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Quarter 1 Performance Report. Top Story - April 2026.
Last year (2025), I challenged myself to write at least one story for each of the 48 Vocal communities. I have achieved that goal, but a lot of new community stories were cramped into the last two weeks of the year.
By Lana V Lynx6 days ago in Writers
The Real Cost of AI Tools on Your Focus and Creativity in 2026 — And How to Protect Both
Just to "brainstorm," I told myself. Just to get the gears turning. Three minutes later, I had a perfectly serviceable outline. Five bullet points, each one logical and complete. I copied them over, started filling in the gaps, and finished the piece in under an hour.
By Shahzaib 8 days ago in Writers
Major SSI Overhaul Could Reshape Benefits For 7.4 Million Americans
A sweeping proposal in Congress could bring the most significant changes in decades to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a federal program that supports low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
By Matt De Levi8 days ago in Writers
Why?
Do you ever ask why? Why did this happen? Why me? Why did someone hurt me? What did I do to deserve this? I often wondered these very questions. I am a product of abandonment. My mother abandoned us, my dad, sister and me, when I was a year and a half. It left wreckage. I lived a lifetime, in fear of more abandonment. That shaped the way I behaved around people. It made me more permissive than I should have been. You tend to let people walk all over you, when you fear them leaving. That was difficult enough, but there was more.
By Alexandra Grant9 days ago in Writers
Into The Apriverse - A Mikeydred April Dollar Prompt For All Vocal Creators
Introduction Every month, we set prompts in the Vocal Social Society. We offer a dollar tip to five random creators who take part and ask them to share their stories in the comments and on the thread in the group.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 9 days ago in Writers
Elsie
Elsie, a large, imposing matriarchal seamstress, is seated at her sewing machine. Her thick brown lisle stockings rolled down above the plaid slippered feet that waited on the treadle. Her grey hair was pulled back into a bun. A few escaped wisps fall over her eyes. The Woodbine inserted in her heavy jowl left to burn down like a joss stick. Her breath rasping as the ash grows into a gravity-defying curve and the smoke turns the wisps yellow.
By Keith Butler9 days ago in Writers
Vocal is Ruining its Website with Overly Aggressive AI Screening Procedures
This is more or less an open letter to the folks who run and operate Vocal. For the last five years I have been an active member on the site. I had heard about it through some people and found it interesting. The website was an opportunity to have some creative freedom; an outlet about pretty much whatever came to mind that I wanted to write about. So, I made an account in August of 2021, and began my journey of just writing. Creative writing. Something I have not done in years. And it has been a blast the entire way through.
By Jirasu9 days ago in Writers
How Celebrities Really Build Wealth: Lessons Anyone Can Apply to Their Own Net Worth
It’s easy to assume that celebrities are wealthy simply because they earn large amounts of money. While high income certainly plays a role, it’s not the full picture. Many people—both famous and not—earn impressive incomes and still struggle financially. Others, with far more modest earnings, steadily build long-term wealth.
By Abbasi Publisher9 days ago in Writers
New April 2026 Social Security Payment Dates Revealed — Find Yours in Seconds
April is already on your mind if you rely on Social Security. Millions of retirees and families are watching their calendars across the United States waiting for those payments to arrive.
By Matt De Levi10 days ago in Writers
Why Some Americans Are Receiving over $100,000 SSI — And What It Means for Everyone Else
A quiet but important conversation is unfolding across the United States right now. It’s not about a new stimulus check or a sudden government giveaway.
By Matt De Levi10 days ago in Writers
Nothing to see here
No story. Some of my fellow creators and I have extended conversations in comment threads, and when there are a lot of comments, and it’s a long and/or media-heavy story, it’s a lot of scrolling. Any conversation you’re having with me can be continued here with minimal scrolling. Cheers!
By Harper Lewis10 days ago in Writers
Paul and John's 47-Words Short Story Unofficial Challenge. Top Story - March 2026.
UPDATE - Republished to update the list of entries, with the 40 we've had so far. Completely smashed last unofficial challenge which recieved 31 entries. And there is still time. If you have yet to enter and fancy winning a bit of money or just challenging yourself or both or just making two old geezers job harder - please enter!
By Paul Stewart10 days ago in Writers