Shoutout
Reading Round-Up #5
I know, I can hardly believe it myself. It has been less than two weeks since the last reading roundup, which focused on my favourite books over the last few months. It has also been less than a week since my last published piece on Vocal, The Plunge.
By R.S. Sillanpaaabout a month ago in Writers
Looking 4Words. Top Story - December 2025.
“Sometimes softness is what leads to change.” A quote by, well, me. Why? Because not everything has to be loud and done with a bang. While simulatenously, too much is too loud and filled with banging (of metal, bodies, heads…)
By Oneg In The Arctic2 months ago in Writers
Observations On My State Of Play With Vocal
Introduction This is about the things I see when I am going through my old Vocal publications, looking for pieces to recycle. I still cannot comment using my backup account, but I received an email and replied to it:
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 2 months ago in Writers
Happiness and Light Unofficial Challenge - The Results!
What’s a judge to do? We had so many happy, bouncy, flouncy, bibbidy boppy (Shout out to Cristal for that phrase that has remained in our grumpy brains since we read her original entry. Alas, we went with an older, more sincere one, but you should still check it out - Paul) entries that this pair of surly curmudgeons were flummoxed by Schmaltz, zest for life and woo woo so deep we had to don waders to work our way through it. And we are both stoked that 4 of you earned Top Stories (20% of entrants)! We received eighteen entries for the Optimistic phase of the challenge that were chock-a-block with rainbows, fluffy critters, and sprites. For the Sarcastic phase of the challenge, we had two entrants who gleefully brought cold hard reality down on the optimistic entries like a couple of kids playing two-fisted Wack-a-Mole.
By Paul Stewart2 months ago in Writers
What Happened To My Reads?
Introduction I have had issues publishing on Vocal recently, but we now have an excellent resolution. I was quite surprised to see a huge rise in my reads from what they had been with my first repurposed "new" stories. I really have no explanation for this.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 2 months ago in Writers
A New Approach To My Vocal Problem
Introduction I have just cancelled my V+ subscription, and am not impressed with Vocal at the moment, whether it is ignorance, incompetence or spitefulness on their part, I don't know. I still cannot post new stories on this account.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 2 months ago in Writers
Considering The Situation IV
Introduction It has been twenty days since I could use my main account to publish on Vocal. I finally got an email admitting it was the same problem as six months ago, on December 5th, but I have heard nothing since.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA2 months ago in Writers
Reframing English Words. Top Story - December 2025.
Reframing is a popular psychological tool. It helps people see a situation, thought, or problem in a new way. The goal is to shift your thinking. Instead of focusing on the negative, try to see it in a more positive or realistic way.
By Calvin London2 months ago in Writers
Writing About Writing: Collaboration. Top Story - December 2025.
Collaboration sounds like a great idea, until you actually do it. Most writers have friends or social groups that they bounce ideas and feedback off, or alpha readers for feedback, or something similar, but that's different from collaborating.
By Natasja Rose2 months ago in Writers
Crushing
I was just a kid when I developed my first crush, but developed is totally the wrong word—crushes don’t develop, they appear, fully-formed and incomprehensible. I still get them, crushes, and I’ve found that I absolutely adore being in crush with someone. My last one hit me a few years ago and hasn’t subsided just yet.
By Harper Lewis2 months ago in Writers
