The Vocal Social Society Better Together Campaign

A while ago I wrote an article about collaboration.

It got a bit of notoriety in some circles. Huge thanks to Casey Promise Thompson for highlighting it as a Vocal favourite of hers in her Creator's spotlight.

Here it is 👇👇👇👇

That was a few months ago now and not one ounce of my geeky collaborative spirit has dwindled. In fact, I am even more committed to supporting others become the best they can be.

Why?

Collaboration is the backbone of creative success.

Creative Collaborators know that if you do not collaborate with other creators your work will only ever be the sum of one. Those that do collaborate will create work that is the sum of many.

In the Collaboration article above I illustrated this point with a little experiment:

Think of any well known, blockbuster author. Any of them...go obscure if you like...Whoever comes to mind insert their name here ➡➡➡

Now, let's tick off this list...

✅ They have a team of editors to review everything from content to grammar.

✅ They have a marketing team that know how to showcase their work.

✅ They have a list in the back of the book thanking all the people who have helped them write the book. From their supportive spouse through to their friends that got them through that really tough bit in chapter xxxx. (You know the lists I mean - the acknowledgements).

✅They attend book festivals and events organised by teams of people, specifically focused on attracting readers to their stories.

✅They have a well-networked publishing house that can print and/or distribute their book swiftly.

See what I mean? And I haven't even started on more nuanced levels of collaboration like those inherent to privilege, education systems, old boy networks...

The more active you are in collaborating with others the better your work will be.

As romanticised as the scene of the lone writer sat thumping away on a typewriter has become.... nothing is further than the truth when it comes to success. No writer - not Hemmingway, not Austen, not Woolfe... none of the great writers create completely in silo.

There is more....

The root of collaborative success is in the generosity of those who subscribe to it... not from those who only take.

The Vocal Social Society is a collaborative.

At its heart is a bunch of dedicated volunteers who aim to recognise people who put the most effort into supporting others every week. The latest venture in recognising this spirit being the crowning of a "VSS Champion" where we give the most encouraging and supportive member each week free reign to promote their work as much as their heart desires. Along side this we also support writers with the small and big events that crop up in a writer's life.

As we constantly evolve we think about how we can do more...

Last week The Vocal Social Society launched a new collaborative thread.

We asked our beautiful group of wonderful creators to think about what they are great at when it comes to writing. Now, some creators have degrees in English, some are published, some are wonderful at the new NFT market place, some have battled mental illness, some have taught themselves from nothing - there is a rich and wonderful amount of diversity within our group.

Everyone has something they can share - no matter who they are or their success to date.

This is the backbone of true Creative Collaboration. It isn't simply about taking stuff from a variety of sources it is about being really generous with what you have - EVEN if you don't feel you have much to give.

When I wrote the Collaboration article I had only published a handful of Vocal articles, I had never had a top story, and (asides from the Vocal Creator's Chronicle I write with Call Me Les and James U Rizzi) I hadn't won or been commended for a single thing. I do not have a degree in English... not even in the arts. My background is sciences. I am totally self-taught. I could easily sit here at my computer and think I have nothing to give to the wonderfully educated and creative people that I see produce outstanding work every day.

But I didn't do that.

I never do that.

Even though, truthfully, I have very little experience to offer!

All I know is that we are all better when we pitch in and help each other.

No matter how small that help is.

The collaboration article I wrote was the start of me trying to help.

If you feel you have a perspective to share, a learning to offer... or at the very least... you feel you have a willingness to help but are not sure how yet... get over to The Vocal Social Society and see how we can help you and how you can help others.

Pitch in where you can.

Support others, encourage, recognise, and share what you are good at.

Write an article for our new thread.

We are all there ready to help you... come over, collaborate, and help us all win.

Together, we are indisputably better!