Maybe Some Day

Vocal lured me in with the Little Black Book Challenge. Like an angler in a stream, Vocal dangled a $20,000 prize, and I was hooked. As I watched the number of entries multiply each day, my hopes faded for a victory and a week long vacation to Disney for a family of 8. But honestly, I did not enter expecting to take home the grand prize. The promoted advertisement on Facebook grabbed my attention and reeled me in, but as I investigated further, I loved the idea of writing for a platform that paid its contributors. I know that earning .0056 cents per read won't send my six kids to college, but I enjoy the possibility of being compensated for tapping out my thoughts on a keyboard.

I've been in for 35 days, and have 38 stories live on the Vocal platform. I consider myself an above average writer and have one question...what do I need to do to earn a spot in the "Top Stories?"

Every day for the last month, I have submitted one story, mostly to challenges. I anxiously watch my email waiting for Vocal to announce my story has been accepted. But the email I most want to see, other than "You have won $20,000," is an email congratulating me for writing a Top Story. And that hasn't happened yet. I am willing to make adjustments to my writing style, but I'm not sure if the exclusion is the fault of my story submissions. Maybe I've chosen topics that fail to resonate with the editors.

Does this mean I am throwing in the proverbial towel?

Absolutely not!

I love competition. I find that the quality of other writers on Vocal pushes me to work harder. Some of the contributors stretch me to expand my vocabulary, while others demonstrate the incredibly ability to "show and not tell." I'll continue to read the Top Stories until I grasp what truly resounds with the editors.

Maybe the length of the article fails to meet Vocal's approval. I am now apart of three different Vocal pages on Facebook. I enjoy the interaction and family atmosphere of all three. (Vocal Creators Lounge, Vocal Media Creators Hub, and Vocal Creators Saloon) On all three pages I have noted writers wishing for more than 2,000 words, and I'm over here struggling to reach the 600 mark. I struggle with expanding a story when I feel I've already told it. I don't want to bore readers with extraneous and wordy sentences that cause the brain and eyes to fog over. Several years ago, I wrote on another platform. Their short story competitions required entries to be 750 words or less. I guess I had become accustomed to this format. But with more time and practice, I'll spit out more words than a Webster's Dictionary.

The key is to not get discouraged. J.K. Rowling's novel, Harry Potter, was rejected by 12 different publishing houses before Bloomsbury accepted it. Stephen King's first novel, Carrie, received 30 rejection notices. A Time to Kill by John Grisham failed to meet publisher's expectations 28 times. (Find other famous authors with multiple rejections here.) I am in no way insinuating I deserve a place in league with these famous authors. In fact, I find that I probably identity most with the poetry of Dr. Seuss. However, I am determined to press on in the field of writing and every time discouragement wraps its tendrils around my brain, I will remember J.K. Rowlings and her one billion dollar net worth.

Self-Promotion is necessary. Over 400 people follow me on Facebook, yet, when I post a story and ask for (okay, beg for) readers, the plea attracts the attention of two people, my mom and wife. I'm not even sure if they both read it...So, I share links on Vocal Facebook Pages, Twitter, and occasionally on Pinterest. I think this pulls in about 4.5 more people. Even though the numbers might be small, when someone sacrifices two minutes of his or her day to read and leave positive feedback, I feel like a Pulitzer Prize recipient. It feels good to resonate with the reader, to tap into someone's emotions, drawing out a smile, a chuckle or a tear. (The cherry on the top is a "share.") I feel giddy over more people skimming my submissions, because each reader equals .0056 cents...and, well, I have six kids.

Keep writing. Keep reading. Keep the faith.

One of these days I'll meet up with you in Top Stories.