Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
Reasonable Assumption
A knock at the door alerts the household. None of the three occupants are expecting a visitor or a package, and yet there is someone at the door. The mystery is elusive and each of the guys struggles to manage their excitement at the prospect of receiving actual, real-life, adult-style post. They each run for the door, Tony from his bedroom upstairs bounding down, shaking the house on its already poorly constructed foundations, Aaron from the kitchen, rubber gloves still on from doing the washing up, and PJ lagging behind after rushing off the toilet, stumbling towards the front door still doing his flies up. Each has a similar running commentary on what could be outside their own front door. Perhaps it is the hot pizza girl, "accidentally" delivering to the wrong address again. This had already triggered numerous arguments over who she truly wanted to sleep with when in reality she simply worshipped chaos and saw the fragility of this households combined ego.
Ryan AppleyardPublished 8 days ago in Fiction
How My Brother And I Started A Plant Business With Less Than $100
Starting a new business is challenging, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. People are changing how they consume products and services. At the same time, businesses adapt their operations to follow social distancing rules.
Mari ConcepcionPublished 8 days ago in LifehackThe Toll Of Tipping
A casual conversation with anyone working front-of-house in the restaurant industry will solidify a known ideal; these workers rely on their tips to survive. An offhanded suggestion that the industry should do away with tipping would no doubt be received with an onslaught of objection and rightfully so. For decades tipping has grown from a small optional bonus for a job well done, to a mandatory shame-inducing ritual that is harmful to patrons, restaurant owners, and especially servers. To ensure the wellbeing of service industry workers and restore the integrity of restaurants, the United States must replace toxic tipping culture with a livable wage for employees.
Christine JuppPublished 8 days ago in JournalHow to Defeat Writer's Block Once and For All
It's the perfect day to write a new Vocal story. You've scheduled out the morning; the coffee-filled ceramic cup feels warm in your hands as you glide to your desk. Sparrows chirp in the distance as excited fingers place themselves on a colorful keyboard.
Olivia L. DobbsPublished 8 days ago in MotivationAnd The Universe Said I Love You
“And the universe said I love you.” Seven words that will never fail to prickle tears in my eyes, the overwhelming sense of truth and serenity in that statement will never not shake me to my core. In a good way.
Cereal OatmealPublished 8 days ago in Gamers
Creator Spotlight: Members-Only Challenge Winner - Denise Elnajjar
Denise Elnajjar is a fashion & lifestyle illustrator, mixed media artist, and writer based out of New York City. Her creative skills and passions came together beautifully in her submission to the Vocal+ exclusive Members-Only challenge (supported by Memberful), where she ultimately won the largest payout in Vocal challenge history. Denise's first-place-winning piece, "Armchair Traveling to Every Country Through Art," earned her $22,500, and outlined her plan to "implement a project [she's] long thought about, dreamed about, and want[s] to make happen."
Vocal SpotlightPublished 8 days ago in Resources
Coffee Talk: A Cozy Game That Lets You Play Barista to Magical Creatures in an Alternative Seattle
Coffee culture is widespread all over the world— from breakfast to break time, it's no question that it's a much beloved drink. Even the ambience of café s is more than enough to let people stay for hours, making it their little haven to unwind or work in peace. This is why creating a heart-to-heart talk simulator around this theme is very fitting. Although coffee makes me extremely jittery, a virtual latte or two wouldn't hurt, right?
Mika DaniellePublished 8 days ago in Geeks
The Simple Foundation for a Complex Skincare Routine
My myriad skin issues, from hyperpigmentation to adult whiteheads, had come to a boil in the months before my wedding. With the additional stresses of planning, I had entered a nasty cycle of breaking out, picking, scarring, and repeat. My scars were deep, and I was terrified that they would be permanent. I understood that I could wear makeup at my wedding to cover it up, but no amount of makeup could hide the texture issues, dry patches, and raised scars. I knew that I had only a few months to get something to work.
Swati SudarsanPublished 9 days ago in Blush
Frozen Dreams
Frozen Dreams Making her way slowly through the melting snow, Annie began to realize she may have waited too long. The chill of the early evening was becoming deeper, and she pulled her wrap tighter around her frail neck. Resolutely she trudged on, her thick rubber golashes crunching in the icy grass, they were beginning to take on the cold, only the two pair of wool socks kept her feet warm against the frozen elements.
Beyond The Lens: Interview with Untamed Photographer's Melissa Groo
Melissa Groo is a wildlife photographer, writer, and conservationist with a passion for educating people about the marvels of the natural world. She believes that photography can be both fine art and a powerful vehicle for storytelling, and considers herself a “wildlife biographer” as much as a wildlife photographer.
Untamed PhotographerPublished 9 days ago in PhotographyGâteau
She was never supposed to see that beige, crinkled up piece of a paper on that Tuesday morning. But she did, and after that, nothing was the same. First, let’s begin a few hours before that moment.
Natalie SpackPublished 9 days ago in FictionThe Apple Fell Next to the Family Tree
"You just can't help but get yourself in trouble." Her voice echoed in the back of my head. At night when the world is quiet and every room is too dark I made out silhouettes of my mother. Her poisonous whispers blended into my thoughts and the heartbeat I heard against my pillow.
Jane PalomboPublished 9 days ago in Fiction
COCO PARFUM NO.1
Esme was a student at one of the most prestigious fashion schools in France. However, nothing seemed to inspire her. But one thing was for sure: she loved dessert.
Sandra SzubertPublished 10 days ago in Fiction
A Broken Piece of Cake
My wife’s chocolate cake awaits inside upon the dining room table. The wafty scent has long been an established greeting for me at our entrance door. It is my sweet reward for a week of traveling mind numbing sales work. There is a deeper-seated unstated missive connected with the fresh baked morsel. A message that I am loved, appreciated, and deeply missed while I am away. It has always been and always will be my wife’s ‘Welcome Home’ gift to me.
Jason BurnhamPublished 10 days ago in Fiction
The Authentic Human—Real Vibes Only
My dream is for every person who sits in my chair to feel comfortable being themselves and expressing exactly who they are without judgment. I find this is something that is rarely found in today's culture. Anyone can say they are accepting but making someone feel [accepted] is different. -Mary, Owner of Snipsnip Vibes
catchafrisbiePublished 11 days ago in Motivation
The Natural Beauty Of Africa
Northern Africa Egypt The Great Pyramids of Giza are what interest tourists the most when they visit Egypt. These amazing structures were constructed 4,500 years ago as a final resting place for Egyptian Pharaohs.
Rasma RaistersPublished 11 days ago in Wander
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Memories
With the announcement that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 are going to be remade, I got hit with a tidal wave of nostalgia. Upon hearing the news and browsing the world of Twitter, it appeared that I wasn’t the only one.
Luke MarshallPublished 11 days ago in GamersBatter
What to do with the body. This was not a problem He’d had to deal with before, but He knew he’d figure it out. He had to, for Her.
Michael DarvallPublished 11 days ago in Fiction
Eyes Like Mornings
There was a rumor among the servants that there was no room in the palace that didn’t have eyes and ears peering in at all times. The spy network of the King was vast, enough so that just about anyone could secretly be apart of it. The servants couldn’t trust each other, the guards never knew if something they said was truly safe between them, and any visitors were careful of everything they did for fear of it being used against them. Lucas was one of the few who knew that it more rumor than truth. A useful rumor though, one that made it easier for him and the few real spies to do their job. They didn’t have to focus as much attention on the inner workings of the palace when everyone was scared stiff of trying anything.
Ace_StriderPublished 12 days ago in FictionCreatively Re-use And Re-cycle
When the stresses in my life start to get too much I need relief and thats when I get my creative on, To make something that’s both physical and mental
Colleen MillsteedPublished 12 days ago in Poets
