Achievements
The Summer of 2005
A Moment Suspended in Time Ah the summer of 2005, hard to believe that was 18 years ago, feels just like yesterday. That was the year I turned 18, the year I graduated high school. I remember feeling so full of life, hope, that any of my dreams could come true. I carried around this average blue spiral notebook that I bought from the grocery store next to my work since I had left my other journal at home one day. I've had many journals through out my life, but for some reason I still have memories all these years later of sitting in a booth on my breaks writing in this journal. While this isn't my technical first journal entry, it is the one I remember most vivid and is most impactful to me. I didn't know it then but this would be the summer that would ultimately change my life, and years later become an inspiration for not only a novel, but a book series. But I am getting a little a head of myself, let me take you back to the beginning.
By Kimmiekins43 years ago in Writers
Tales From The Cubby
I didn't plan to be a writer. I was just a lonely kid in a cubby. I was 5. But being 4 was burned in my mind. Dad cheated again. There was yelling. Again. Tears, again. I hid in the cubby, the small storage place between the first and second floor of our split level house.
By Words by Me3 years ago in Writers
CURSE: the 200,000 Words of an Angsty Teenager. Second Place in Writers Challenge.
"On 9/1/2013, I embarked on a journey I thought was going to be short-lived and...mostly for fun. But, this one silly idea became the light and passion of my life. A Fan-Fiction turned novel turned seven book series isn't something that just happens, it is worked on, slaved on, and bled on. Four years I have spent with this one story, this one idea, and it has become such a major part of my life, that I couldn't imagine being without it. It has gained me a following of readers who have connected to the story on a level I didn't think was possible. CURSE is my baby, an accumulation of my thoughts, feelings, and real life struggles turned into a fantasy world filled with complex characters. Now, as a part of the work in progress FATE OF FIRE series, I can't wait to spend many more years writing about this world and these characters with the people who have supported me since the start. Happy Four Year Anniversary to my novel, CURSE! ❤" - Facebook post by Amanda Starks, 2017
By Amanda Starks3 years ago in Writers
A Memory Never Forgotten.. Content Warning.
My siblings always wanted to play out, but it was rare that I could as much step outside without being bullied. I spent many long days in my room engrossed in reading as many books as I could in a day, usually around six to seven books. I would wake up in the mornings on weekends when I didn't have school, and sit in my room writing anything from one-liners to a whole writing pad full of scribbles, sentences, stories, and poems which didn't often make any sense to anyone but me. I had often imagined becoming one of the great children's literary writers whose books were always in the shop windows with the words 'best seller' written on the front cover.
By Carol Ann Townend3 years ago in Writers
The Agony Of Creativity As A Writer
Creativity is a fickle friend. One day she provides endless inspiration, the next, she's nowhere to be found. As writers, we rely on her gifts to fill the blank page. But, there are many obstacles that can block creativity's flow.
By Rick Martinez3 years ago in Writers
What is Your Voice?
Detecting Your Accent Despite opinions to the contrary, what constitutes a writer’s “voice” relies on their writing style, technique, vocabulary, and grammatical structure. Detecting a writer’s voice is something that most people do after reading a specific author for a long time. It’s like your relationship with someone that you've become intimately familiar with. Family members, friends, and coworkers are all people we become so familiar with their speech patterns that we instantly know if someone is trying to impersonate them. Or if there is something wrong with them, by the way, they are talking alone.
By Atomic Historian3 years ago in Writers
From Fuzzy Feelings to Finer Verses
Have you ever been told you can’t? That you aren’t good enough? Take a moment. Breathe. Now, imagine meeting me in person. Imagine we’re sitting across from each other (or side by side if direct eye contact isn’t your thing). You’d notice that I rarely flaunt my identity. But today, I lay my cards on the table and tell you I am a poet and an author with bona fide publications to my name. (Please, don’t rush off to find them; this isn’t a sales pitch.)
By Dan-O Vizzini3 years ago in Writers
Attending an Indigenous Writers Gathering Was Great!
When attending the Indigenous Writers Gathering at a Tribal and Community College an hour from my house, I noted that a lot of the writers’ work came from serious topic areas. Then there were the fun and funny works as well!
By Denise E Lindquist3 years ago in Writers
Rising from the Ashes
In the dimly lit room of a small apartment in Lyon, France, Sara sat alone, gazing at the fading sunlight streaming through the curtains. Her eyes, once filled with the fire of determination, were now brimming with tears as she clutched a faded photograph. It was a picture of her and her teammates, their faces etched with despair, taken moments after the final whistle had blown in the previous Women's World Cup. They had lost. Heartbreak had washed over them like a tidal wave, drowning their dreams of glory.
By Lubega Abubakari3 years ago in Writers
Musings and Advice
I broke 2,000 reads overnight. Yippee!! It’s taken me over 290 stories to reach this number, with about 95 subscribers. I have put a lot of work into each of these stories. Most of these reads came from the last thirty days. I have been a member of Vocal since July of 2021, but I have only written for less than six months total during this time.
By Mother Combs3 years ago in Writers
