The Art of Writing on Vocal

A couple of days ago, I was talking with a friend about art, which is a subject I don't discuss much these days. It just doesn't come up in conversations with the family and Pam and I don't socialize much since our artist's group stopped getting together. I'm still a member of a Panhandle photographers' group, but we don't go to meetings anymore. There was some bad blood. I'll just leave it at that.

One of the things that was agreed upon within both groups was that photography is an art form. Successful photographers learn all the principles artists study, such as light and shadow, perspective, visual balance, and The Golden Ratio, just to name a few. The difference is in the tools they use to create. Based on that, photographers are, indeed, artists.

Now, I'm sure you're wondering what those principles have to do with writing, and the answer is, "Nothing." I probably should also explain that, while I realize there are many visual artists who write on Vocal, I'm not writing directly about those creators. That doesn't mean it can't also apply to them.

The fact is, the conversation I had was about whether writing is an art form. Personally, I believe it is. I also believe that just as not all who paint or draw are artists, not all writers create art. Now, let me break this down a bit.

Writing As an Art Form

The Art of … isn't a new concept, by any means. For example, we have:

"The Art of War" by Sun Tzu, "The Art of Seduction" by Robert Greene, "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein and many more.

In fact, the title "The Art of Writing" has been used by so many authors, I won't even attempt to list them all. It's been used by Vocal authors, too, including Andrea Fabre, Colleen Millsteed, and Liam Ireland. And perhaps others whose names didn't come up in my search. (For what it's worth, those authors haven't posted stories here in several years.)

There are other pieces by Vocal authors who've expanded on the title to focus on more specific subjects, but I didn't run across one specifically about writing on our platform. All of the above aside, I think it's high time we had a story about writing on Vocal. Therefore, I'm writing it.

Why I Think it Matters

As many of you know, I supplement my retirement with the funds I earn writing for other outlets. That's a real treat for me, but it's only a supplement, not what I could realistically call “a living”. Nevertheless, I spend much more time writing here than on those other platforms. The reasons for that are very much related to writing artfully and in more ways than one.

To begin with, we (and Vocal) refer to ourselves as Creators. That implies that we aren't just writing here, but pursuing something a bit deeper. One could say it sounds godlike, if one was so inclined. I'm not. Still, it implies that we've manifested something that's meaningful on a very personal level. It also implies that we've done something more than just write it. I like the sound of it.

I think it's also very important and helpful that, while we can create here without prompts, there are requirements, and they vary according to subject and intent. Then, of course there are both official challenges by Vocal and unofficial challenges we're allowed to post for our fellow creators. Both types come with individual requirements to enter. Those requirements keep us on topic and set limits.

The Vocal staff, in particular, goes into some depth to explain exactly what's expected for pieces we submit, and if the requirements aren't met, the piece will be rejected – with the opportunity to edit it. Each official challenge has a deadline and that's actually a very good thing for a Creator. We even have a Content Warning available to let people know if what we create is liable to offend or otherwise make readers uncomfortable.

Now, take a moment to think about what I've just described. Those are the most basic criteria for your Creations, just like the principles any artist needs to follow. Add those to what you've learned on your own with respect to effective writing, and you have the principles of writing on Vocal.

So there you have it, my fellow “are-teests”. In my opinion, writing for publication on Vocal is an art form, both structurally and spiritually. It goes a bit beyond “the art of writing,” itself. If I'm wrong, that's alright, I've been wrong a time or two and survived it. Either way, I'm sticking with it.

As always, I'd love to hear your opinions on this, even if you think I'm full of shit. I'm a big boy. I can take it (maybe)!

Thanks for letting me "bend your ear!"