63 Months

Well, at the end of this month it will be 63 months. And I have learned a few things. I am a poet, who doesn't know it. And all my time writing, I am still not good at fiction. I haven't given up though and I will write something one day that I will claim is truly good fiction.

Still, I feel like a new writer, even though I am an older woman. I was a technical writer in my jobs as part of what I did; reports, requests for proposals, proposals, budgets, case notes, and treatment plans. Not much for fun.

My goal is to be more of a writer than a reader someday, but I can’t imagine that. Most of my writing is right off the top of my head as you may be able to tell. I read more than I write, even though I am writing something almost every day.

There are a few self-published books I have written. Most have been for fundraisers, both before and after writing for Vocal. I also wrote some books as memorial gifts for family and friends when my mom, sister, and brother died.

And I wrote a few books as Christmas presents for family and a few chapbooks for people who won contests in A Poem a Day in February (PaDiF).

NaNoWriMo was helpful to me as I participated in writing the 1,667 words a day for a month, a couple of times a year. Last year National Novel Writing Month was no longer online. Working on the expected 50,000-word project in one month was great. I did complete the 50,000 words four different times.

My writing journey began when my grandson wanted me to write him some rap songs. I started and then he told me I wasn’t rhyming enough. I started A Poem a Day in February to help me with rhyme. I still use rhyme in most of the poems I write.

Spoken word was suggested not too long into my writing rap by a rapping medicine man. I no longer write rap and have written a few spoken word ditties and have publicly shared them on a few occasions.

The money I make on Vocal with tips, pay my monthly subscription fee and it was paying my medium.com dues recently as well. I am still a bit ahead although I can't say I am making money. The incentives, in the beginning, were nice, and one of them was especially nice, as it covered one year of dues.

Now it is primarily waiting for a top story on Vocal that pays $5.00, and then I will get a tip or two for my top stories. The largest tip I have received was $20.00. In the first eighteen months I received 3 top stories on Vocal. In September of 2024, I received my first 3 top stories in a month.

Vocal has helped me to work on my writing. I have a college education; however, I never took any writing classes. So, I haven't expected to win any of the challenges. I have however made honorable mention a couple of times.

As long as the money I bring in covers my writing here, I will give it my best. The best part of Vocal Media is the relationships built on Facebook sites and Vocal Media. The support has been great! And the reading is enjoyable and educational.

There were way more reads on Medium. But I have taken a break from Medium as I realized that Vocal was paying the dues for Medium.

Earlier I said that what comes out in my writing is off the top of my head, I haven't fretted over not being read. If I spent a lot of time on each story it would be bothersome. And If I needed the money, I would have to go elsewhere.

No big contest win has kept me writing on Vocal, however, I am learning how to write here. I am a better writer. And I continue to work on writing fiction. Sixty-three months of writing on Vocal Media seems unreal to me. But here I am with another entry to a challenge.