Top Stories
Stories in Journal that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
What It’s Like Auditioning For A Modeling Agency at 16
There’s a deeply ingrained part of our culture that’s made attractiveness synonymous with all that is pre-pubescent. The most attractive qualities in women are being small, soft, “innocent” and hairless. Essentially, we’re at our best when we’re children. When we’re sixteen. Being judged on your body before it’s finished growing has its own individual, but expected, effects on your sense of self. What I didn’t anticipate is how long they’d last.
Lena SimonsPublished 3 years ago in JournalYou're Why You Didn't Get That Job
If you are job hunting in this day and age, you cringe at the thought of doing your resume. ATS or applicant tracking software is sometimes very janky and convoluted, but you will not get your resume in front of an actual human if your resume doesn’t appease the ATS Gods.
Sherrell WritesPublished 3 years ago in JournalNo, I Don't Need to Come Into the Office to 'Collaborate'
Remembering how the world looked to us all at the end of 2019 looks almost... quaint now. Upheaval at once-in-a-generational scale has gripped the globe in its fist for so long now that everyone's sort of decided -- rightly or wrongly, but, you know, mostly wrongly -- that we all have to start getting in each other's faces again because the alternative is... safe but also slightly boring or something? I dunno.
Tony WhitePublished 3 years ago in JournalHow To Find a Job You Love
Comedian Mitch Hedberg had a joke that went like this: “At a radio interview the DJ’s first question was ‘Who are you?’ I had to think. Is this guy really deep? Or did I drive to the wrong station?”
Jamie JacksonPublished 3 years ago in Journal3 Reasons Why Freewriting Can Create The Momentum of Your Articles
I know the idea of free writing sounds pretty old school since typing digitally through an electronic device is a lot more simple and faster. You don’t even have to read anymore. Audiobooks are accessible with one click of a button. You can read an entire book with your ears. That’s quite the superpower. Many of us may not have the time to write anymore. There’s so much more we could be doing in this world. Vast amounts of opportunities that are much better and why free-write if we could hop straight to the point?
Vocal Creators Chronicle
Hello all, and welcome to Volume 2 of The Vocal Creators Chronicle. Caroline, Les & James wanted to open up this issue with a big thank you! The praise we received from our inaugural edition of The Vocal Creators Chronicle had us over the moon; truly, we treasured your kind words. Whatever role you play, whether it be by contributing work, sharing other's stories, participating in the weekly Fab 5s on VSS, cheering us on, chatting with us at Vocal Social Society and, of course, by reading our words (and then sharing, hearting and liking them....) however you interact, know that your support is noticed and valued.
The Vocal Creators ChroniclePublished 3 years ago in JournalMy Personal Favourites From Vocal's Summer Fiction Series
I went into Vocal's Summer Fiction Series challenge telling myself that I'd have a unique story for every prompt. Aaah, the lies we tell ourselves.
Rachel M.JPublished 3 years ago in JournalStories I Loved: 'A Day in the Life' Challenge Winners and Runners-Up
We recently wrapped up our "A Day in the Life" Challenge here on Vocal. The prompt was simple: Finish this sentence: 'I love my job because...'
Joshua Luke JohnsonPublished 3 years ago in JournalSeptember 13, 2001
This story is from my blog: streetstoriesems.com On September 13, 2001, I was sitting around my union's office with several coworkers from different Brooklyn stations, awaiting transportation to Ground Zero. We were collectively living in a strange kind of haze after the biggest terrorist attack on our nation, and our city. We had been told to report to our union office if we wanted to assist in the rescue and recovery mission but no one there that day knew what to do with us at the moment. There was a row of telephones on a long table and one of them began to ring. I was the closest so I picked it up.
Nancy GwillymPublished 3 years ago in JournalLost in the Rhythm of Machines
The drone of mechanical tapping fills the back work room. Needle number nine of the Tajima embroidery machine embroiders the neck of a goose caricature on the front of a hat in 853 light brown, going at fifty stitches per minute. In between color changes the local radio talk show filters in from the stereo propped up on a shelf. The hosts end their morning segment before I press the green go button after the machine moves to needle four and begins tapping out the name of the shop the hats are for in a light silver (150).
Esmoore ShurpitPublished 3 years ago in JournalVocal Creators Chronicle
Hello all, and welcome to the inaugural edition of The Vocal Creators Chronicle. About the Founders Your editors, Les, James & Caroline, are firm believers in the idea that if you only look at your own work, you are missing the forest for the sake of the trees. Thousands of stories get published on Vocal each day by incredibly talented writers spanning a kaleidoscope of topics and genres. The heads of The Chronicle were inspired to create a free, online magazine out of our desire to open the eyes, minds, and hearts of the world to the brilliant creations we read daily on Vocal—whether it be through browsing or subscribing. We recognized the value good-quality reading material brings into our lives, and we value the creativity of what you, our fellow creators, have written.
The Vocal Creators ChroniclePublished 3 years ago in JournalThree Degrees of Separation
Happy isn’t the word I would use to describe my childhood. I’ll spare you the details besides the fact that it included kidnapping and abuse; this isn’t because I don’t think that my trauma narrative isn’t important, but because I want to highlight the important lessons that I’ve learned while trying to figure out who I am as a person, a scholar, and an employee. All you need to know is that I have had PTSD, depression, and anxiety since I was very young.
R.C. TaylorPublished 3 years ago in Journal