. Your book might not be for everyone, people! That's something you need to be prepared for.
Again, like Positive Emotions, this received a Top Story status through the Raise Your Voice thread, I think, and Sian N. Clutton recommending it. It was also a runner-up in the Campfire Ghost Story Challenge and is a piece of which I am inordinately proud. Read it. Let me know what you think.
The start of my heady love affair with microfiction. Brutal tale, conjured with few words.
5. Boiling Sea
Another story of which I am proud. Based on a dream that I had and the start of my fictional journey creating my own version of Merlin, the legendary wizard of Arthurian legend. He featured a lot more and will again, I know.
Written for those whose homes were decimated by fires, I tried to capture the desolation, the fear, the need to survive. Vocal must have thought that I had done something right, or it was topical enough to get a front page placing.
7. What does a killer look like?
A personally motivated piece from me, prompted by strong feelings concerning a serial killer of premature babies and her not appearing in court to face her victims' parents.
8. Death and the Tuna Baguette
I mean, if that title doesn't draw you in, then nothing will! A surreal and quirky piece from me, which I remember enjoying writing inordinately.
I loved this story. My boys caught on memory sticks. Wonderful.
A challenge entry that didn't place but was given Top Story. Again, one of which I am very proud, a tale of redemption and change and optimism.
11. The Small Stuff
Again, a story not recognised until later where Hannah Moore raised her voice for it and Top Story status was delivered. A poem about looking for the gems in the everyday.
12. Dirty Morning
A poem inspired by a car journey in a grey fog on a grey motorway.
13. Rachel Reviews: To review or not to review?
Another discussion of entitled authors who do not like their work to be criticised and try to corral you into limiting where your review is placed.
I loved writing this. Such a heartwarming moment to share. Makes me feel all warm thinking about it.
15. Rachel Reviews: The It-Doesn't-Matter Suit and Other Stories by Sylvia Plath
Did you know that Sylvia Plath wrote a children's book of verse? No, I didn't either until I read this and shared my review.
16. Knowing the Enemy: The Last Tribes of Britannia by Lea Moran
A book review which achieved Top Story status. I don't think that I had any more after these two. Not sure why as they're for new authors a lot of the time. Perhaps too marginal? Who knows?
The second story in my 2024 microfiction adventure of writing a 366 word or less story every day, that's 366 microfictions which is a helluva lot. L.C. Schäfer suggested this madness and Gerard DiLeo and myself along with poet D.J. Reddall went along for the ride.
18. Animal
A poem inspired by an orangutan losing its home due to deforestation by humans. Sometimes I don't like the animal species I belong to.
A haiku that captured the attention of a horse-loving member of Vocal's staff
20. Larry
Another one of my microfictions which drew attention about meanness and misunderstanding in the office workplace.
Another microfiction selected, this time maybe for the quirky title and the nod to William Golding. Of course, it may have been for the story itself...
22. The Ragged Man
I should return to this story. D.K. Shepard would thank me. Mmm, I need to think on this. Another microfiction and possibly the start of something bigger as so many of them were.
23. Endurance
A microfiction tale of bullying and school and a bus journey.
24. Comment much?
A humorous piece on an interaction I had with a spammer of the comments' section on my work. I had a lot of fun with this!
25. The Oldest Oak
Another challenge entry, another miss, but another Merlin story of which I am proud and will eventually include in a Merlin omnibus all of my own, perhaps before I'm food for an oak myself.
A stark microfiction story, this one, of tactlessness in the face of loss.
27. Gossamer
There seems to be a bit of a theme here. Stories entered for challenges, not placing but becoming Top Stories...are you trying to tell me something, Vocal? Ah, no matter. I'm proud of this too, weird little story that it is.
I remember this one prompting quite a bit of debate.
29. Brilliant Shell
A nice, hopeful romantic one, not something I'm generally known for.
This was linked to another piece and I remember writing it after something I heard on the TV about an acid attack. I like putting myself into situations and thinking about the characters' thoughts and feelings in that moment of contemplation.
31. Change
A reflectional fictional piece drawn from my own experience of how life is soon going to change to something very different for me and my family.
An experiment after writing one version of the same microfiction and creating an exercise in how with a little reworking, it can be an entirely different story.
33. Exhausted
One of my favourite microfictions where I took how I was feeling and spun it into a yarn!
I love tales of families being reunited and so, decided to write my own microfiction.
35. Riot!
A topical one this after riots on the streets of Britain. I tried to humanise what I had seen about it on the TV, presenting a viewpoint.
36. The Old Soldier
A drabble of 100 words! I know! 100 word story! Who knew it was possible? I love the limits of short pieces!
37. Eavesdropping
One of my favourites from the year. Open to interpretation, I think, by a lot of readers although only I know my true intent in writing this.
Part of a series which I am still writing, this was one of a few Tops Stories awarded to my "Little Red Leaf" series.
39. Dave's Story
A "Little Red Leaf" episode - what happened to Laney?
40. Truth
A "Little Red Leaf" episode focusing on the boys remeeting.
41. An Invitation
A "Little Red Leaf" episode from Luke's point of view.
42. Accusation
A "Little Red Leaf" episode, leading up to the confrontation at the quarry.
43. Time for Answers
A "Little Red Leaf" episode where Dave is as slippery as ever.
44. Ice Fishing
I liked the tension and sense of atmosphere I built in this - what is under the ice?
And then as a Christmas surprise, Vocal gifted me two (two!) Top Stories one after the other and this one was the first.
And here's the other! A daft one this, written as a play on the idea of Boxing Day.
A funeral and a visit to my past as well as a tribute to a wonderful woman, a massive influence and support in my life
48. Fear in a Box
A self-examination piece which talked about fear and how I handled a particularly frightening situation that happened to me
A review of and recommendation for "Uncanny", a British TV series which explores the existence of ghosts looking at individual cases and interviewing ordinary people who had the ghostly experiences
50. Throwing Stones
A piece written after Millie Bobby Brown did an Instagram post, decrying her criticisers on social media - people who criticised her appearance
51. The Protectors of the Universe
A drabble about little Lego people being the protectors of the universe
52. Bye, Granny
An entry for 500 word Shockwave Challenge. It didn't place. :( But I liked the way that I ended it and I liked the characterisation which I managed to convey in 500 words. You can't win them all.
53. Ruined
Inspired by a photographer's Facebook post, where he shares hidden places he explores in my home county. Lately, he's been finding rundown properties and entering them and I find what he shows us fascinating. I tried to capture that in this poem from the point of view of the neglected house.
54. Fantasy
A poem which was for Ellie Hoovs' Wonderland challenge. Personally, I don't think it was one of my best and certainly not one of the best written for the challenge but if there's one thing I've learned about writing on Vocal, it is that subjectivity rules and what I think is good is not necessarily viewed in the same way by someone else. Nevertheless, this one has merit if not for the marvellous Unsplash image I chose.
55. Rachel Reviews: Of Lions and Unicorns by Michael Morpurgo
A book review which merited a Top Story. Michael Morpurgo is a pretty good writer after all.
56. Milk
A story about an encounter between a young mum and an old lady in the supermarket. Old ladies love babies, don't they?
57. The Rendering
An entry for a challenge which didn't place but which did get Top Story. A deeply personal poem for me and one of which I am inordinately proud.
58. Rachel Reviews: Small Things Like These (dir. Tim Mielants)
A film which really touched me deeply because of the subject matter and the quiet way in which it was relayed.
59. Rachel Reviews: Truth and Transformation (Taking Wonderland) by Martin Baynton
A book review which gave my opinion on a new spin on Alice and Wonderland.
60. Rachel Reviews: The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman
A good book about love between a ranger and an outlaw and living in the old West.
61. Rachel Reviews: Lost Letters by Tom Hapgood
Another new release where a man has a surprise from his past which has massive implications for his present as well as throwing into question past relationships with close family
62. Rachel Reviews: The Aftermath of Our Wounds by Iman Martzel
A poetry collection which charts a progressive journey which the poet goes on told through reflections on situations and relationships
63. Winter's Scout
A poem that was designed to evoke frost and the transition between the tail end of summer into autumn to the crispness of winter's arrival. This was also a runner-up in a challenge.
I'm hoping I'll be editing this soon to add more but as of today, November 22nd 2025, that's the sum of my Top Stories!
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If there is one thing that I have learnt from 2024 it is to never underestimate what you can achieve when you put your mind to it. I've written a little about this in my recent challenge entry Project Me as well as other goals that I have for 2025, so I will not repeat myself here.
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Comments (25)
You've got a gift for making writers feel seen
You are one of my favorite writers, Rachel! I love the heart and soul in your words and characters. I remember some of your Tops, but this gives me an opportunity to see the ones I missed :)
This gives me a lot to read in the couple days, thanks for the collection :)
a good series, loving it
I recognize many of these but there are a few that have slipped through my read. I will be returning to those. Great idea to do this and add easy links
Brilliant 🖊️📕♦️♦️♦️♦️
Wow! Love the way you highlighted the highlights of past work. I’ve never counted how many Top Stories I’ve achieved. Now I’m curious, lol. Thank you and cheers to the many more you will receive.
Love this, Rachel! I need to check out some of the earlier ones that predate my active status on Vocal! And yes I would be thrilled if you return to the Ragged Man series and many apologies for badgering you about it! 😬🙈🦡 congrats on an impressive and lengthy Top Story collection! Excited to see what gets added next! Though I noticed you’ve already gotten a 47th!
I’m so glad your talent has been recognised. This was great - well done Rachel.
Fabulous work… not surprised at all those Top Stories✅🥳… Yay “Little Red Leaf” 🤩… 5 of them🙃
Ah Boiling Sea, that'll always have a special place in my heart, for bringing you into my life 🥰🥰🥰
Keep up the great writing. 💖
Such a fantastic list!! I haven't read so many of these but so would like to- a very impressive tally, well-warranted by your high-quantity, high-quality storysmithing. :)
r-bud ~ 'The Boy in the Tree' ~ is my fav go-to..! j-bud
This is a great idea, and an impressive number of top stories as well! I’m going to make it my mission to read them all at some point in the near future. 🫡😁
I did the same thing and I'm glad to find these in one spot!
For newcomers looking for something to click on first, who might care to hear one man's opinion, I would highly recommend the Little Red Leaf series, or, if they want a quick standalone, "The Oldest Oak", which remains one of my favorites. But then, I'm a fan of the lore of wizardry and sorcery, as is plain in much of my own work, so that may be a personal bias! There's no Rachel Deeming piece one can start with that won't lead to others, I think. Like the old Lay's potato chip slogan: you can't have just one! Well-wrought!
So many top stories! Hope this gets you another one!
A great anthology of well-written work, Rachel!
That’s a great list. I should make a list of my top stories!
Wow, what an impressive list, Rachel! I've read many of them but there's a lot more to catch up with.
A good way to collect them, although your wallet shows all the ones you have been rewarded for as well
Awesome! this is on my list of must-dos! well done, chum!
Lots of Red Leaf installments here! That series was something really special... I don't think ever finished it property, I was hoping you'd publish it as an e-novella 😁
Impressive list!