We All Need Support
Some Thought About Creating On Vocal
Introduction
This is partly inspired by the number of great stories that I drop into and comment on, to find I am the only one who has read it despite the story being a week or more old.
I do feel I am not supportive enough, if I were I would appear on the Leaderboard more often, but usually when it is published I see it as an emphasis of how selfish I am.
So What Can We Do?
Although I am successful on Vocal with close on sixty thousand reads and a thousand subscribers there are probably only about ten Creators that read my work regularly, and that might be more than a lot of Creators. Most of my reads come from outside Vocal but I don't know where from and most of my stories I cannot check how many reads they have (unless they have a lot or a few) and use that to identify where the reads are coming from. If I am popular somewhere I would like to share more of my work with the readers.
I have also published six anthologies:
For instance, this has 300 reads and is getting reads every day, but only five hearts and two comments from Vocal Creators:
And this is the point of this piece.
I know I am loved, well-liked, appreciated and respected, and I feel that is the same for many creators. Also, I think that many of us are known as names and because we have fame on Vocal people do not feel we need to be read because someone else will read our stories.
For me that makes me feel more distant from other Vocal Creators, but as I said earlier in this piece I am not supportive enough of others, and I need to support others if I want support myself.
At the end of this piece, you will see my Creationati listed, other Creators who have earned my respect over the years. These do change slowly, but it is a way of permanently supporting other creators. This is how I maintain mine:
Conclusion
You may see writers who win challenges or get Top Stories, but there will be others who don't seem to get enough reads, everyone needs support from other creators.
We only have so much time, but reading others' work helps our own progress and obviously helps them.
Always leave a comment if you can, as that is a permanent record that you have read their story. A heart just becomes a number and is likely to be missed as the notification is drowned by publications.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you can take something from this.
About the Creator
Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred
A Weaver of Tales and Poetry
Join & Share In VSS
Creationati
Call Me Les ♥ Gina ♥ Heather ♥ Caroline ♥
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Comments (16)
Congratulations on placing as an Honorable Mention on this week's leaderboard for Most Discussed Story! Well done!
Wonderful advice, Mike! So important to share kindness and time with other creators.
I feel you read a lot on Vocal because I see your comments everywhere hehshe
This is such a great topic and a very relatable piece. I go through phases of writing and not writing, commenting and not commenting, and feel guilty when I don't have the time to read more on here. Sometimes I get obsessive and frustrated with my read count, but at the end of the day, I remind myself that I write for enjoyment and not attention. That being said, I am beyond appreciative to those who take the time and provide wonderful feedback on my stories! I'm trying to be more like some of you who are amazing supporters!
The number of words generated on this post is phenomenal, thank you everyone for their input and making this a very worthwhile post.
Great article Mike - I think it's important to read other people's work. I try to leave a comment, but sometimes I can't think how to express how much I have enjoyed a piece. And sometimes I am jiggered and can't think of anything coherent to say at all! This was a good reminder to try and better.
I fade in and out on Vocal so I am not always reading, but I am subscribed to you and do read you often. I have few readers and only scored one top story, but I appreciate how Vocal got me writing again.
Thanks, Mike. My most read story on Vocal is at 108 reads so I think 300 sounds like an amazing number. My high reads were for a poem that made runner-up in a competition so it made more than $1. But here’s the thing- I never would have written that poem without the Vocal Challenge. I never would have even thought about writing it. And this is what I really value and appreciate Vocal for- it is an incubator for good ideas. I too appreciate every writer here and every reader but I also appreciate what being here has done to help develop my imagination and writing skills, which you and I and probably most of the people here are striving for. Also, you own the ideas you develop here so you can take them further out into the world to people. That’s what keeps me here and that I’ve found a group of authors whose work I respect and am proud to be among. I echo your wish that it was easier to have conversations and I don’t know how to solve that problem, but I know there are a few such as yourself struggling with ways to make that aspect of being here better. Some kind of flow…
I think the only thing anyone can do is the best they can as far as support is concerned. Oftentimes I read more than I would want to write because there is something magical about the talent's of other people. Plus tis always good to think about how to improve my own writing as well. So hardly selfless. 💜 c
That's right, great observations!
I've been thinking about this topic lately. I'm used to not getting many reads, usually on my longer stories, but I try not to take that to heart (at least too much, lol). I've been away from Vocal for a few weeks, but I'm making it a point to log in just to read several pieces each night. Thanks for writing this, Mike!
Wow! I'd never imagined someone talking on this topic ❤ Amazing! Thank you, Sir ✨
You are always supportive of your writings. You write great stuff along with all the places you go to across the pond. Honestly, I feel closer to some of my family heritage in a way in seeing the English countryside. (I have just posted a series of fiction drabbles about four lion cubs. Hope you will read and comment.)
I've seen your profile, the thing that attracted me so far is 'Creationati ' this is an amazing way to support other Creators. I 💯 agree with you. One thing more if any creator subscribed you, you'd subscribe them back this is also the way of supporting others✨
I also worry that I'm not supportive enough. It is hard to get the balance right between writing and reading others. I try to read a few things by someone else each time I publish something myself. But I also think it is important to have an audience outside of Vocal. I have readers across Facebook and Blue Sky groups for my film writing, but less so for my fiction.
otivating to see how you've built support over the years. To more success!