I got a new writing job and published my first traditional novel I am Bexley
Patheos writing column and I am Bexley with Resurgence Novels
Hello, my fellow Vocal writers. I love Vocal and I’ll always remain loyal and happy with my Vocal platform, the supportive and thoughtful communities surrounding it and the way Vocal has shaped, honed and helped my writing career in so many ways. In this article I wrote many a moon ago, I expressed how the diverse challenges Vocal presented to us as writers and authors opened up my perspectives and truly made me hone my voice.
In so many ways, Vocal helped me get my confidence back to start writing and getting my career on the right track. This article in particular explains my writing journey within Vocal’s platform, or lack of one until I discovered Vocal and the incredible writers and friends I made on this platform.
All of my started novels and novellas were started here on Vocal as well.
One in particular, I am Bexley, the post-apocalyptic zombie story, filled with drama, romance and horror… was started with the launch of the fiction community curated by Vocal.
This story was just a weird little idea at first… and from when it was first curated as just a sort of teaser beginning first chapter, as a baby concept…a tiny kernel of an idea… to the point of it becoming a full length novel…I was beyond relieved as this was a highly personal story to me. It represented grief, loss and anger, and mainly, how to cope with these feelings when it is most difficult to do so.
I had, once the novel was completed and revised into a full manuscript, submitted it to many publications and companies to no avail. All rejections, totally. It was a bummer. But, I didn’t give up.
Until, just within these last few months, my most recent submission to the online publisher Resurgence Novels came back with an approval… and a contract as well!
If you’re interested in their awesome and original novels (which they have a ton to offer on their app and online!) please follow the links below. You can also apply to become an author for Resurgence Novels as well on their website (below). They love fantasy, romance, dramas, horror and so much more!
I am Bexley is available for the Resurgence Novels App and online. Here is the description of my novel that is on the Resurgence Novel’s app:
In a world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse, humanity is under the tyrannical rule of the undead. In the year 2071, humans are forced to live in bunkers and caves while zombies, divided by class, reign supreme in human settlements. The elite "gems" dictate the rules, and everyone follows suit. But amidst this chaos, hope emerges in the form of Bexley, a nineteen-year-old zombie girl with a heart of gold and a sharp katana. Can she bridge the gap between the two societies and protect them from the deadly Bloodletters? Though her heart may not be beating, she has plenty of love to share!
I want you all to know, all of you, that you can do this. I know it is hard, I know it’s incredibly stressful and seems like a impossible road—-trust me, I’ve been there more times than I’ll admit, but you can do it. You will succeed if you don’t give up.
It is also very important to have extra side gigs(other than Medium or Vocal). Writing side gigs for your professional author’s resume. I recently found a columnist writing contractor job with Patheos, which is, according to Wikipedia, a non-denominational, non-partisan online media company providing information and commentary from various religious and nonreligious perspectives. I enjoy it for their diverse perspectives on religious history, music, pop culture, art and movies. My Patheos column is art history and is titled An Exhibition of Art History. I implore you to apply for their columnist writer positions!
Here is my Patheos author link.
Here is my first four articles: (with more on the way!)
4 New Representations of Renaissance Inspired Religious Paintings
3 Different Types of Spiritualism in Art
The Modern Art World is in Decline, What You Should Know
https://resurgencenovels.com
I’ll always keep Vocal as my first and true writer’s love, and my gratitude and affection stays with you all—I couldn’t leave Vocal even if I tried, you all helped me so much!
Love,
About the Creator
Melissa Ingoldsby
I am a published author on Patheos,
I am Bexley by Resurgence Novels
The Half Paper Moon on Golden Storyline Books for Kindle.
The Job, The Space between Us and Atonement published by JMS Books this year!!
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How Vocal helped me publish my first books
Vocal has always been a powerful platform for me, as it helped me to understand my voice and how it has shaped my own perspective on life and the journey that has led me here with my writing. I had written a piece as well on gender perspectives, and this helped me to see that in my earlier narratives, I was consistently penning in first person, male perspective and that was something I did inherently. That was a big part of my author’s voice.
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Hey lovely listeners! Welcome back to another episode of our podcast. Today, we're delving into a topic that hits close to home for many of us: self-healing. Life can throw us some curveballs, and sometimes, we need to find ways to mend ourselves from within. So, grab your favorite cozy spot and let's dive right into the world of self-healing. You know, it's funny how life works. We all go through ups and downs, heartaches, and setbacks. It's like we're on this never-ending journey, and part of that journey is learning to heal ourselves. Imagine life as a series of chapters, and each chapter brings its own set of challenges. But guess what? You're the hero of your own story, and heroes have the remarkable ability to heal. Now, the first stop of this journey is Embracing Vulnerability. Let’s dive deeper into a topic that might make some of us a bit uncomfortable. It’s that feeling of being exposed, of letting our guard down and showing our true selves. In a world that often seems obsessed with perfection and strength, vulnerability might seem like a weakness. But, here's the thing: it's actually one of the bravest things you can do for yourself. Think about it this way: imagine you're a fortress, surrounded by walls made of stone. You've built these walls to protect yourself from the outside world, from hurt, disappointment, and pain. It's a natural instinct, really. Who wants to willingly invite pain into their lives, right? But what happens when you build those walls so high and so thick that you can't see beyond them? You become isolated, cut off from the richness of life. Vulnerability is like a crack in those walls. It's the courage to say, "Hey, I'm not perfect. I've been hurt before, and I'm still standing." It's about acknowledging that you're human, with feelings, fears, and insecurities. When you embrace vulnerability, you're essentially saying, "I'm willing to show up as my authentic self, even if it means I might get hurt again." Now, I won't lie: embracing vulnerability isn't easy. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure if you'll fly or fall. It means letting go of the need to have it all together, to always be strong, and to never show weakness. It's about allowing yourself to be seen: scars, imperfections, and all. But here's the beautiful paradox: when you open up and share your vulnerability, you create space for connection. Think about the people you feel closest to. Chances are, those are the people with whom you've shared your fears, your dreams, and your struggles. When you show your vulnerability, it gives others permission to do the same. It's like saying, "I trust you enough to show you my true self." And let me tell you, vulnerability is where growth happens. It's where you confront those deep-seated beliefs about yourself, the ones that tell you you're not good enough, not worthy of love, or destined to fail. When you expose those beliefs to the light of day, they start to lose their power over you. It's like shining a flashlight into the dark corners of your mind.
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Comments (35)
Vocal Media is a great confidence booster, and well done on the offer.
It's satisfying to hear other people's successes in what jobs they are able to obtain and flourish in to sustain a pleasant life.
AWESOME 💜💜💜💜 KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!💜💜💜💜
This is the absolute BEST! What an incredible idea! I love how creative you got within each of the communities. There are sooo many fantastic stories in here. I admire your dedication, Loryne! Seriously, this was superb. Thank you so much for writing and sharing these. Amazing work. 💓
Congratulations on all of your success Melissa! I know I'm playing catch-up here but just want you to know I am WAY proud of you!
Awesome so proud of you friend ❤️😉❗Congratulations on Everything here and still to come 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉✨💖
https://vocal.media/motivation/the-power-of-disconnecting-urs90hqn read this also
Congratulations!
https://vocal.media/motivation/unlocking-your-full-potential-unleash-your-inner-greatness
Melissa! I read this the other day but didn’t have a chance to comment. Huge congratulations to you for your first publishing and all your amazing, hard work!! 😍😍 You are so talented and I’m so happy for you! I really enjoyed the tips about Patheos and Resurgence!! 🤗 I can’t wait to check out I Am Bexley!! ❤️
How did I miss this? A huge congratulations, Melissa, on signing your first publishing agreement...and a KILLER blurb. I Am Bexley sounds very unique and interesting. I'll be sure to check it out.
https://vocal.media/motivation/this-book-will-change-everything
Congrats on "I am Bexley"! I'm so happy that it's been published. You deserve it! Your writing is superb, and I have no doubts that you'll have a long and successful career.
Thank you for sharing your journey!! So happy for you that you've been achieving your goals and seeing success. Congratulations on persevering and getting your book published as well as the new column!!
Congratulations! Wishing you all the luck on this writing journey!
Oh Merly, I'm sooooo happy that all your hard work, effort, dedication, time and everything else has paid off! You're super inspirational, to all of us! And you're so sweet to write this to encourage us, that we too can do it. Thank you so much for this! 🥰🥰🥰
https://vocal.media/motivation/the-king-and-the-beggar Would love to hear some reviews please 🥺❤️🙏
Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉
What a wonderful success story, and a tribute to the Vocal community. Congratulations! Thank you for the inspiration and motivation! I have 2 books (still) gradually coming together. One is more or less historical, about a particular place, and the other is probably best described as philosophical. Some of my Vocal stories will find a place in that book. Excerpts from the other may end up here before the book is complete. Vocal certainly keeps me motivated and it's also given me a chance to stretch my wings in writing fiction. That may add some more titles for publication. In the meantime, side gigs are my life. lol
Melissa, marvelous motivational piece!!! Loved it!!!💖💖💕
I wish you all the best and always selfishly want you to remain on Vocal so I can keep reading your work. You are a star, thank you for encouraging all of us to seek more.
Thank you for the motivation! I am not surprised with your success, you weave a great story! I am proud for you and I plan to check out these other sources.
Thanks for motivation
Well done! I'm in the process of turning two of my vocal stories into Novels at the moment. I have a few not here at vocal to work on too. It takes a lot of patience but it will be worth it in the long run.
Congratulations Melissa! Your success gives me hope that I, too, will succeed. Thank you so much for sharing your talent on this platform and for being an inspiration to all of us here on Vocal!