The Nature Of A Vocal Top Story

You Got A Top Story On Vocal

This is the result of me getting a Top Story on Vocal for my piece on the word game Wordle which you can read below.

This is not about how to get a Top Story on Vocal, if you want that you will have to contact some of the amazingly talented Vocal Creators who regularly feature among the Vocal Top Stories on the front page.

I often say I must be the worst-rated writer on Vocal with three Top Stories out of four hundred and fifty published, that is two-thirds of a percent, and I have seen people with two Top Stories in their first three posts. If I include the random story bonuses I have received that take it up to fifteen, just over three percent and I would have been happier if they had all been top Stories because in theory that gives you story a little extra exposure and therefore generates more money for you.

My good friend Call Me Les advises to have maybe a paragraph that Vocal and the subject of your story could be used as an advertisement, although this is in the area of challenges the same could be said for Top Stories.

Subjects For Top Stories On Vocal

Vocal is based in New Jersey and is therefore USA / Canada focused. I am in the UK. So anything with a North American Land Mass connection is likely to catch the moderator’ attention. So American Football is a big thing and Clyde E Dawkins has had a few on this subject so he is a go-to person for tips , and he should be snapped up by the sports journals for his writing.

Trevor Wells does interviews and generally non film reviews (with a hugely entertaining scoring system) and is well worth dropping in to read.

There is Colleen Millsteed and Julianna Byrd who break the mould because they win for their poetry, so they obviously have a magic touch.

Colleen Millsteed

Julianna Byrd

When there is a new film I often see multiple reviews and while one is fine, many reviews of the same subject are ok but in my opinion should not flood Top Stories on Vocal. This obviously spills into TV Series and films on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Because of the number of creators on Vocal you are always going to get many stories covering the same and similar subjects, but I believe the Vocal Moderators should choose just one for the Vocal Top Stories.

My Three Top Stories On Vocal

My first was a poem , the second a playlist and the third on Wordle. While I have confidence in my own writing and the vocal Facebook Groups enjoy it, I believe the first two were either luck or someone actually enjoying my words and music selections but the latest one is definitely a zeitgeist scenario as Wordle has just been bought by the New York Times and is enjoyed worldwide while being a relatively new phenomenon

Other Ways To Get Attention And Get A Top Story On Vocal

The first thing is a striking image, Vocal does give high-level advice on this sort of thing and has a great resources section that gives lots of advice to follow.

A killer opening sentence or paragraph is another thing to draw people in.I am not sure if the number of reads the piece initially gets helps it to be a top story. If it did my Lottery piece would have been a Top Story, but I don’t think it hurts if you post in communities that support you

My Conclusion on Top Stories On Vocal

Your story needs to be well written and needs to engage people very quickly for reasons mentioned above.

You will write many you consider worthy of a Top Story that Vocal will seem to not see. This is where the Vocal Facebook Groups come in. They will support you and provide encouragement , reads and advice.

I normally include a song for my stories and today it will be….