My Vocal hits 1000 reads??

I started on Vocal a couple of years ago and, after a week, decided to jump off. However, upon returning and diving into my writing career, I invested in Vocal Plus; this decision alone ignited a drive to write more. By writing more, I am sharing and learning more as well. I'm making friends with people I never thought possible on this platform.

I look forward to poems and stories from others (especially Real Poetic). I get so excited when I get comments from those I admire fiercely (I'm looking at you, Naomi Gold).

When I returned to Vocal after a few years of hiatus, I had around 450 reads. This was after two years and approximately 25 stories. After being on Vocal Plus for the last month, I have finally reached my 1000 reads! I have written over 50 articles and poems in that time and entered all the challenges. In the "Short and Sweet" challenge, I entered 12 poems. I am awestruck at the inspiration this platform continues to give. I never would have been this excited to sit down and perfect the craft. I'm so invested and want to run with the significant poets (Paul Stewart) that I'm even contemplating taking classes online for writing. This is all thanks to a community that challenges and creates a space where we can shine and influence each other! Where haiku book challenges (Judey) is designed for fun and makes me want to write a haiku (which would never have happened on its own).

While initially, I was excited by the prospect of making money on my writing, the more fantastic opportunity is that I get to read so many astounding stories and poems. The level of writing on this platform is exhausting! I am conditioning myself to keep up. Ashley Lima crafts these stories that keep me thinking; seriously, I find myself grocery shopping and thinking of your accounts; and Gina C. You create poems that make my heart yearn for more.

I see the skill, and I'm grateful I'm a part of a community with this commitment. The commitment to each other and to the platform. Where the synergy of helping one another and promoting each other is palpable. The other day, someone wrote an acrostic for one of the creators undergoing heart surgery. (To which my thoughts and prayers go out, and whom I won't name directly unless they want to tell us in the comments!) Vocal is what Facebook could have been, what Instagram wishes it was, and what Twitter will never be.

Our support for one another is exhilarating and intoxicating; the ability to come back day after day is dedication. Oh, and the man who just wrote his 1500 story on Vocal. What an achievement; to write so much and provide so much for us. He did that for us, for the collective we to enjoy. We write to persuade, to share, and to feel. We write to experience things we never thought possible.

Above all, I am so grateful that Vocal exists and that all of the people here exist for me to feel safe enough to talk to day after day; as I share my voice and look forward to publishing my stories and finding new mini challenges (again Real Poetic). While becoming a more fluent writer is my goal, and the Top Story badge is a dopamine grenade, I would love nothing more than to win a challenge. Though I won my first Top Story, I cried to my husband; being recognized for what I always thought of myself as a good writer was nice.

This brings me to my point if you are new to Vocal and wondering how long until your time, just know that if you make writing the goal, you will prevail. You put the work in, and the accolades will come. You support others on the platform, and they will help you back. You are not alone here on Vocal and are meant to write. You are a good writer, and you will only get better. Welcome to Vocal, where your writing journey is just the start. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my poems and stories; who leaves comments for me to ponder, and, of course, for their continued support. Here's to many more challenges and words that will grace our eyes.