Discord Vocal + Assist Picks

So, I accidently stumbled into a new job. Kind of...Well volunteering to be more precise! I got the opportunity to join the Vocal Assist + moderation team on Discord! I have to say at first I was a little nervous and daunted by the prospect. But in the spirit of, ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’ I decided to give it a shot. Because, why not? Now, it would seem I’m actually rather excited by the prospect!

My first week,'on the job' has been great- I've read alot and encountered work of talents I may not have come across had I not joined the Discord group. River Joy has been running a project asking people to share their work based on various themes, like ‘nature’ or ‘something that was hard to write’. It has been a fantastic way to get to know people and to read past pieces that didn’t get as much interaction as they might have warranted.

So, here’s my offering for a project. Well it's more of a collab, to be fair. A weekly (hopefully) ‘Vocal +Assist Picks’ aiming to showcase some of the brilliant talent we have encountered throughout the week. We've read some stunning work and it was really hard to choose just one each! But we managed it in the end. Without further ado and any more me ramblings, In no particular order:

First up, Passing the Killer by Judy Kalchik

Judey’s narrative is undeniably tense and jammed with powerful emotional detail. This personal story presents a vivid portrayal of a challenging and life changing encounter. The conflict rises steadily throughout the story, keeping the reader completely gripped from the first word to the last. A seamless blend of immersive imagery, character depth, and a shocking conclusion that lingers in the mind long after the read is over.

Another pick that resonated this week comes from,

Kay Husnick, The wild

This delightful tale offers up a unique perspective and is filled with emotional resonance. Told through the eyes of an aquarium fish, it really is a poignant exploration of captivity, humanity and human-animal interactions. Kay cleverly combines the mundane routine of fish life with a sudden, unexpected event (No spoilers here). An insightful piece that again leaves the reader with plenty to think about.

Ace Melee brought the first Vilanelle (Apparently the first attempt ever, though I am not convinced!), how could we not showcase it! So, here it is Many Souls in One Body: Possession

A deeply evocative poem that nose dives into the turmoil of inner conflict. With a compelling structure and a highly effective use of repetition, the poem perfectly captures the intense struggle of the human psyche.

Haunting and insightful, the imagery is visually striking and onomatopoeia is used brilliantly to explore the key themes. A fantastic example of how poetry can capture that which often cannot be captured.

And finally the closing act to this week's Vocal+Assist picks comes from one of our own admin team River Joy, cement and honey

This piece masterfully traverses the spectrum of human emotion with an exceptional and profound take on the overwhelming power of psychological entrapment. Yet, within the narrative hope infuses itself, making for an eloquent and beautifully rendered comment on the complexities of navigating the human condition.

Thank you for tuning in and thank you to all of the creators on Discord who have shared their wonderful words. And, of course a shout out to the curation team Rick Henry Christopher, River Joy and the ever fabulous Mother Combes for helping with the picks!

What have you read this week that inspired you?

Thoughts, comments suggestions always welcomed!