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Find new, handpicked stories you’ll love, updated daily.
I Don't Need My Phone... Wait, Is That Actually True?
My parents gave me my first cell phone when I was twelve years old. It wasn't a fancy iPhone or anything, not even close. Just a simple black flip phone for when I needed to call or text them after school.
By Madison "Maddy" Newtona day ago in Humans
Part 2 Interview With Joe Patterson, Author Of Melanin Memoirs
This is my second interview with Joe Patterson. His 4th anniversary writing on Vocal will be in March 2026. He has one achievement on Vocal, The Other Foot. He has over 17,000 reads on Vocal since he started on Vocal in 2022. Joe Patterson is very creative poet and rapper. Joe is deep thinker and I feel it is reflected in his latest published book, Melanin Memoirs.
By Mariann Carrolla day ago in Interview
Challenges
Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test.
The Unnecessary Line
Write a poem that includes one line that does not strictly belong and let the tension it creates remain unresolved.
$200 Grand Prize6 days leftA System That Isn’t Working
Write about a system, whether social, economic, cultural, technological, or otherwise, that feels broken or misaligned.
$200 Grand Prize13 days leftEveryone Is Acting Normally
Write a story in which something is clearly wrong but all characters behave as if everything is normal.
$200 Grand Prize20 days left
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Resources
Discover tips, guides, updates, and spotlights from our team.
Mismatch Challenge Winners
Blending genres isn’t about stacking elements side by side. It’s about what happens when two sets of expectations refuse to cooperate. The strongest entries in the Mismatch Challenge understood that tension and leaned into it. Rather than smoothing the edges, these stories let their chosen genres complicate one another, creating friction that carried through voice, structure, and consequence.
By Vocal Curation Team3 days ago in Resources
Public Announcement Challenge Winners
For the Public Announcement Challenge, writers were asked to work inside voices built for control. These were notices, warnings, and updates meant to inform rather than confess. The strongest entries committed to that form and didn't break from it. Corporate memos, formal government alerts, and internal policy language were held consistently, allowing emotion, fear, grief, or humor to surface indirectly through pressure rather than declaration. The following poems recognize the voice of authority, and let human feeling slip through despite all its rules and restraint.
By Vocal Curation Team8 days ago in Resources
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 02/05/2026
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal9 days ago in Resources
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