📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 07/11/2024

My name is Sandy. I’m a mental health professional who also has ADHD and anxiety. I write about various mental health issues to help empower people in their mental health or recovery journey. There's tons of great writers I recommend Mike Singleton he's one of those great writers and he helps other writers also https://vocal.media/writers/truly-july-a-mikeydred-july-dollar-prompt-for-all-vocal-creators

Hi , I'm sha, I post histories , poems ,novel reviews and educative content in general, check out my profile to see more and have a good day

https://vocal.media/authors/varnika-agarwal Her articulate and engaging writing style makes complex productivity and self-help concepts easy to understand and implement. She has a natural talent for motivating and inspiring her readers, helping them achieve their goals and improve their lives. Her articles are not only informative but also very relatable and practical."

Hey, Being a regular reader and a close friend to an amazing self-help writer Varnika, I would be very happy to recommend her write-ups: https://vocal.media/authors/varnika-agarwal

Hi All, I’m Andi and I write poetry, horror and fiction mostly, using many of my own photos. Sometimes a photo will turn I to a poem. I just read an older story with a surprise ending! https://vocal.media/horror/wiley-house

"Vinura Jayasanka" read his stories, they are brilliant.

I'm John, I write a little of this and a little of that. When I'm not writing, I'm scouring Vocal for hidden greatness. I just read an absolute gem by the brilliant poet LC Taylor, 'The Blacker the Berry,' that is not getting near the love that it deserves. Run, do not walk, to read this at https://vocal.media/poets/the-blacker-the-berry-lclc04zo

Hi - my name is Jaye and I write primarily short stories and occasionally poetry. This week, there were several stories I enjoyed, but there was one that stuck out to me - "The Real Struggle of Late Stage Advanced Cancer is the Limited Options" by Jason Ray Morton. It's an honest, vulnerable look into the reality of living with advanced cancer, and it's incredibly eye-opening. https://vocal.media/longevity/the-real-struggle-of-late-stage-advanced-cancer-is-the-limited-options

Good job.

Hi everyone! I’m Angela and I love to write poetry and short stories. I’m also hosting an unofficial challenge right now if anyone is interested! As for recommendations, it’s got to be “MEAT” by Suze Kay. It absolutely blew me away.

For a change, I'll drop here this educational article by Julija. Both fun and interesting read (slightly nerdy): https://vocal.media/education/how-to-use-the-x-bar-theory-to-make-learning-grammar-a-piece-of-cake

Hey everyone, the word abuser Paul here from the Scotland. Many I would have raised here, have already been picked out, so here are some others: Judey Kalchik - From One: Two https://vocal.media/poets/from-one-two Gerald Holmes - The End https://vocal.media/poets/the-end-3o9f042m Caroline Jane - Is this the end? Send... https://vocal.media/poets/is-this-the-end-send Gerard DiLeo - Nonet https://vocal.media/poets/nonet D. J. Reddall - The Arid Truth https://vocal.media/poets/the-arid-truth That's all folks - do I owe WB some money now? Anyway, hope everyone is doing well and fine and good and dandy.

My apologies, I've been a poor vocal community communitier this week and therefore read nothing since the weekend, but I'd still like to highlight some of the amazing work that came in for my challenge to write stories of hope. I awarded, by a nose, the top prize (I will cough up, I've not had time to figure out how yet!) to this wonderful tale, https://vocal.media/confessions/homecoming-3btd0inq, by Christy Munson, but all the contributors are linked in this piece, https://vocal.media/writers/hannah-s-challenge-results and if you're looking for a life, you could spin the wheel on these and get something worth a read. Darn it, I need to open my laptop to hyperlink these don't I. And I've JUST closed it after a crazy stressful day at work...

Gerard DiLeo's "The First Commandment" is irreverent, mischievous and amusing, as his work so consistently proves to be: https://vocal.media/fiction/190-the-first-commandment Rachel Deeming's "Exhausted" will evoke the sympathy of any tired, ink-stained wretch: https://vocal.media/fiction/exhausted-c5470yv3 Mike Singleton's "Observations on Labor's Victory" is as trenchant as it is topical: https://vocal.media/theSwamp/observations-on-labour-s-victory-l1920f1k

Ahem, ole ROCK here leaving another of my faves, my craves, right here. The one and only Kelli Sheckler-Amsden. She never lets me down with kick-arse poetry. https://vocal.media/poets/true-loss

Hi friends! I'm Gabe and I write poems and the occasional short story, with fairly wide themes. Stop by if you'd like :) I highly recommend just about anything from Sonia Heidi Unruh; her most recent piece for the nonet challenge is a wonderful example: https://vocal.media/poets/saturday-mornings-mbs30knm Cheers, all!

A drop from one hell of a writer I follow, Silver Serpent Books. I can't read enough, fast enough. Wander by and check out some of the best writing here on Vocal! https://vocal.media/poets/hands-in-a-jar

We haven't had one of these in ages! Wonderful! My Top 5 Suggestions for Some Spotlight (Doing all new nonet entries this time): 1. "Abandoned" by Sian N. Clutton- Just a stunning portrayal of the heartbreak of a child in foster care who had hope of going home. https://vocal.media/poets/abandoned-sh9o04pw 2. "Gone the Acid Trails of Us" by Paul Stewart - Incorporates absolutely fantastic photography imagery. https://vocal.media/poets/gone-the-acid-trails-of-us 3."Saboteur" by Gina C. - Dramatic scene and lyrical excellence! https://vocal.media/poets/saboteur 4. "Denial?" by Kendall Defoe - For a clever bit of humor to break up all the tears! https://vocal.media/poets/denial-ecgp0nyv 5. "Denouement" by Matthew Fromm - Cinematic perfection with a killer last line. https://vocal.media/poets/denouement-wn280qp5

Hi there. It's me. Excellent choice highlighting Christy's piece. I recommend this gem from The Dani Writer. https://vocal.media/poets/of-all-the-hearts-in-all-the-world

Queer Vocal Voice’s Pride Month challenge is all about support our queer youth! We’ve challenge writers to pen a letter of love, support, solidarity, etc to queer youth. The challenge is open until July 14th so there’s still time to enter! Also, feel free to go through the comments and read the letters penned so far- they’ll surely make you emotional 🌈 https://vocal.media/pride/letters-to-our-queer-youth

D. K’s entry into an unofficial Challenge was pretty amazing! https://vocal.media/poets/undertow-m9h90w8q

This one from Atomic Historian (waves) hit home https://vocal.media/critique/unsubscribed

Happy to see this is back- hope you’ve had a good vacation! I got a lot out of this one from Rick Martinez: https://vocal.media/writers/wanna-stand-out-as-a-writer-start-by-copying#comment-b68a7f83-925c-4a8d-bb0f-8efcee6e77df

Five for this week even though I thought this had stopped 😹 1: This must-read from Stephen A. Roddewig https://vocal.media/fiction/the-hong-pocket 2: A Great poem from DJ Reddall https://vocal.media/poets/an-unsound-bell 3: Beautiful sad words from Anna https://vocal.media/poets/the-time-i-wasted-on-you 4: A great art piece from Andy Potts https://vocal.media/art/bringing-bare-walls-to-life 5: And a great one from Rachel Deeming https://vocal.media/poets/steam

Hi! My name is Gina and I write poetry and fantasy :) I really loved this Nonet poem by Poppy. It has such a sense of darkness but with a wonderful determination at the end: https://vocal.media/poets/skeleton-letters