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How Vocal Is Actively Making Us Better Writers

and why it's still worth a shot.

By Elsa FleurelPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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How Vocal Is Actively Making Us Better Writers
Photo by Thom Milkovic on Unsplash

Following the backlash of the latest controversy on Vocal, many of us found ourselves disheartened, frustrated, or even on the verge of giving up. Fighting for fairness and accountability is always important, but I believe amidst the outrage, we may have lost our sense of purpose—forgotten everything that Vocal does have going for it, outside of the monetary scene.

So, let us remind ourselves why Vocal is such a useful platform for all types of writers. And if you're new here, wondering if you should try it out or not, here's a list of reasons why I still believe Vocal is worth a genuine shot.

1. Challenge yourself

If we're being honest, that's the main reason most of us joined Vocal in the first place: challenges. I mean, prizes worth thousands of dollars? Why the heck not?

But the finish line isn't the only thing we have to gain from subscribing to Vocal+ and participating in those challenges, actually, far from it. I always like to remind myself and my fellow writers that the only way to hone your skills is to write, read, and write some more. Vocal's challenges offer unique prompts, both for articles and fiction, that will get you to finally want to sit your butt down at the computer and type into the wee hours of the night. Whether it be about challenging yourself emotionally by sharing a personal memory from your childhood, or exploring new themes in your latest short story, after a while, you'll be able to note a real improvement.

Think I'm overselling it? Have a look at some of the completed prompts, get that brainstorming face on and try your hand at these challenges!

2. Expand your creative horizon

As writers, it's no secret that we tend to nest our own bubble of comfort, and settle into it without ever wanting to poke our heads out. For some, it's historical romance, for others, gory horror, but the fact remains that most of us lack the confidence and, more importantly, the necessary resource to attempt new genres.

That's where Vocal really hits the nail on the head. It offers to take us by the hand and lead us into a new world of wonders: communities. Before joining Vocal, I never imaged I would enjoy writing anything besides fiction, or at least, never thought I could be any good at it. But scrolling through the different communities and getting to see how much people are invited to share, I began to see writing in a completely different light—a refreshing, inspiring light.

Writing has no boundaries, but we tend to forget that. There are no rules as to what you can and cannot write, and trying out as many different genres as possible is really what's best for every writer out there. Who knows, you might discover a new affinity for poetry, or find yourself lured into the world of fantasy!

3. Embrace the chance to compare your work to others

Every day, more and more incredibly talented writers join Vocal and share their written pieces for the world to see. To me, this is quite literally like a bag of free sweets. By reading someone's piece, not only am I allowed a peek into the vulnerability the author is willing put on display, I also get to study an entirely new writing style. Character creation, world-building, descriptions, dialogue... the possibilities are endless.

We should never be afraid of comparing our work to others. After all, that's how every single writer comes to be. The greatest writers out there are born of reading the heck out of their favorite author's books, and drawing inspiration everywhere they can. Vocal is no different—it's a massive beehive of creativity, skills and ideas.

Don't hesitate to explore it.

4. Revisit and share your own life experiences

Before fiction was introduced to Vocal, it thrived on its variety of articles. Writers were and still are strongly encouraged to offer opinions on contentious matters, as well as share personal experiences of all kinds. Horror movie recommendation list? Hell yeah. Raising awareness on the value of all animal life? Always welcomed. Opening up about personal trauma? Someone will be here to listen.

The beauty of the non-fiction community on Vocal lies in its open-mindedness and diversity. Anyone, writers and readers alike, can find something that will pique they interest when scrolling through page after page of quality content.

For some, writing is the safest way to communicate what we dare not say out loud. Vocal offers a seriously great outlet for mental health, family life, LGBTQIA+ topics and humanity issues in general. You have nothing to lose from putting those personal thoughts onto paper—or in this case, from typing it out—and even though there's no denying the vulnerability of sharing without filter, it can still prove to be incredibly beneficial.

5. Join a supportive community

Perhaps the best part of this whole experience is its online community outside of the Vocal firewalls. After doing a bit of research on how to get my work out there, I discovered a significant portion of Vocal members actually support each other in active Facebook groups. And by support, I mean real support; you scratch my back, I scratch yours type of situation. Reads, hearts, feedback, positivity threads, and sometimes, even going as far as having tipping fests and creator spotlights.

Though a few already exist, I found The Vocal Creators Lounge to be very organized and one of the most active groups out there.

6. Build a professional portfolio

For writers who aspire to turn their time here into something more than a hobby or side hustle, Vocal's got you covered.

It's clear to anyone with eyes that Vocal's layout is clean, professional and user-friendly. Not only does it provide an excellent way to keep track on your collection of written pieces, it also allows you to share it with friends, family, readers of all kinds and possible future employers. Having a colorful and consistent portfolio demonstrates that you have the creativity, discipline and skills required of a professional writer, and putting forth a consistent but colorful portfolio can only help tip the scales in your favor.

And this, dear writers, brings me to my last point.

Write as many stories as you can—the sky is the limit!

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Author's note: If you enjoyed this article or found it to be useful, consider following me on Instagram 💕

Cheers!

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About the Creator

Elsa Fleurel

veterinary technician and freelance writer

🌧 penchant for horror, thriller and criminal psychology 🌧

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