In May, I Will Have Written And Read On Vocal Media For Five Years

There are some extremely good writers on this site! It has been almost five years since I started in May 2021 on Vocal, and I continue to feel like a beginner. I was a new writer, then, even though I was an older woman.

I was a technical writer in my jobs as part of what I did; reports, requests for proposals, proposals, budgets, case notes, and treatment plans.

My goal is to be more of a writer than a reader someday, but I can’t imagine that. Most of my writing is right off the top of my head, as you may be able to tell. I read more than I write, even though I am writing something every week and most weeks every day.

I have self-published some books. Most have been for memorials and fundraisers, starting before writing for Vocal. Then, I wrote some books as gifts for family and friends at Christmas mainly.

Since writing on Vocal and then later Medium, I have put together a few chapbooks for people who won contests in my writing group on Facebook for Poem a Day in February (PaDiF).

I started writing on NaNoWriMo a couple of times a year, several years ago now. They expected 50,000 words as a completed project in one month. It helped to set me up for a habit of writing daily. I did complete the 50,000 words several times over those years. They are no longer.

I started writing on Facebook, and started PaDiF when my grandson wanted me to write him some rap songs. He told me I wasn’t rhyming enough. I started PaDiF to help me with rhyme. I still use rhyme in most of the poems I write. I no longer want to write rap music.

On Vocal and Medium, I have learned many other poetry formats and continue to prefer the rhyming ones. I have an interest in the spoken word, due to writing rap, and have publicly done that a few times.

Writing daily helps to pay my monthly subscription fee, primarily from top stories. I started getting them regularly in 2024. I am still ahead after almost five years. Not making money, but the incentives, in the beginning, were nice, and now the top stories.

Now, it is primarily waiting for a top story on Vocal that pays $5.00, and then I will get a tip or two for my top stories. The largest tip I have received was $20.00. I have received 2-3 top stories each month since September 2024.

I figure I will stay on Vocal just as long as the money I bring in covers my writing expense here. I am close to getting off of Medium, or at least not paying the membership fee.

The best part now is the relationships built on the Vocal and Facebook sites. The friendships here have been good, and I enjoy much of what I read.

All of the comments that I read about my writing are appreciated and help me to continue writing.

It appears I am not getting many reads to my stories on Medium, but more than on Vocal. I started a read for a read sometime a few years ago. Then I will read an occasional challenge winner, a friend whom I enjoy reading, and new writers.

The relationships help, and probably writing daily helps with the algorithm when the selection of a top story happens.

I said earlier that what comes out in my writing is off the top of my head; I haven't fretted over not being read. If I spent a lot of time on each story, it would be bothersome. And if I needed the money, I would have to go elsewhere.

As a reader, though, I will stay on Vocal. I have enough writing pals on Vocal and will continue to write here. I never thought I would win a big contest, but I thought I might learn how to write here. I am a better writer, and yet not where I want to be.

I have tried different types of fiction, for example, and believe I am a long way from being a successful fiction writer.

Even getting Top Story's every month isn't enough money to keep writing on Vocal. I write here because I enjoy writing and reading others. The Top Stories pay for my enjoyment at this point. If that changes, I may just read and not write, other than for my own publications.

This is what I learned in my time here!