📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 5/4/23

Please, please, please, I beg of you. If you have not yet subscribed to Meredith Harmon, at least read her latest short story: https://vocal.media/fiction/the-fortune-tellers This is the comment I just left for her: Meredith, this is an awe-inspiring masterpiece of prologue. Stunning in both power & personal majesty--not of the Queen or Inspector, but of the fortune teller. Her incredible strength of both character & humanity leave us desperately wanting to know more. Please tell us that "Prologue" is not an empty promise. Please.

A shout out to new member David Jameson’s piece “A Chrysalis Descent” for the flight challenge. It’s stunning and deserves some love. It takes a little under 15 min to read, but the prose feels like you are right there with the character! It’s a sort of odyssey of the soul on a plane & things don’t go as planned. ✨✈️ https://vocal.media/fiction/a-chrysalis-descent

Hi, I write a lot of stuff with a fantastical element. But enough about me. I'm here to recommend this story https://vocal.media/horror/the-truffle-cobs It is so rich and dark. The world feels like it extends beyond the story and I was so invested in the characters who have such distinct personalities. I cannot hype up this writer enough. They are good enough to be trad published. Criminally underread.

I'm going to give a shout-out to someone who's been busy plugging everyone else here. Kristen Balyeat's latest for the Sensational challenge has all the elements of an excellent story, with very few words and it's a great match for the challenge, too: https://vocal.media/poets/presence-converted

I have made the commitment that my next car will be at Electric vehicle. This story by Varga Norbi that's very helpful and informative. https://vocal.media/wheel/the-best-electric-cars-on-the-market-for-2022

Hi dear Vocal community, I truly enjoy meeting the people behind amazing pieces on this platform - I've read quite a few stories over the last two weeks that have made an impression on me (A couple of them have been already mentioned by others below) 🤗 For today's Raise Your Voices, I'd like to celebrate a writer with an immense range: From heart-rending to clever to funny and a lot of other things in between. The author is J. Scott Tanner, and a story that made me laugh out loud is a slightly older one titled, "Ung," about a caveman who receives a package from Amazon. Please check it out if you'd like something light-hearted: https://vocal.media/fiction/ung I also recommend his, The Dargon Incantation (which sprang from a misspelling of Dragon). A more recent piece by Tanner, called Broken Bonds is a tautogram that is quite a bit darker. All, in all, a great writer. Do you know of writers who have a lot of range? Please do let me know 🤗

Hi Mike from the Vocal Social Society here A few that I think are really good from Veronica https://vocal.media/confessions/sensational-g4810jef This great informative piece on Sensations by Rosie J Sargent https://vocal.media/fyi/why-descriptive-writing-is-key Mariann's interview with Oneg a great way to get to know creators https://vocal.media/interview/my-interview-with-oneg-in-the-arctic This wonderful poem from Tonya Newman https://vocal.media/poets/summer-accolades And one from Misty Rae https://vocal.media/poets/sensational-sea A beauty from Gerald Holmes https://vocal.media/poets/i-remember-0i4t0xf3 A powerful one from Monique Hardt https://vocal.media/poets/dear-bigots

I'm Roy Stevens from Ontario and I write fiction, non-fiction and the occasional poem. I also love reading the work of the many creative folk who've found their way to Vocal. Only last night I stumbled on a piece by the mightily named Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock that took heed of this kind man's very last name and KNOCKed my socks off! (Couldn't resist) Here it is: https://vocal.media/fiction/feral-kg2zdw0fb6 I'm still stunned by just how authentically Randy creates a character so steeped in realistic, relatable qualities who still behaves with such veracity and believability for a non-human creature that the story seems more like a natural history narrative experiment than a fantasy story. Feral is a dragon who acts like a real, living animal. Not even Tolkien achieved this pinnacle with his "Smaug" and forget about George RR Martin's scaly flying MacGuffins! Do yourself a favour and read "Feral" then start pressing Randy for more of this story which definitely should be expanded upon! Thanks for your time.

Such great suggestions!

Alisan Keesee put in a lot of research on this piece that will delight geography buffs in the U.S. https://vocal.media/wander/the-most-interesting-county-name-in-every-us-state

Awesome Creators ❤️😉📝Thanks Everyone for being part of this wonderful Community❗

Death of Old Fashioned Dying by Amelia Moore - https://vocal.media/fiction/the-death-of-old-fashioned-dying?modal=open I got SUCH a Pratchett vibe reading this! It was much more disturbing than something STP might have come up with, but Death getting tired of his job and wanting a holiday is very much in the Pterry wheelhouse. Loved it! The Promise I Made That Genuinely Saved My Life by em https://vocal.media/psyche/the-promise-i-made-that-genuinely-saved-my-life?modal=open An important and powerful piece. Em's voice is really strong, and it's especially strong here. I'd know who wrote this even if the name wasn't printed at the top. I aspire to that level of clarity. "Presence Converted" by Kristen Balyeat https://vocal.media/poets/presence-converted This will resonate with anyone who has ever given solid food to a baby around 6-9 months. It's beautiful and real and adorable. Dana Crandell An Ode to Spatchcocked Chicken https://vocal.media/poets/an-ode-to-spatchcocked-chicken?fbclid=IwAR0_TRtoCqXZWl6sly7B5v7-s9wywrgxazHK76c-6lxcT5b0D5Uk8zmxsPg Fucking WONDERFUL - I am always sad there aren't more poems that rhyme. This one is really fun, especially to read out loud. Go do it, I dare you.

Mohammed Darasi wrote an awesome piece for the Epistolary challenge- "Dear Life" I really enjoyed the conversational tone of the letter and the deep thoughts and insights sprinkled throughout! https://vocal.media/poets/what-are-you-life

Vocal Media newcomer Clinton A Harris ponders romantic love, post divorce. https://vocal.media/humans/still-a-romantic

Hello again everyone 😁. I wanted to recommend reading Naomi Gold's piece "About greif...". It is a very honest introspective piece from Naomi about greif and how she ultimately dealt with it. It could be helpful to read by others that might be facing similar struggles. Read it here: https://vocal.media/humans/about-grief

I did want to share this older fictional story by L.C. Schafer https://vocal.media/fiction/glass-dolls-d4u9nr05mo Story was well written and encompassed society ideals about youth and beauty.

Good afternoon everyone and May the 4th be with you! My name is Loryne Andawey and I serve as an Admin in the Facebook Group Vocal+Assist. Today, I bring 5 more hidden gems, this time from some of our new members! 1. Let's start with an important discussion brought forth by Iris Harris and the state of our rights, as humans, in society. Who controls the definition of "Woman?" How will this harm women and trans-women? How will this affect sports and society as a whole? This is an important discussion, one we cannot shy away from no matter how much flak we catch for saying anything. https://vocal.media/humans/trans-right-affect-women-s-rights 2. Next we have a creative non-fiction piece from Kendall Defoe. Who here hasn't wanted to join or create their own secret society? Kendall gives us a few tips and a delightful twist. https://vocal.media/confessions/how-to-run-a-secret-society 3. I am also pleased to introduce Bharat Maheshwari, a new face to both Vocal and Vocal+Assist. Though not as prolific as many writers here, Bharat is building up their body of work and has a few interesting Chapter 1's written. But what I found most beautiful was this love poem, showing that love needs both trust and communication to truly work. https://vocal.media/humans/misperceptions-of-love-k41yf0ojf 4. From love poems to money woes we have Lexi Knight. This one is a bit on the older side, but with the economy as it is, we need every tip on money and savings we can get! https://vocal.media/journal/surviving-on-little-money 5. Capping us off is a thoughtful piece from Mohammed Darasi regarding the nature of truth. Is truth objective? Is it subjective? It what ways can it be absolute? In what ways can it be bent? Regardless, it is something to consider, especially in light of the constant sabre rattling in today's society. https://vocal.media/fyi/is-truth-subjective Thank you for lingering!

Just dropping in and out, have a great time

Hi! Even though I just read this piece only a few minutes ago, it was too incredible not to share. A sensational poem for the new challenge by Lamar Wiggins. https://vocal.media/poets/afterimage-jr1q60bc1

A gracefully written piece from Lamar Wiggins was a standout for me recently. https://vocal.media/poets/infamy-inf-me

I also absolutely LOVED this piece by Roy Stevens. I laughed from start to finish, and the ending… well, you’ll just have to see for yourself! https://vocal.media/fiction/ballistic

Randy Wayne Jellison-Knock’s submission to the senses challenge is absolutely stunning, incredible, sensational- and totally blew me away. Also, Randy is just one really amazing human! https://vocal.media/poets/vibrations-mj2qo0arc

The recent Sensorial Challenge has inspired a lot of amazing poetry, so I wanted shout out Alexander McEvoy for their story, “After.” I was stunned by how such an ephemeral moment between an accident and its consequences, was captured in such a rhythmic way. https://vocal.media/poets/after-ph3yq0c8x I also really enjoyed Alyssa Brennan’s piece “The Taste of Betrayal”— it was such a unique take on the sensorial prompt, describing “flavors” of sorrow, deception, and grief! https://vocal.media/poets/the-taste-of-betrayal#comment-5b636514-6d8a-49f5-ad54-d5cfd6fbe4a8

You may have seen Naomi Gold’s piece, “About grief” but if you haven’t, please take a moment to read. It’s a beautiful and powerful love story- I won’t do it justice with my words. Here’s the link so you can feel for yourself: https://vocal.media/humans/about-grief