Creating Community

I almost didn't write anything for this challenge, because my resolutions for Vocal are the same this year as they've ever been: read and write.

When I first found Vocal, I saw it as a chance to get over my fear of sharing my writing. I thought back to my experience as a creative writing student at Uni, the anxiety I'd feel before submitting my writing to be workshopped by the class. I'd lie on the floor, hands over my eyes, waiting for someone else, a family member, friend, to click submit. "Did you do it? Oh my god, I can't believe you did it. I'm dropping out immediately." I never really got over the fear.

I thought, that, that Vocal would be a chance to click submit myself. To practice detaching myself from my writing enough that I can share it without all the dramatics.

So my goal, as it's always been, is to write. Whether that be for challenges, or simple musings, poetry or short stories. To write and post on Vocal and do it all without lying on the floor with my eyes squeezed shut.

It's not a new resolution, for 2024, however, and not one that I feel accurately represents my goals for this year in particular.

My other main aspiration as a user for this site has always been to use it for my own enrichment. In an age of endless scrolling, mindless entertainment, where everything feels made to feed you dopamine and little else, Vocal feels like such a special little pocket of the internet where I can feast on endless creativity in lieu of social media's junk food. I hunger for it, I feel better for it. And yet, I still so rarely do it! So my goal, as ever, is to read more on here.

But again, that's not my new year's resolution.

My resolution for 2024, the whole reason I wanted to write this post, the thing that, right now, is exciting me the most, is commenting.

Let me explain: last year I checked my Vocal account after not being on it for a few days, and found myself staring at a number of notifications. Out of the blue, I'd received a handful of comments on my old stories. And not just any comments (though any comments are great comments) but thoughtful, personalized comments.

I couldn't believe it. I was so excited I read them all multiple times, and then rushed to tell my Mum and my boyfriend about them. Someone liked my stuff! Immediately, my mind was racing with ideas. What could I post next? I should fix up that old short story and publish it. Maybe I could finally write that poem I'd been daydreaming about. The possibilities were endless. I felt like I'd just found Vocal again for the first time. I read through bunch of stories on the site and bookmarked my favourite ones in my browser so I could go back and read them again. In all the excitement, however, I didn't return the favour. Not as much as I would have liked to, at least. I'd give a story a heart and eagerly move onto the next.

But thinking back to how motivated and passionate those comments made me, I can't help but think that what will really make my time on Vocal this year great will be spreading that same enthusiasm. I want to comment as much as I can. I want to write out thoughtful reflections, respond with that resonated, with what I loved. I want to keep that excitement about Vocal, about writing, alive.

This year, my goal is to be part of a writing community.

So I'll see you in the comment section.