Give More to Get More

When I first joined the Vocal platform, I didn't really understand how to get the most out of this community. I viewed my fellow creators not as a source of camaraderie and support but as competition. I approached every new Challenge Winner and Top Story Recipient as an opponent - as someone who had received an honor that I wanted, and I always read their stories with an eye to pick their stories apart instead of appreciating and learning from them. I was always sure that I deserved better, and there were even times that I would refuse to read another creator's story, because I didn't want to contribute to their reads.

Now, I know what you're thinking, and I'll even include the appropriate judgmental gif for you so you don't have to hunt one down:

Okay, so now that we got that out of the way, give me a chance before you totally write me off and see if, just maybe, I've grown a tidbit...

First, I think we should all be a little honest with ourselves and one another. This is a platform that rewards the most popular and highest reads with money, after all, and we are all human. Deep down, we all have a little bit of those dark evil beasts called jealousy and greed hidden away, and if I can resort to those types of thoughts, then so can anyone else.

Because, honestly, I have always loved seeing other people's faces light up with joy, and I love the feeling of being the one to make someone feel valued or appreciated. So, then why did I have to fight such different instinct and nature within myself when I started on Vocal? Honestly, I think a big part of it was that it felt like high school again in a lot of ways... but with the added monster of social media. These two things have never been very kind to me. I'm not an extrovert. I baked and bought things to make others feel good, but also because if I didn't, I was pretty much invisible in high school, and my social medias are filled with "friends" who really couldn't care less about helping me gain reads. So, I felt a bit like a fish out of water on this platform for a long time (okay, let's be honest... I still do).

So, here I was writing my heart out, and there was pretty much radio silence. None of my so-called friends were reading the stories I shared, and I really didn't share many of them, because I've never been one for sharing my deepest thoughts with those close to me. I'm a bit of a fade-into-the-background kind of girl. I began to feel like Vocal was just not for me, because self-promotion is just not something I can do. So, I started to feel just a little bitter and resentful, and that is an ugly monster when it rears its head.

Still, I was writing more than I had in decades, and more than "reads" or accolades or money, I really just wanted a place to share my work and feel a return of ... Something! ... Anything!

So, I went WAY outside of my comfort zone, and I joined a Facebook group or two dedicated to Vocal writers. At first, I did like many do, and I just dropped my links at seemingly appropriate times and slowly started to reach out to other creators. Then, a crazy thing happened. People started responding. They started reading my work. They gave me feedback and support. More than all of this, though, I realized something that (apparently) I hadn't figured out on my own up to that point.

My fellow Vocal creators were people... just... like... me!

I got to know some of them a little bit, and I realized that what I had always known in person, I somehow forgot when I joined Vocal. That simple truth hit me over the head, and I am SO glad that it did.

What is that truth?

It's this. In the Vocal community, like life, many people are out only for what they can get. For maximizing their gains. Some are successful in their greedy paths, but the majority of us (we hope) learn that the best way to gain friends is to be one. We learn that the best way to get support is to give support. So, if you are looking for a way to increase your reads, your audience, your "stats," please learn from my lesson learned the hard way.

It's a simple lesson that I had forgotten briefly. Now, I'd like to share that lesson with you.

Give More to Get More!

If you follow this simple concept and become Genuinely involved in reading and supporting your fellow creators, I promise you... the more you will experience the same in return.

Did my stats, reads, and audience increase when I branched out?

Yes. They did. By a lot!

*** But more importantly, I met a lot of really great people, and I have gotten so much more back than just an increase in reads.

So, here's the truth. Whether in life or on Vocal, remember this:

*** The more that you give, the more you will get back. ***

So, in conclusion, I invite you to skip the first part of the journey that I took (that whole nasty greedy, jealous, ugly part), and Subscribe to your fellow creators! Read their stories! Heart their stories! Share their stories! Join groups and chat with your fellow creators. And try not to just drown the threads in your links without reading others' work - it shows when you do this, and that doesn't win anyone over...

You might just find one or two (or a couple hundred) people who are so much more than just your competition on this platform but are real, genuine, and wonderful sources of support - AND you might just find your reads increase! I hope to see you around!

***Please look below for links to some of my favorite Facebook groups, as well as links to JUST SOME of my favorite creators (there are too many to list just in this***

🖤 Your fellow Vocalite - Lena!

🖤🖤 Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this poem, click here for more, and please like, share, and subscribe. Tips are Greatly Appreciated but never expected! 🖤🖤

CHECK OUT THESE AWESOME GROUPS AND CREATORS!!!!

Joshua Mason - A prolific and creative poet and fiction writer who is always ready to support and send warm thoughts!

Mike Singleton - MikeyDred - Also a prolific poet with just a Huge heart and a collection of poems with great music!

Paul Douglas - A great guy with beautiful poetry!

Dana Crandell - Only been with Vocal 4 days with first story being a Top Story!

Babs Iverson - A genuinely lovely person with wisdom and heart in her stories!

Ali SP - A beautiful writer full of soul!

Steve Lance - A very creative writer with awesome fiction!

*** There are SO MANY more writers that I LOVE and more I haven't found yet! I will be including more in my next story!!

Vocal Social Society

Great Incantations: A Group Dedicated to Vocal Challenges

The Vocal Creators Support Group

The Vocal Cafe