Do I Write On Vocal Because I Am So Lazy?

Introduction

These are some thoughts about why I publish just on Vocal and my blog, Seven Days In, and while these platforms are still going I will still publish regularly on both.

The music is "Alright" by Cast

This Is Where I Am At

There are many platforms where we can publish our work, but I am not sure that they should be used as a money-making endeavour.

For me, that is Patreon, Substack and Only Fans, and you have to build up and get a paying audience to make them pay. I am lucky that my writing is a hobby, I don't need to make money from my writing but it would be nice to.

I keep my blog going, and in the twenty years that I have shared my work there I had six followers, twelve comments, and one point four million visits and about a hundred pounds in revenue which works out to about five pounds a year.

Medium to me was chasing subscribers and was awkward and too fiddly, so though I have left my free profile there, I doubt I will go back, maybe to read a free article.

I can't spin plates so I have Vocal for my creative writing and articles, and my blog for logging what I think about the books that I am currently reading.

I find Vocal the easiest way to publish and you do get rewarded for reads. There are a lot of issues at the moment, especially with the DOS attacks and server issues, but these have happened before, and Vocal is still here, though we could be better informed.

The status page should have some useful and accurate information each day:

While I have been subject to some abuse, I have dealt with it, but others feel that Vocal is not a safe environment. They are scared they will lose their work, or it may be stolen (remember digital work can be stolen over and over). or may be threatened via various pathways.

I am fine but Vocal needs to make sure that creators feel valued, safe and protected.

Conclusion

While Vocal has been rocked over the last few works and many creators are scared because of it, I expect Vocal to be back to normal, but it needs to protect its creators from AI and plagiarism.

Consumers need to be listened to and Vocal need to show they are listening, then things will start to get better.

I would love to hear your thoughts