Top Stories
Stories in Journal that you’ll love, handpicked by our team.
About Writing
For a long time, I stopped writing... which is weird because it's the only thing I've ever really loved to do. When I write, I am me. My thoughts flow down to my fingertips in a fever of clicking keys and I find sanctuary from the masks I wear to the outside world.
Courtney CaponePublished 2 months ago in Journal
Winning A Vocal-Challenge Forced Me To Confront My Neurosis and Impostor-Syndrome
Who, Me? My desktop computer sits on a dark oak table next to the living room window, which stretches most of the wall and affords a view of pine forest, rolling hills, and the San Francisco Peaks.
Eric DovigiPublished 2 months ago in Journal
Hand-stitching Your Way To Mental Wellness
Life is full of difficult moments – whether it be times in which we feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of tasks we have to get through or are struggling with the feeling that our efforts don’t seem to be getting us to where we want to be very fast. Perhaps it seems like we get no time for ourselves, or alternatively, that nobody has any time for us, making us feel isolated and disconnected from those we care about. The Coronavirus Pandemic, for many of us, has accentuated these worries, bringing them to the forefront of our minds. If we aren’t mindful of this, we risk spiralling. Finding ways to occupy ourselves or give ourselves a break then, becomes imperative – as we learn below from our interview with the one and only Kelsie May!
Outrageous OptimismPublished 2 months ago in JournalWhat is Vocal to You?
For as long as I can reasonably remember, I have wanted to be a writer. I fell in love with comic books at an early age, and as early as four years old I wanted to be the guy who told those stories. Clearly, Vocal is not a platform for that specifically, but it is a place to tell stories in general. It's also a place to make money, potentially.
John DodgePublished 2 months ago in JournalThe Toll Of Tipping
A casual conversation with anyone working front-of-house in the restaurant industry will solidify a known ideal; these workers rely on their tips to survive. An offhanded suggestion that the industry should do away with tipping would no doubt be received with an onslaught of objection and rightfully so. For decades tipping has grown from a small optional bonus for a job well done, to a mandatory shame-inducing ritual that is harmful to patrons, restaurant owners, and especially servers. To ensure the wellbeing of service industry workers and restore the integrity of restaurants, the United States must replace toxic tipping culture with a livable wage for employees.
Christine JuppPublished 2 months ago in Journal(Quick) Edit Your Voice!
The greatest tool has finally been added to Vocal! Quick Edit. You can now make those little adjustments your eyes (or the eyes of your proofreaders) missed while reading over your work for the hundredth time. No need to email Vocal to have them fix it for you. Right now, this tool is for Vocal+ Members only. Regular Vocal members, I will highly encourage you to invest in the monthly membership to be in Vocal+; there is so much more you can do!
Sara AuldsPublished 2 months ago in Journal6 Ways to Nurture Your Creativity
Being creative can be difficult. There is a myth that people are either born creative or not. I like to think of creativity as more of a muscle. If you work that muscle, it gets bigger.
Glenda BeechamPublished 2 months ago in JournalHow I've made $1,000 from Vocal
On February 18th, 2021, I became an active member on Vocal. I was interested in the platform after seeing an advertisement on Instagram for one of the challenges with a $20,000 prize. Now, I am officially five months into my Vocal membership, and have become quite fond of all aspects of the community. I have written more in the last few months than I would’ve ever expected, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. Vocal’s pay per view system, littered with bonuses has kept my attention and provided motivation to continue writing. After being on the platform for almost half a year, I have learned that although you will get a fair amount from writing on the platform, investing in it may make you a bit more.
Amanda MitchellPublished 2 months ago in Journal
Thinking and Rethinking Thought Leadership
Thought Leader - Definition A thought leader is an individual or firm (agency) that is recognized as an authority in a specialized field and whose expertise is sought and often rewarded. In the sciences or other highly technical fields this makes sense though I still find it mostly unhelpful. It is usually more of an indicator of ego than actual accomplishment with the so called “thought leaders” mostly (though not always) self anointed (or anointed by a small group of other self anointed thought leaders) as such.
Everyday JunglistPublished 3 months ago in JournalWhy You Should Try Writing on Vocal
At the beginning of June, I thought it would be interesting to explore other writing platforms besides Medium. Other writers have mentioned Vocal and after some research, I decided to give it a try. For those who have never heard of Vocal or are interested in trying writing with them, I’ll be discussing my experience and why you should try writing there too.
Mad For FabricPublished 3 months ago in Journal
The Business of Feeling
I am a loud and proud queer singer-songwriter from Melbourne, Australia. I go by the stagename "Mouk." and I am currently the happiest I have every been. I took the chance to pursue my dreams and although I haven't "made it" yet, I am learning every day and loving having the opportunity to be involved in the songwriting community. I released my debut single in collaboration with artist and producer James Sully on the 27th of August 2020. The track got over 1,000 plays in the first day with no external promotion other than our artist social media sites. In this piece I want to share some of the tips and tricks I've learned along the way to create great and meaningful songs!
The Choice Paradox: How I Finally Wrestled It Down and Chose a Viable Niche
A storyteller, writer, helper, peer counselor, friend, financial coach, musician, educator, entrepreneur, mother, widow, and so much more. How to niche that down to fulfill my purpose(s) on this earth has been the quest of the past several years of my life. With so much to give, so much value to share, and a burning desire to do it all; I have wrestled with the paradox of too many choices.
Maria CalderoniPublished 3 months ago in Journal
