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Can Creative Writing Be Taught
After reading Alexander McEvoy’s “How Do (I) Write?”, I commented on how the unique journey of a writer’s process cannot necessarily be taught, that it’s something that we must figure out for ourselves on an individual basis. Alexander McEvoy replied that he does not know if creative writing can be taught because it is so individual. This led me to wonder the obvious: Can creative writing be taught? If it cannot, then why do we have so many courses and workshops claiming to do so? Are we just all being duped by some big money-making scheme?
Stephanie HoogstadPublished about 17 hours ago in Writers
Plus or Minus
The drip, drip, drip of the leaking faucet punctuated the silence like gun fire. How many times had she asked Michael to fix that stupid sink? How many times had he said he would, but never seemed to get around to it?
Gerald HolmesPublished 3 days ago in Fiction
A Glimpse In The Life Of Meagan Dion: 3 times Vocal Challenges Runner-Up
Meagan Dion is a mother to four children ages 11, 10, 8 and 6. She also home school her children. She has a degree in theology because she wanted to be a missionary but now her hope is to become a glass blower. She also can relate to Vincent Van Gogh because he left missionary work and pursued art.
Mariann CarrollPublished 2 days ago in Interview
Ebony Winter
It doesn’t snow here anymore. It hasn’t for decades. Not since mama used to wash clothes by hand until her fingers bled. Not since I realized that life gets harder with every twist of the knife.
Lamar WigginsPublished 2 days ago in FictionMeet-cute at the Corner Table
She hurries into the dimly lit coffee shop with a battered laptop pinched between her elbow and side, shedding raindrops from her jacket. Taking her place in line behind an elderly man with a soggy newspaper, she inhales greedily of the familiar air infused with hints of freshly ground coffee and notes of burnt everything bagels.
Donna ReneePublished a day ago in FictionTalk is Cheap, Silence is Golden
Talk is cheap Silence is golden Think before you spray But never hold back Just always be careful But don't hold it in
Paul StewartPublished 2 days ago in PoetsSandbox Eight
Sandbox eight was sealed off for a good reason, but occasionally someone’s kid would ignore the caution tape and unwittingly wander off and play in it anyway. Seven other sandboxes had been built around sandbox eight in a failed attempt to keep the kids out, but sandbox eight was a siren to the kids, it’s song continued to bring them into the sand until one last child was left in the city, Joey.
Alex H MittelmanPublished 3 days ago in Fictionmisunderstood
look me in the eyes. tell me, what do you see? * someone who cowers and heeds every plea? * do you see someone shy someone lacking defense?
The Writing Witch ✨🌗 (Joelle)Published 3 days ago in PoetsHow do (I) Write?
I read Mackenzie Davis's "How do YOU write?" and the questions asked in that text were very interesting for me. I think about writing a lot, and I think about how I'm going to write my next piece a lot. So the answer, for me, is haphazardly.
Alexander McEvoyPublished 5 days ago in WritersThank You Dumbledore
Standing at Platform nine and three quarters. Harry James Potter along with his wife Ginny Weasley Potter, Ronald Weasley and Hermoine Jean Granger-Weasley all stand together as proud parents watching their children board the Hogwarts Express as they begin their new year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry himself could not be more proud to watch his children start their new journey of life the same way he began his 26 years ago.
Joe PattersonPublished 3 days ago in Fiction
Challenges
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test.
Unspoken
Convey a deep conversation between two individuals without uttering a single word aloud.
$500 Grand Prize18 days leftNourished
Share the story and recipe of a comforting dish you received when you needed it most.
$500 Grand Prize23 days leftExtraterrestrial
Write a rhyming poem about the first thing you would introduce to an alien on Earth.
$600 Grand PrizeClosed
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Resources
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Next Great [American] Novel Challenge Winners
For this Challenge, we asked you to explore the theme of national identity and belonging through the lens of your birth country or the country you have lived in that you most deeply identify with.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 2 days ago in Resources
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 9/28/2023
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted every other Thursday at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
Raise Your Voice by VocalPublished 3 days ago in Resources
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 9/27/2023
It's time to celebrate our outstanding Vocal creators and recognize their contributions to the platform this week. Cheers 🥂
Vocal TeamPublished 4 days ago in Resources
Announcing Vocal's Community Round
From the very first word shared on Vocal to the millions of stories that have been published since, our evolution over the last six years has been truly remarkable. Vocal isn't just a platform anymore; it's a thriving collective, a vibrant community, and a canvas for millions.
Justin @ VocalPublished 9 days ago in Resources
Judging the Vocal Writing Awards
Hey Vocal Creators 👋 With just 9 days left to enter, the final countdown to submission deadline has begun for the Vocal Writing Awards (VWA), a celebration of the most captivating writing contributions from our community. To ensure a transparent process, we've outlined the complete procedure in this resource article. So whether you're a participant, voter, or an eager spectator, here's everything you need to know.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 10 days ago in Resources
Book Club Challenge Winners
This Challenge was particularly enjoyable for us as judges. It allowed us to sit around and discuss our own books that we cherish, the ones that changed us. Was it because they were perfectly written? Or because it was the book we needed at that point in our lives? And what does perfectly written even mean? For whom is it perfect? And, being big readers, as so many of our Creators are, we know that the more you read, the more deeply you are affected by all sorts of books, and suddenly you are thrown this way and that, moved like a leaf on a stream by all the incredible books you read, and it's hard to pick just one book.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished 10 days ago in Resources
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