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Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 05/01/2024
Welcome to the weekly update of the Leaderboard! We're thrilled to showcase Vocal's most discussed stories, popular picks, and rising stars. Let's dive into this past week's standout contributors and their remarkable achievements.
Vocal TeamPublished about 10 hours ago in ResourcesMiniature Mind Musings #8:
Recently, I spoke with a family member who I struggled to catch up with for a longer timespan than I would’ve liked and what struck me was how societal templates filled in on successive days routinely suck our time into a vacuum of seemingly infernal deficiency.
The Dani WriterPublished 3 days ago in LongevityOne of the Crazy Things Rich People Do That's Scary To Think About
They impress us, and sometimes they scare us, but the ultra-rich are always interesting. Some of their famous activities include buying yachts too big to move through channels, buying ridiculously priced cars that could feed the homeless of New York for weeks, and their expensive tastes in sex workers.
Jason Ray MortonPublished 3 days ago in FYIWe'z Walking on a Path Ruled By Numbers
This road has felt endless, yet limited; every step tracked. Inching away along this path, I feel trapped. Confined. Left to this narrow passage that may one day amount to something greater. Time is not a concept. Only distance. From start to finish, I laugh and cry and attempt to convince myself that this is worth it. I cannot stray. I must keep going. Every step etched, is a step taken, is measured as more than before. I cannot even recall how I got here. Maybe I don’t even really exist. Just another tick marking off a perceived presence. Of what though? I am just another line drawn. Nothing more, nothing less.
Oneg In The ArcticPublished about 18 hours ago in FictionMaking Time
If Time had wandered weary in And sat him down to drink, And whispered in his weary voice "I have no time to think", I'd take my father's face to mine
Hannah MoorePublished 4 days ago in PoetsElements
Elements D. A. Ratliff Aeris stood upon the hilltop overlooking the carnage occurring in the valley. She watched the village burn, and the peasants’ screams drew her breath away as she tried to give them life.
D. A. RatliffPublished a day ago in FictionThe Golden Valley
The difference between light and dark could be as quick and simple as a flip of a switch, the drawing of a curtain, the opening of one’s eyes. It could be more gradual like the slow adjustment of the diaphragm on a microscope, the turn of a planet on its axis, the growing light as you approach the end of a tunnel. A flicker in the dark, a steady glow in the distance, a flash in the night sky.
Alyssa NicolePublished a day ago in FictionMirages
I’d always placed you on a pedestal. Incredible you were--your castle glimmered in the sky. I was always stagnant as I watched you there:
Final Call
She flings her arms around my neck and squeezes me like she’s never going to let me go. My head spins as her lips brush against my cheek. She must be able to feel my heart thumping in my chest. I shuffle backwards and ram my hands into my coat pockets, watching her reach down and heave the rucksack across her shoulders.
Caroline CravenPublished 2 days ago in FictionOn Winning and Losing
Recently, the pleasant surprise of placement on the Vocal Bonus Leaderboard sent me down a rabbit hole. Now, rabbit holes are a pretty common place for me to spend time, but I don't always feel the call to write about them. To be honest, the thought of sharing some of them mortifies me.
Dana CrandellPublished 4 days ago in WritersThe Good Samaritan
"But I don't know how to drive!" "Please! You have to help me!" "I've only ever been in a go-kart! There's too many pedals!"
Rachel DeemingPublished 5 days ago in FictionThe Abominable No-Meatman
So, I had an idea. I was wondering if Pennywise the dancing clown went vegan because he wanted to befriend humanity, what would he eat? Would there be food options for him, or would he have to starve just to be put in a better light with us humans. So I’ve created a special restaurant and menu just for him. This way, if Pennywise were to become vegan, he wouldn’t have to get creative with his dietary choices, I’ve done it for him. I’ve taken the work out of going vegan on his behalf! Here is a special restaurant and menu I made just for our friend, Pennywise!
Alex H MittelmanPublished 3 days ago in FictionThe Longest Minute
A minute. Sixty seconds to say goodbye. That’s all the time that I had left with him as the needle slid into his leg. I stared into his drooping eyes, looked at the blood-tainted saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth. They said that this was the best thing that we could do for him, a last kind act for a best friend…but if that were the case, then why did my heart feel so heavy?
Stephanie HoogstadPublished 6 days ago in Fictionnew world
there is no escape from cement-bourne memories habits forced deep into genetics until they blend forwards with the self a cage familiar yet no less daunting
Tortured Soul
The soul careened blindly through a void where it scraped against the walls of a narrow tunnel, amassing a cumulative friction that created all the heat the devil would ever need to torment it. There was no light at the end, not even a fire. From the bottom a cold wind blew, and the clash of extremities spawned vapors of terror in the deadened and numbed appendage that was this strange, delirious, drunken consciousness.
C. Rommial ButlerPublished 6 days ago in FictionThe Hour Long Minute
I’m finally off of work from my overnight shift and now comes the hard part. I do Ride-share driving for about two or three hours after I get off of work each morning, not only to make ends meet, but to put away a little extra money for my rapidly approaching wedding.
Earl W. PearlPublished 4 days ago in FictionTurning Pages of Life
Life’s like a book — some parts are good, others not so much. Still, keep turning the pages; you might find the best chapter next. If someone hurts you, choose to forgive or just let it be, but never change who you are for them.
Emily Chan - Life and love sharingPublished 5 days ago in PoetsSpectating
I can't imagine dying like this, in a place like this; on a cold, dirty pavement with rush hour traffic screaming by and a crowd looking on while paramedics struggle to find space to move. Who could? Deep down we all think there should be a reason, a moment of clarity... or a family presence, at least. For this man, this boy, the rail thin woman lighting a cigarette in a faux fur jacket will have to do - she's been here since the start, her eyes tracking the movement of my shoulders as we fight to keep him on the right side of the line.
S. A. CrawfordPublished 4 days ago in FictionClouds of Heaven
I always struggled in life and have finally grown tired of trying to fit into the mold of normal behavior. It was enough for me that I just was. Aspirations and success are a moronic goal in life that I failed to embrace.
Another Factor That Separates Sages From Masters
Read to the End to Help "Change The World" with our Earth Week Impact Launch Initiative! --- In my article The 8 Stages to a Quality Career, I detailed each of the steps one must go through to advance to the highest levels in any Industry.
Cody Dakota Wooten, C.B.C.Published 6 days ago in Journal