Essay

The Boy and the Lion
In a small village on the edge of the vast savanna, a boy named Arin had just turned eighteen. In his tribe, this was the age when a boy left behind childhood and stepped into manhood. But tradition demanded more than age — it demanded proof.
By Hammad Ali7 months ago in Critique
The Mysterious Library
In the heart of a bustling city, there existed a library like no other. Its exterior was unassuming, with worn stone walls and a faded sign that creaked in the wind. But step inside, and you would find yourself in a world beyond your wildest dreams.
By Tariq Pathan 7 months ago in Critique
Trailer Trash McMansions
Feeling poor? Sometimes it’s a matter of just not being able to land a job with a good pay cheque. Or sometimes it’s a matter of refusing to tolerate corporate bullshit even for a good pay cheque. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being poor.
By Narghiza Ergashova7 months ago in Critique
New Avenues
I was looking at the opening page when signing out of Vocal, and that is when I decided to re-read some of the articles on working here on Vocal.com. I went to the old article about enhancing how to earn more here. I was happy just writing, reading, commenting, and even getting a few tips I wanted to find a way to 'enhance' more. So, I read about that we were allowed to suggest future challenges and found in the article where to make those suggestions and name two. I hope they read and accept them. To me: good ideas.
By Mark Graham7 months ago in Critique
The Dark Side of Cupid Book Review: a paranormal perspective on human relationships
The Dark Side of Cupid: Love Affairs, the Supernatural and Energy Vampirism, a really original book written by Eve Lorgen, examines the complications of love relationships from an unusual perspective, dealing with topics such as energetic vampirism and the impact of the supernatural on romantic relationships. First released in 2012, this text has aroused the interest of those fascinated by the paranormal and the psychology of relationships.
By Ninfa Galeano7 months ago in Critique
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
"Alice" was a long-running sitcom that was immensely popular when I was a kid. It was zany and took place at Mel’s Diner, a greasy spoon in the wilds of Phoenix, Arizona, presided over by the balding, clad-in-white Mel (Vic Tayback in his signature role), an irritable and gravelly-throated menace who was the butt of jokes of his three waitresses: Alice (Linda Lavin), Vera (Beth Howland), and Flo (Polly Holliday), a gum-chewing late Seventies honky-tonk queen who gave birth to the popular catchphrase, “Kiss my grits!” (I’m gonna buy a T-shirt with her face and that phrase underneath it.)
By Tom Baker8 months ago in Critique
On the Shame that Breeds Deviance
Formation You don’t survive shame. You become what it needs you to be. Not in one moment, and not in response to a single harm - but over time, through repetition, silence, and cultural enforcement. Through the slow redirection of instinct into obedience, of autonomy into performance, of natural impulses into strategic ones.
By Sevryn Camois8 months ago in Critique
Sunday Funnies
What is or was your favorite Sunday comic(s) to read and enjoy? I have had a few and still have. My all-time favorite is 'The Family Circus' by Bil and Jeff Keene. The family who changes with the times but doesn't seem to grow up, but what memories this one-panel comic brings to mind. My other favorite is 'Hi and Lois' by Mort Walker for it is related to 'Beetle Bailey' for Beetle is Lois's brother or cousin, I believe. I get a kick out reading all these even now on my computer. Memories for me abound from these ones.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique
The Lost Umbrella. AI-Generated.
It was the kind of rainy Tuesday that made the city feel like it was shrinking. Umbrellas bobbed along the sidewalks like oversized mushrooms, and the sky was the color of dishwater. Maya didn’t mind the rain — she liked how it gave people permission to slow down, even if just a little.
By hasnain khan8 months ago in Critique
Argument in favor
1. Safety and protection: The presence of firefighters in Antarctica ensures the safety and protection of the researchers, scientists, and other personnel working at the research stations. With the harsh and unpredictable conditions in Antarctica, the risk of fires breaking out is high, and having trained firefighters on hand is crucial in mitigating any potential disasters.
By Karl Jackson8 months ago in Critique
Tunisian Man Sentenced to Six Months in Jail for Refusing to Listen to President's Speech
In a development that has sparked serious concerns among human rights activists and international observers, a Tunisian citizen has been sentenced to six months in prison for refusing to listen to a televised speech by President Kais Saied. The unusual and controversial sentence, handed down by a local court, has once again brought Tunisia's declining state of freedom of expression under the spotlight.
By Ikram Ullah8 months ago in Critique
Diagrams of Sentences
I have an idea that could be many pieces of writing and art for I was reading and commenting on my notifications and other stories. While, scrolling through others works I stopped on one that brought back a very fond memory for me, although it is an odd one, but here goes. I am going to hunt for varied lengths of sentences and diagram them as artwork for some are very intricate almost like advanced math problems. The images will be the diagrams with a brief description. Some will be short and some very long. Please comment on this idea.
By Mark Graham8 months ago in Critique