Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
Let Me Tell You About This Book I Just Read...
When R.C. Taylor reached out to me to offer to send me a copy of her brand new chapbook to read and review, I was so excited! (Also a bit nervous, to be honest, since book reviews are not something I have previously published on Vocal haha)
Donna ReneePublished about a year ago in PoetsUnder Purple Clouds Challenge Winners
Magical realism seems to be where so many of our writers shine. And it's no surprise why. A great writing prompt gives writers the ability to use their imagination while keeping the writing grounded. Magical realism is so special because it lets us exist in both the magical realm and the real world. We have the weighty comfort of reality to help define our story while exploring the freedom that magic offers.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished about a year ago in Resources- First Place in Under Purple Clouds Challenge
Muriel’s Second Hand Book Emporium, Chapter 1: The Inheritance
Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing sky. Only those who knew where to look saw them sway and weave and whirl to the quiet music of the night. Lavender and lilac, periwinkle and magenta, swirling and twirling. To the buzz of the cicadas, the chirp of the common nighthawk, the rush of bird wings, and the water lapping and tapping against the rocky banks of the meandering creek.
R. J. RaniPublished about a year ago in Fiction - Second Place in Under Purple Clouds Challenge
Ana's Home
Every night at midnight, the purple clouds came out to dance with the blushing sky. Then came the azure flowers dotting the golden grass, springing up lushly around the brook of palest green. A few coral birds were added to wing gracefully over the meadow.
Sonia Heidi UnruhPublished about a year ago in Fiction Time Traveler Challenge Winners
We've all thought about it. Going back in time. What would we do? How would our actions alter the present and future? Of course, we can't take credit for this prompt, it's a classic, and for good reason.
Vocal Curation TeamPublished about a year ago in ResourcesTAXING
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own. The pure white, cloudy, gossamer outline appeared to be a human. Was it a ghost? Was it a spirit?
Babs IversonPublished about a year ago in HorrorOmnibust - AI Predictions for the Future
Can AI tools like ChatGPT predict the future? Using the tool to not update but project a version of a very funny Omni feature on "The Worst Scientific Achievements of 1982" puts this query to the test. The results are far less humurous than the 1983 version, however it is unclear whether the perceived more serious context of 2032 or the lack of Omni's tongue-in-cheek editorial staff is to blame.
Distant Thunder // Trembling Future
I’ve never approached another human being with the intent to fall in love. It’s never been part of my plan or approach to personal situations. Falling in love is much like a streak of lightning: an unpredictable flash that demands every sliver of my attention. It overwhelms my eyes and annexes my vision. If I’m close enough, I feel the electricity tracing through my veins, making static in my muscles. I search for the column of light across a swirling black canvas, but the bolt fades to night before I can behold any part of it. After the initial spark, a great ruckus follows, like boulders falling just above my head. Like the thunder and lightning, love steals my breath before I can recognize it.
Zack GrahamPublished about a year ago in HumansLaced
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own. Yellow teeth, stubble, wrinkled reptilian face. I looked into a pair of curious eyes, eager to know the truth, piercing through the distorted sheet of glass. Heavy drops blurred the contours, contorted the figures. There weren't many of them there.
Mescaline BrissetPublished about a year ago in FictionWhere April Fools' Day Started And Pranks For This Year
April Fools’ Day, also known as All Fools’ Day, is a day filled with pranks and jokes, celebrated annually on April 1st. Its exact origins are unclear, but it’s believed to have begun in France in the 16th century.
Jason Ray MortonPublished about a year ago in FYIAlphabet Soup Of Life
Abound amongst adversities. Bloom beyond boundaries. Covet complex compliments. Dance during darkness. Embrace evening elegance.
Stephanie J. BradberryPublished about a year ago in PoetsA Gen-Xer Speaks about Music
It started in a hallway. I was teaching a session one semester at a college. My students, when not passively absorbed by their cellphones and laptops, tried to be studious. One student in particular was often picking my brain about assignments and material that needed to be completed for the course. He was a young man running his own business, and happily continuing his education both in class and outside of those bare walls.
Kendall DefoePublished about a year ago in BeatPraying on the weak
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn’t my own. It showed my lonely chambers, in the back of a cold church. It showed Alby Duncan and his daughter, Lucy, standing behind me. Alby had been a member of my flock so long that I remember Lucy being born. 19 years ago that was. It was always a delight to see them. Lucy smiled at me in the mirror. “Hello, Father Morris,” she says.
Shane DobbiePublished about a year ago in FictionImposter Syndrome
An inalienable fact about Autistics is that we tend to struggle at life more than the average neurotypical. This is particularly true of female Autistics, who face greater barriers to get diagnosed, and find it harder to ger support when they are. It doesn't particularly help that common co-morbids of Autism are the Trauma Twins: Anxiety and Depression. As such, on the occasion that Autistic people find themselves succeeding, we promptly find ourselves taking up arms against Imposter Syndrome.
Natasja RosePublished about a year ago in HumansMaple Leafs, You Have One Job!
On Sunday, March 26, 2022, the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Nashville Predators, 3-2, behind two goals from their captain, John Tavares. On the following day, the Leafs were off, but they could clinch a playoff spot during their idle day with a loss from the Florida Panthers. Even better, because the Leafs picked up two points, Florida's loss didn't have to be in regulation. In a crazy scenario, the Panthers were in Ontario, but against the province's other franchise, the Ottawa Senators. This meant that the Leafs and their fans had to (for that night) pull for their provincial enemies to pull out the victory. The Sens did just that, winning 5-2 over the struggling Panthers, and that gave the Leafs another playoff appearance.
Clyde E. DawkinsPublished about a year ago in UnbalancedShards
"The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own." I saw the scrap of paper at the top of the desk drawer. I squinted at the crabbed writing, so like mine, but definitely not my hand. My aunt and I were very similar in a lot of ways, and our lefty scrawls were near the top of the list. I sighed as I put it in the box with all the other papers. This box would go in the van with the others, to go through when the loss wasn't so raw.
Meredith HarmonPublished about a year ago in Fiction- Runner-Up in Broken Mirror Challenge
White Washed Walls
The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own. The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own. The mirror showed a reflection that wasn't my own.
Caroline JanePublished about a year ago in Fiction Bella Ballerina
Before becoming blindly branded Be bodacious Bloom blissfully Breathe benevolence Bring brighter beginnings Bask beside butterflies
C. H. RichardPublished about a year ago in PoetsWrite Here, Write Now: Burden of Proof by Scott Hardy
It's one of the hottest summers in recorded history and a couple are attempting to navigate their relationship to each other — and to the future of the Earth. In "Burden of Proof," Scott Hardy captures cycles of inner and outer conflict with a dark and biting wit.
Write Here, Write Now: A Vocal PodcastPublished about a year ago in ResourcesThe Legoland Jazz Club Murder
As soon as I opened the door to my office, I noticed the smell. She smelled fresh, the sort of smell you get when you’ve only been unsealed from your bag a short time. When I saw her, I could see that she was more plastic than Pamela Anderson’s boobs. She had auburn hair, a color so bright you just knew it had to be artificially made. She was going to be trouble.