📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 8/17/2023

I would like to offer my thoughts on the Vocal Platform as a whole. Having joined in January of this year, after a friend told me about it. I uploaded 34 stories in several genres. To which I got 2 reads early on and nothing since then. The only thing that got any reads at all is an article I wrote early this month about my love of fountain pens and vinyl, and why I use them. And even that has dropped off to nothing. Please don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about the lack of reads, per se. I'm saying this to point out several observations I've made over time. 1.I realize that there is a LOT of content on this site. However, for a story-telling platform, there are very few what I would call a real story. IE a potangist and series of events that happen to them. What I see are essays and articles about a wide variety of topics, either in support or against a given subject. Definitely not what I think of when I think of a story. 2. I was interested when you introduced the new categories, for writers, and chapters last month. However, that quickly became essentially the same as the other categories. Almost no real stories. A few articles related to the writing craft, but the rest seemed to be about the same as there's of the articles. I liked the idea of the Chapter's category. But again I saw no chapters up there. Only stand-alone stories or articles. I have a book that I've written, and I'd like to put up the first chapter, and depending on the response add more later. However, as I haven't seen anyone actually put up a 1st chapter and a follow-up chapter, I see no point in it. I doubt it'll get any attention. I also realize that one way to get more traffic is to like and comment on stories and articles. That is something I don't have the time to do a lot of and I find very few stories that I want to comment on anyway. I was just offering these observations about the plefromas as a whole. .

On the late late late show. Hope someone sees this. This writer is raw and REAL. So refreshing. Please check out her work-Jamie Ramsay https://vocal.media/poets/the-greed-that-grew

Hello everyone! My name is Dyllon. I'm just a guy who loves comics, movies, and sports. All of which you'll find plenty of articles for on my page. So, I hope you all stop by and find your flavor on my page! As for my shout out, I wanted to shout out Megan. Granted she hasn't published in a few years, her works are all still incredible! https://vocal.media/motivation/music-to-my-ears-xp4sqe0e9p

Hello, everyone! My name is Eva, but I go by my artist name on here as Alice B. Schellinger. Feel free to call me either one! When I’m not spending time scripting for my podcast, I’m writing poetry, film and book reviews, and pieces of literature here on Vocal. I’ve been a member for 5 years, and a second time Vocal+ creator, and I’ve recently rediscovered myself and gotten into a new groove with my writing. :) This week, I’d like to highlight the creator Jazzy Gonçalvez. I really love the way she writes, and how she isn’t afraid to express herself fully. I also love her poetry. I’m highlighting this piece, “If I Had a Penis: An Ode to the Penis” because I love how much it made me laugh, but also made me think. Keep your spark going, Jazzy. :) https://vocal.media/poets/if-i-had-a-penis

https://vocal.media/bookclub/cinderella-and-the-enchanted-mask-rk7a804vk Terence Doakes wrote a lovely retelling of Cinderella.

I am Just a sojourner in this place seeking truth and honesty. My picks for today. https://vocal.media/poets/transitions-vm1k02ae By EYHCS https://vocal.media/poets/anxiety-6g6xe0d6zS. By Missclicked.

René Peters is an absolutely lovely person and so sincere with her writing and talent. https://vocal.media/poets/demons-lo3ul40wng

Rachael here, American/Canadian lover of language and books- I'd love to recommend JD Pernoste and Anneliese Dahl, especially Anneliese's story Lost Bird @ https://vocal.media/writers/lost-bird Happy Reading Everyone <3

This fun piece is by my very good friend Irene Economou. https://vocal.media/poets/the-world-according-to-wordle-ax29t90wgb

I write whatever strikes my fancy. I just make a gash and bleed on to the page, and I bang away at the keyboard to nail my ideas down before they can escape, in some weird and gruesome stigmata of creative wossname. I want to recommend Hannah Moore's "The Writing Circle". Tip top bit of bleeding! https://vocal.media/writers/the-writing-circle#comment-b5e83f7a-3180-426e-b306-24be38bce9aa

My name is Hannah, and I write, well, anything I'm challenged to really! Sometimes with more success than others. This fortnight, I've really enjoyed these two pieces: https://vocal.media/fiction/why-squirrels-are-quarrelsome https://vocal.media/poets/easy-does-it-a2dl0wms

Greetings Beautiful Souls, my name is Nichelle, but I go by EYHCS (Equally Yoked Heavenly Creations). I write inspirational, motivational, and reflective poems, prose, fiction, and currently working on my third book. I love the community on Vocal and look forward to sharing more of my children and reading yours. I would like to shout out Tiffany Gordon a peer counselor whose works of art provide a levity shrouded in humor. Her words are filled with illusions and imaginary keeping you guessing to the very end. Case in point, check out, Not Welcomed Anymore: https://vocal.media/poets/not-welcomed-anymore

Hey, mohammed here. I wrote fictions, poetry and somewhat interesting articles 😁. I'd like to link an interesting poem by Donna fox: https://vocal.media/poets/an-ode-to-my-breakfast The poem was quite a clever and interesting poem to read. She also writes interesting articles about the writing process that I think a lot of people would find quite beneficial, specially if they're starting out writing and are feeling it's all chaotic at the moment. I'll also link one of mine that I think is probably one of my most introspective works, and I hope to keep doing them in the future: https://vocal.media/poets/my-dark-interior

I'd love to nominate EYHCS! Her work is always thought-provoking, and full of wisdom and heart & soul! Here is a piece that deserves more attention! https://vocal.media/poets/transitions-vm1k02ae

Here is Cendrine Marrouat' story about her time in Maui accompanied by her beautiful photographs. https://vocal.media/wander/my-favorite-spots-in-maui-hawaii

Lilly Cooper's beautiful poem. https://vocal.media/poets/stronger-together-2k33p0fy6

Here is the poweeful poem from Mike Singleton - MikeyDred https://vocal.media/poets/fire-on-maui

I’m a Poet, Spiritual Storyteller & Intuitive Life Coach. I’ve only found this platform 24hrs ago and it’s brilliant. One poem I really loved was this one by Kristen who writes about consciousness: https://vocal.media/poets/y-o-u-kb8b0ea7

Actually… https://vocal.media/writers/stop-creating-dystopian-stories-stop-it-you-re-not-helping This really needs to be read! A well worn article on such an important topic… one that I’m sure many of us haven’t ever considered. Want to change the world? It begins with Conscious Creation❤️✨

I just wanted to also share these two recent poems, because they might give help, inspiration and encouragement to people that might need it (and because I'm not currently on SM or Discord) sorry in advance - https://vocal.media/poets/i-want-you-to-know-qo7r604tk and https://vocal.media/poets/writing-is-a-privilege-g86i0abd

Hoping back in for a little self-promo of my latest post: https://vocal.media/writers/my-very-first-time-wm7260z48 I had a lot of fun with the writers challenge and loved the finished product!

I want to shout out Dana Stewart's my Hawaiian heart. https://vocal.media/poets/my-hawaiian-heart I'd also like to plug because I'm proud of it and it was a big healing step for me https://vocal.media/poets/how-much-time

Someone to whom I've been meaning to give a shout-out for a while now (does anybody else wish Raise Your Voice was still weekly?) is Hannah E Aaron, a Vocal writer whose works I always enjoy. Although Hannah has contributed some fiction and a number of excellent poems, my favourite pieces of hers are those that showcase her especial gift for slice-of-life. Always heartwarming and always deeply real, Hannah has a way of reminding us how much truth and meaning can be found in those situations we might at first consider to be nothing out of the ordinary. Hannah's also an excellent communicator, and great fun to chat with in the comments section. Her Fathers' Day post, which you can read at the link below, is the perfect place to start (in this doctor's opinion)! https://vocal.media/men/in-appreciation-of-my-dad

I’m Kayleigh… and I create whatever I feel like. These days I’ve had an absolute addiction to the Critique Challenge…!! Getting these in exactly 50 words is proving a lot of fun.. it’s been my favourite challenge so far. Sometimes I write about health, sometimes fiction, sometimes poetry…. I’ve started doing an article these past weeks called Lust For Words (which was intended to be a one off until I just kept finding amazing poetry and created another.. and another). I won’t shoutout one creator… I will signpost you to this week long piece of work I created that promotes MANY amazing “unseen” poems. I deliberately sift to find the incredible works that slipped everyone’s attention. This week’s theme is about appreciation… poems that remind us to appreciate what we have in life, and ultimately find more joy, which in turn increases our health! https://vocal.media/writers/lust-for-words-3 Please read, enjoy, comment and introduce yourself! I love finding new creators to connect with ❤️✨

I hope it is not too much but I would also like to acknowledge the incredible works of Cendrine Marrouat, Mike Singleton-Mikey Dred, and Lilly Cooper in this endeavor. I'll be back to post their poem story links too.