Process

Why We Write
I write for a variety of reasons, and I am sure that other Vocal Creators do as well. I am not sure whether my primary aim is to create something where there was once nothing or to connect with others through my creation. I certainly love connecting with others and love it when they are complimentary about my creations.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 6 months ago in Writers
The Getting To Know Each Other Game: Installment Number One. Top Story - April 2026.
✨ THE GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER GAME — INSTALLMENT #1 ✨ A simple way for us to connect, share, and discover the people behind the words.
By Rick Henry Christopher 6 months ago in Writers
Works Cited (April, 2026)
Bureau of Labor Statistics. Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/cps/Bureau of Labor Statistics. Men Who Do Not Work During Their Prime Years: What Do the National Longitudinal Surveys of Youth Data Reveal? U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/volume-8/men-who-do-not-work-during-their-prime-years.htmBureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment 4.5 Percent for High School Graduates with No College in January 2025. U.S. Department of Labor, 2025, https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/unemployment-4-5-percent-for-high-school-grads-with-no-college-in-january-2025.htmBureau of Labor Statistics. Unemployment Rates by Educational Attainment. U.S. Department of Labor, https://www.bls.govBloomberg. Corporate America Promised to Hire a Lot More People of Color. It Actually Did. 2023, https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-black-lives-matter-equal-opportunity-corporate-diversity/Bloomberg. Corporate America Hired More Black Workers. Then It Stopped. 2024, https://www.bloomberg.comCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Births: Provisional Data for 2025. National Center for Health Statistics, 2026, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/vsrr/vsrr043.pdfCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Fathers’ Involvement With Their Children. https://www.cdc.govCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. National Survey of Family Growth. https://www.cdc.govFederal Reserve Bank of New York. The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates. https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-marketFederal Reserve Bank of New York. Survey of Consumer Expectations. https://www.newyorkfed.orgForbes. Survey: 78% of Gen Z Report Dating App Burnout. 2025, https://www.forbes.comForbes. Top Gender Pay Gap Statistics. 2023, https://www.forbes.comInstitute for Family Studies. New IFS Survey: How Young American Men View Marriage and Family. 2026, https://ifstudies.orgInstitute for Family Studies. State of Our Unions 2026: The Dating Recession. https://ifstudies.orgMerlin Strategy. Polling on Gender Attitudes Among Young Adults.National Assessment of Educational Progress. NAEP Reading Results. The Nation’s Report Card, 2024, https://www.nationsreportcard.govNational Bureau of Economic Research. Is Making Divorce Easier Bad for Children? https://www.nber.orgStevenson, Betsey, and Justin Wolfers. Marriage and Divorce: Changes and Their Driving Forces. National Bureau of Economic Research, https://www.nber.orgNational Center for Education Statistics. Degrees Conferred by Postsecondary Institutions. U.S. Department of Education, https://nces.ed.govNational Center for Education Statistics. Fast Facts: Graduation Rates. U.S. Department of Education, https://nces.ed.govNational Center for Education Statistics. Undergraduate Enrollment. U.S. Department of Education, https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cha/undergrad-enrollmentNational Institutes of Health. McLanahan, Sara, et al. The Causal Effects of Father Absence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govNational Institutes of Health. Sarkadi, Anna, et al. Fathers’ Involvement and Children’s Developmental Outcomes. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPew Research Center. Americans See Men as the Financial Providers Even as Women’s Contributions Grow. 2017, https://www.pewresearch.orgPew Research Center. Childcare Costs and Family Economic Burden Data. https://www.pewresearch.orgPew Research Center. How Americans See Men and Masculinity. 2024, https://www.pewresearch.orgPew Research Center. In a Growing Share of U.S. Marriages, Husbands and Wives Earn About the Same. 2023, https://www.pewresearch.orgPew Research Center. Men, Women and Social Connections. 2025, https://www.pewresearch.orgResumeBuilder.com. 1 in 6 Hiring Managers Have Been Told to Stop Hiring White Men. 2022, https://www.resumebuilder.com/1-in-6-hiring-managers-have-been-told-to-stop-hiring-white-men/ResumeBuilder.com. Hiring Bias and DEI Survey Findings. 2025, https://www.resumebuilder.comRosenfeld, Michael J. Who Wants the Breakup? Gender and Breakup in Heterosexual Couples. Stanford University, https://web.stanford.edu/~mrosenfe/Rosenfeld_gender_of_breakup.pdfScarlett Maguire. “Survey Data on Young Men and Women’s Views of Each Other.” X (formerly Twitter), https://x.com/Scarlett__Mag/status/2044312088793723351Survey Center on American Life. Why Young People Feel Misunderstood by the Opposite Sex. 2024, https://www.americansurveycenter.orgSurvey Center on American Life. Young Men and Social Trends. https://www.americansurveycenter.orgThe New Statesman. Angry Young Women. 2026U.S. Department of Education. The Nation’s Report Card. https://www.ed.govWorld Bank. Fertility Rate, Total (Births per Woman). https://data.worldbank.org
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast6 months ago in Writers
How AVMs Are Replacing Traditional Appraisals in HELOC Lending
The home equity lending ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technology and borrower demand for faster access to funds. With over $11.5 trillion in tappable home equity in the U.S. and more than $200 billion withdrawn annually, lenders are under increasing pressure to streamline processes without compromising risk assessment.
By sammmy6 months ago in Writers
The New Vocal Editor
Introduction Over a month ago, [email protected] informed us of a brand new editor in this post: People do complain about spacing, fonts, colours and stuff, but the main focus has to be the words and writing. We read these articles, poems and stories to take us to places we didn't even know existed.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 6 months ago in Writers
Mid April 2026: 7 Goals Accomplished
It's been a good start to the month of April for me, and this has been an especially fun and productive week! For starters, as referenced above, I accomplished my 7th writing goal for the year of 2026. This one's at the very tippy-top of my official notebook paper, on the right: Write 2nd Draft of Short Story (Headaches)
By Stephen Kramer Avitabile6 months ago in Writers
I Dictated This Article In Twelve Minutes. Writing It Would Have Taken An Hour.
I'm going to tell you something that sounds like cheating but isn't. Most of my first drafts don't start at a keyboard. They start on a walk around my neighbourhood, talking into my phone like someone having an unusually structured conversation with nobody, or with my headphones connected to my laptop.
By Ellen Frances6 months ago in Writers
Easy Crockpot Beef Stew Recipe for a Comforting Family Meal.. AI-Generated.
There is something undeniably magical about walking through the front door after a long, chilly day to the savory aroma of a slow-cooked meal. This comfort food classic warms your soul instantly, bringing everyone to the table with eager appetites and happy smiles.
By Maya6 months ago in Writers
A Few Notes On Where I Am Creatively
Introduction Forty percent of my Vocal Stories are poems, and the devil in me calls me lazy at the thought of that. Vocal has just become a platform where I store my stories, nothing else.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 6 months ago in Writers
Is Your Child's Smartphone Stealing Their Childhood? The Truth Every Parent Needs to Hear
Picture a family dinner table. Plates are full. Food is warm. But nobody is talking. The parents are scrolling. The children are watching videos. Everyone is physically present but mentally somewhere else entirely — absorbed in a glowing rectangle that demands their full attention and gives very little back.
By sammmy6 months ago in Writers
PAGES for PAIN
Most people love journaling, and yeah, I do too… but I’m not that consistent, “write-every-day” type of person. I mostly write when I’m overwhelmed, sad, confused, or just mentally all OVER the place. Like when my emotions are acting up and I don’t even know what’s going on inside ME. When I’m happy or life’s going fine, I don’t really feel the need to write it down.
By Komal6 months ago in Writers
Why Digital Birthday Invitations Are Changing the Way We Plan Parties
Planning a birthday party—especially for children—often begins with good intentions and a long checklist. There are themes to choose, guests to invite, and countless small details to manage along the way. Among these tasks, creating and sending invitations might seem minor, yet it often sets the tone for the entire event.
By Abbasi Publisher6 months ago in Writers