success
The road to success is always under construction; share your equations for success — and learn some new ones.
Obama's Call to Rise Education for the Future . AI-Generated.
When I was young, my family lived overseas. I lived in Indonesia for a few years, and my mother, she didn't have the money to send me where all the American kids went to school, but she thought it was important for me to keep up with an American education. So, she decided to teach me extra lessons herself Monday through Friday, but because she had to go to work, the only time she could do it was at 4:30 in the morning. But whenever I'd complain, my mother would just give me one look and she'd say, "This is no picnic for me either, Buster."
By SO On2 years ago in Motivation
From Vocal Challenge to Published Anthology
I originally joined Vocal for the Challenges, even if I'm not very good at them. I'm a Planster sort of writer, leaning more towards the Pantster side of things. I may start my stories with an outline, but they quickly take on a life of their own.
By Natasja Rose2 years ago in Motivation
🏅 The Presidential Medal of Freedom. AI-Generated.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom stands as one of the highest civilian honors in the United States. Awarded by the President, this prestigious recognition celebrates extraordinary contributions to the nation across various fields, from arts and sciences to public service and national security. As we enter 2025, the significance of this award continues to inspire, spotlighting individuals who have shaped the country's progress and values.
By Yogesh Shivaji Indalkar2 years ago in Motivation
Why Manifestation
In a world where resources are limited and challenges are constant, humans have always sought ways to expand beyond these boundaries. The idea of manifestation, a concept that dates back centuries, has recently surged in popularity as a means to break free from the confines of the tangible world. Manifestation, in essence, is the process of bringing one’s desires into reality through focused intention, belief, and action. But in a finite world—one where everything from time to natural resources is limited—how does this practice make sense? Can manifestation truly lead to expansion, or is it just a fantasy that plays on the idea of wishful thinking?
By Noor2 years ago in Motivation
The Resolution Canvas
The new year began as it always did—bright, full of potential, and steeped in reflection. On January 1, 2025, I woke up early, unusually energized. Something about this year felt different. I wanted to do more than just promise myself that I’d get better at something or develop a new habit. This year, I wanted to create something tangible, meaningful—something that could outlast me. I made coffee, sat at my desk, and opened my journal to the blank page I had reserved for my New Year’s resolutions. Unlike past years, when I scrawled lists like "exercise more" or "spend less time on social media," this time I wrote one line: "Create a world that others can step into." That was it. That was my resolution. I wanted to build a creative project—a world so immersive, so intricate, that anyone who explored it would feel as though they’d discovered something alive. But how could I translate such an ambitious idea into reality? The answer, surprisingly, came from an old passion I had tucked away in the corner of my life: storytelling. For years, I’d dabbled in short stories, created outlines for novels, and even written scripts for a tabletop role-playing game I hosted for friends. Yet, I’d never allowed myself to go all-in on building a fully realized world. This year, I decided to combine storytelling with another medium I’d been curious about but never fully explored—interactive digital art. My resolution transformed into a specific goal: I would create a story-driven interactive experience. Part video game, part visual novel, part choose-your-own-adventure story. Laying the Groundwork By mid-January, I had sketched out the broad strokes of what my project would be. I envisioned a narrative that revolved around a crumbling city where time worked in fragments. Characters from different eras overlapped in their stories, and players could navigate their way through a labyrinth of choices, unlocking pieces of the past and shaping the future. To make this world feel authentic, I knew I had to approach it in layers. First, I created the “spine” of the narrative. I filled pages of my notebook with the history of the city—its founding, its golden age, and the mysterious event that shattered time into fragments. Every small detail had to feel interconnected, from the unique dialects of its neighborhoods to the types of food vendors sold on cobblestone streets. But my vision wasn’t limited to words. The experience had to be visual. The city had to be brought to life through design. And so, for the first time since high school, I dusted off my drawing tablet and began teaching myself digital illustration again. Overcoming the Fear of Starting In February, I hit my first major hurdle. Imposter syndrome reared its ugly head as I stared at the messy drafts of character sketches and unpolished writing. Was I biting off more than I could chew? Did I really have the skills to make this world come alive? One evening, after hours of staring at a blank screen, I decided to take a step back. Instead of trying to create perfection from the start, I shifted my focus to prototyping. I built rough versions of scenes in my engine of choice—the Gobot game engine—and allowed myself to experiment with mechanics. Could players interact with artifacts to reveal memories? Could conversations with characters alter the city’s timeline? These rough prototypes weren’t pretty, but they worked. More importantly, they reignited my excitement. The fear of imperfection melted as I realized that this was a process—a journey, not a finished product. Building the Heart of the Project By March, I found a rhythm. Weekends were my sacred creative time. Each Saturday morning, I’d map out one small piece of the project to focus on—designing a district of the city, writing dialogue for a key character, or creating an ambient soundscape for the marketplace. One of my favorite moments from this period was crafting the backstory for a character named Leena, a time-worn archivist who remembered fragments of every era. She served as the guide for players, offering cryptic hints and heartfelt wisdom. Writing her dialogue was like breathing life into someone who had existed in my imagination for years. Her story felt so real, I found myself dreaming about her, seeing the city through her eyes. By late spring, I began sharing snippets of my work with a small group of trusted friends. They explored the early build of the game, offering feedback and encouragement. Some pointed out inconsistencies I hadn’t noticed, while others suggested ideas that enriched the world even further. Expanding the Vision The summer months were a whirlwind of growth. What started as a solo project evolved into something collaborative. One friend offered to compose an original score for the game, blending haunting piano melodies with atmospheric effects. Another helped refine character designs, giving each person in the city a unique silhouette and color palette. I also dove into coding with a newfound determination, learning how to create branching narrative paths and seamless transitions between scenes. Though it was challenging, every breakthrough felt exhilarating—like solving a complex puzzle. Challenges and Triumphs Autumn brought its share of setbacks. I underestimated how long it would take to implement some features, and there were days when progress felt painfully slow. Debugging ate up hours, and I wrestled with moments of frustration when things didn’t work as planned. But for every challenge, there was a triumph. I’ll never forget the first time I completed a fully playable chapter. Watching friends navigate the city, hearing them laugh at a clever line of dialogue or gasp at a plot twist—it reminded me why I’d taken on this project in the first place. The Final Stretch As December approached, I began polishing the experience. The resolution I had made almost a year earlier was no longer just a resolution. It was a world—breathing, growing, and alive. I didn’t finish everything by the end of 2025; the world was too big for that. But I didn’t mind. The city and its stories would continue to evolve. On New Year’s Eve, I sat down to reflect on the journey. My creative project wasn’t just about crafting a world for others—it had been about discovering a part of myself. Through every challenge, I learned the value of persistence, collaboration, and trusting my creative instincts. As the clock struck midnight, I wrote my next year’s resolution: "Bring the world to life." This time, I knew exactly what it meant.
By COU2 years ago in Motivation
The Miracle of the Exodus
The scorching desert sun beat down upon the dusty, barren landscape as the Israelites trudged wearily through the wilderness. Led by the fearless Moses, they had escaped the clutches of their ruthless oppressors, the Egyptians, and were now bound for the Promised Land.
By ZAID KHAN2 years ago in Motivation
A Novel Idea for 2025. Runner-Up in New Year, New Projects Challenge.
Let me tell you a story about a novel idea that has been in the works for thirteen years. It all started when I was a freshman at UC Davis, taking both a literature class in fairy tales and an honors program class on poetry. After learning about the Grimm Brothers, I was inspired to write an epic poem in which the Pied Piper had a sister, whom I called the Singing Gypsy. Later that year, this epic poem birthed a short story that is now known as Red Shift. (You can see the current version of this short story here on Vocal.) From this short story, I created an entire world incorporating several characters, both original and based on fairy and folk tales. I began to plan a series based on the lives of the Pied Piper and the Singing Gypsy. However, the life of a secondary character caught my attention, Beorn the Alchemist. Soon, his life pulled me away from the Pied Piper and the Singing Gypsy to a new series of novels based on Beorn’s complex adventures. It is the first novel of this series that I plan to finish in the year 2025.
By Stephanie Hoogstad2 years ago in Motivation
Improve Your Health with Feng Shui
We spend about one third of our life in our bedroom and about one third of our life in our workspaces. If two thirds of our lives are spent in these two places, we must ask ourselves how is the quality of the energy in these environments?
By Jodie Rowe2 years ago in Motivation
My 2025 Writing Goals Part One: The Novel
Welcome to part one of my three-part series on my 2025 writing goals! Click here to read part two or here for part three. I've been a writer my whole life. In fact, I knew in second grade that this is what I was going to do with my life. While everyone around me debated being a firefighter, a doctor, or a police officer, I dreamt of being a published author.
By Bradley Ramsey2 years ago in Motivation
A New Day, A New Hope
"I know you may be wondering: Why this title? 'A New Day, A New Hope.' You might think the words are simple, but have you ever taken a moment to reflect on their deeper meaning? Each day is a new opportunity, not just a unit of time that passes, but a fresh start for chances that may never come again. Yes, days might be filled with challenges, but the dawn that breaks every morning comes to remind you that you are always on a date with hope, no matter the circumstances. So, don’t look back at yesterday; instead, look at the day ahead of you. It’s a new opportunity to write a new story filled with hope and determination.
By iva dream2 years ago in Motivation
