I love comments and community

I was 19 years old and I was crying. I had a window seat on a train travelling through the French countryside; a love affair had ended and it hadn’t been my choice. The gorgeous terrain blurring beyond the window seemed to accentuate my heartbreak; I leaned my head against the glass and let the tears flow.

A few rows behind me a man got up and walked past me, out of the carriage. In truth, I probably didn’t even notice him go: why would I? I was absorbed in my own sorrow, and he was a stranger to me. It’s only in hindsight that I think I sensed his departure.

He had gone to the café-bar at the front of the train and he returned carrying an espresso, strong and dark, with two sugar cubes set on the cup’s saucer. He didn’t look at me; he didn’t try to meet my eye. He simply set the coffee down on the little tray in front of me and returned to his seat without speaking.

A cup of coffee isn’t the cure for a broken heart, but it lifted my spirits and — as you see — I’ve never forgotten the gesture. Did my benefactor know, when he handed over his gift, how much better it would make me feel? Well, he must have hoped, or he wouldn’t have bothered. But a recent study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology has shown that these kinds of acts have a much greater impact than we might give them credit for; a little, as they say, goes a long way.

Which brings me to the point of this piece — which is to celebrate the comments on Vocal. It’s been about four months since we introduced the feature to the site; since then, I’m told, over 50,000 comments have been posted. Sometimes they’re dead simple: “Well done on this piece!” or “Great job!” Sometimes they get straight to the point: “I felt this with every fibre of my being!” Luna Lee Bear wrote in answer to Jeffrey A Ayers’ story, “Do You Still Love Her?”Jill (Conquering Cognitions) wrote a story called “It Was an Unseasonably Cold Day for a Funeral” which drew a strong response. Manisha Dahlani was just one of many comments: “This is heart-breaking and moving. Wishing you peace.”

I’ve pulled these examples from recent top stories — it wasn’t hard to find this kind of warmth. I also love reading comments on the work of our Challenge winners; Ally North was the winner of our recent sci-fi New Worlds Challenge with her terrific story, “The Hourglass Academy”; beneath the piece is a slew of comments — from before and after her win. “HOOKED,” wrote Jay Williams when the Challenge was still open. “Cannot wait to read more of this story. Good luck in the Challenge!” And then came Ally’s win. “All right, you deserved it,” wrote Kendall Defoe with good humour. “This is really a clever and exciting narrative and I want to know more... ;)”

I know how much it means to have a fellow creator support your work. It’s completely different from praise or encouragement received from a friend or a partner. You know that your work has gone out into the world and reached someone in the way you had hoped it would. Your heart just lights up when this happens, doesn’t it?

For me there’s a connection between the stranger who bought me that coffee decades ago and the sense of community I can now see on Vocal. We’re all in it together, aren’t we — thought so often it can feel as if we must battle on alone. But then there are the times when kindness reminds us that we are part of something larger. Any creative act is an act of kindness in itself, if you ask me: a generous gift to the world. Those who respond with a thank you, with encouragement, show that they know how to receive the gift that was given.

So here’s a huge thank you — to each and every one of our Creators. I love to see you all urging each other on, boosting each other, flying the flag for creativity and kindness. I’ll buy you all a cup of coffee, if I could.