Revision
Raw to Remix- 53 & Me. Runner-Up in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
The crows have landed, I see imperfection. Fifty times around the sun plus three more to rub my nose in it. Love yourself, they say, age with grace. But celebrities don't, so why should I? Botox and fillers- a facelift will do. Don't take age lying down, invoke skin resurrection. "You look good for your age." What the hell does that mean? Under eye bags, a deep forehead wrinkle leaves no secrets on my face. Social media spites me and forwardly invites me: To challenge Father Time with "Yeah, I'm about to get mine." Creams, potions, and diet, already tried it. So, I'm about to go in for hand assisted fixes and take a page from the famous. If you ask me later, know I denied it. This is all natural, don't you see; me at 53!
By Marilyn Glover11 months ago in Critique
Editing Isn't Fun
When I relit my creative candle, I knew that one of the most dreaded steps in being a writer and content creator (I have recently learned that being a content creator does not include being a writer) was going to be editing. Typically, when I edit my work, it includes approximately an hour of self-hate and intense criticism, so much so that the actual editing process doesn’t start until at least the two-hour mark of my dedicated editing time. This, however, only becomes true if I even get to the two-hour mark of editing. Now that I am a slightly more experienced writer, I can make very small edits on the fly when I’m writing, even when I’m experiencing a writer’s high. Eight years ago, when I was beginning to find a voice and style that I could seriously narrow on, I was still in the experimental stage of finding who I am as a writer. The following is an excerpt from a vocal challenge four years ago:
By Anthony Diaz11 months ago in Critique
Are Ukrainians prepared for concessions and a ceasefire? What the polls say is as follows:
The idea of a negotiated end to the three-year war has been put on the agenda and in the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin thanks to an agreement between the United States and Ukraine on a ceasefire proposal. However, the parties' positions are pretty clear even before Moscow responds.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
Trump’s Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Go Into Effect
President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum went into effect on Wednesday, escalating America’s trade spats with global competitors, including close allies already reeling from his on-and-off approach to trade penalties.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
Canada’s most consequential election is on the horizon
The contest that resulted in Mark Carney becoming the leader of the Liberal Party and the next prime minister of Canada has turned out to be a dull fait accompli. Chrystia Freeland, the once-reliable confidante and trusted deputy prime minister of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, played the role of Judas in the drama that appeared to inevitably result in Carney's persuasive coronation on Sunday evening.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
Editing Like a Daredevil: How to Take Creative Risks Without Crashing
Are You Editing, or Just Playing It Safe? Ever feel like your writing is missing something? You tweak a sentence, polish a paragraph, and yet, the spark isn’t there. Maybe the problem isn’t your writing—it’s your editing. Too often, we treat editing like a cleanup job instead of what it truly is: an opportunity for risk-taking. What if you stopped seeing revision as a process of smoothing things out and instead, as a chance to push your creative boundaries? Welcome to the world of fearless editing, where breaking the rules, defying conventions, and making bold choices transform good writing into unforgettable storytelling.
By Alain SUPPINI11 months ago in Critique
The Meta of Writing
Writing about the process of writing is difficult these days because of two main technological advances: word processing software and AI. Editing on Word is much easier than the “old-fashioned” way of writing by hand and making editing suggestions in the margins as Shakespeare and Coleridge did. Most spellings are autocorrected, making that bit of proofreading almost obsolete. I edit as I write, revisiting my piece days later with fresh eyes. Using AI in original work is completely unethical. To approach this prompt, I had to write on paper. I chose the first part of the next challenge. I examine one sentence at a time.
By Barb Dukeman11 months ago in Critique
Backroom Cat Nap
THE 1ST DRAFT Warehouse Backroom Cat Nap “This is the stockroom warehouse where we keep our surplus. The most common items are stored up front. The whole place is basically a twisting tunnel of eclectic furniture. Most of the floor displays are directly for sale, but we keep extra stock in here. It’s primarily mattresses.”
By Amos Glade11 months ago in Critique
Judge reduces Adnan Syed’s sentence, allowing him to stay out of prison
Adnan Syed, the subject of the “Serial” podcast, will be allowed to remain free after a Baltimore judge on Thursday agreed to effectively reduce his sentence to the time he had already spent in prison.
By Md Mirajul Islam11 months ago in Critique
How My Brain Works. Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
As a proud owner of a Bachelor's degree in creative writing, I'd like to think I have a basic understanding of the editing process. On paper, it seems fairly easy: you write, you look for flaws in what you've written, you revise. Below is an excerpt from one of my college assignments, which may look familiar to some who know my work. I've since uploaded it here, as the prologue to a series I've named "Aidan and the Forest of Enq."
By Natalie Gray11 months ago in Critique
A Deeper Gaze at "Her Gaze". Honorable Mention in Self-Editing Epiphany Challenge.
I have written a lot of pieces I believe are challenging. It's always my goal as a writer to push myself outside of my comfort zone, and in turn, hopefully to push my readers there too. For this challenge, Vocal has asked us to pick an excerpt from a piece that we consider both imperfect and brimming with potential.
By Paul Stewart11 months ago in Critique
