Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Critique.
Grasshoppers (Work in Progress)
Note: I started this a long time ago and left it in a desk drawer with a plan that remained unfinished. These are only the first seven chapters (I wrote about thirty-three pages), and I would like some feedback on this work. It is based on an actual trip I took with some friends while in Japan, but with a lot of my imagination thrown in. I just wonder if I can take this somewhere...
By Kendall Defoe 3 years ago in Critique
Requesting the Ultimate Critical Thoughts of Others.
Remembering the life that I led the controlling asshole who took everything from me. I don’t know what I will do with all this, it feels like nothing really mattered just getting out of there. All of my dreams had come true like the blink of an eye, writing my memoirs is what started it all. Finding the courage to leave Logan County, Florida. It wasn’t until Uncle Elijah died the many years of therapy that would follow me all the days of my life.
By Emily Curry (Rising Phoenix)3 years ago in Critique
Unmitigated Greed
Prologue Zurich, Switzerland Valentine Fuchs sat in his comfortable recliner, immerced in the spectacular view of Lake Zurichsee and the mountains beyond from his fifth-floor den while sipping an expensive cognac. He had just finished watching a 60 Minutes piece on the supply chain debacle happening in the U.S. He was very familiar with how difficult it had become to move products from location to location. Distribution was more complicated for his businesses because what they had to transport was all contraband. Drugs, knock-off designer items, and even oil from embargoed countries like Iran and Russia, needed to go from producer to end user.
By Mark Gagnon3 years ago in Critique
Introducing the Critique Community
We are thrilled to introduce the Critique community on Vocal. This is a space where you can share your drafts, unfinished pieces, and works in progress to receive constructive feedback from fellow writers. Whether you are a novelist, poet, essayist, or an admirer of the written word, this community is a space for you to grow, learn, and improve.
By Vocal Team3 years ago in Critique
Townies [Draft]. Top Story - July 2023.
Townie (noun): an individual who has grown up and spent most of their life on Cape Cod. "What the fuck are you looking at?" Kenny yelled, blaring on the horn of his beat-up station wagon as a white, pristine, clean BMW X5 pulled out in front of him, unexpectedly. Kenny flipped the driver the bird before proceeding to ride his ass.
By Ashley Lima3 years ago in Critique
Fanfiction: The Free Writing School
The most valuable writing advice I ever got was "Don't give up your day job". As such, I didn't spent my post-high school years chasing a Creative Writing degree. I did an apprenticeship, followed by 6 - 12-month Trade School courses, interspaced with years in various Care and Retail industries, as well as a brief stinit in Education. Nothing glamourous or news-worthy, but that was never the goal. I just wanted a job that paid the bills and let me write.
By Natasja Rose5 years ago in Critique
'The Rocking-Horse Winner' Insight into Short Story
As most children growing up, I never had to worry about the affairs involving money. All I knew was that I was well taken care of and happy. Now that I have entered into the realm of adulthood, I have begun to experience some of the financial stress of having to provide for myself. There have been times in my life when I find myself desiring more money, in hopes of gaining the respect and acceptance of others. In The Rocking-Horse Winner, D. H. Lawrence explores the futile attempt of the pursuit of wealth as a desperate means of obtaining love and acceptance.
By Rowan Finley 6 years ago in Critique
