Top Stories
New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.
Becca
"Everything is so... flat." Denille said stupidly as she looked around her new neighborhood. She looked around at the muted desert where even the smallest sign of life seemed to have given up. The plant life was shrubs that were half cooked by the heat and where there should have been a lawn, a mess of white rocks laid glistening in the sun. Even the sky looked stretched thin, like the sun had ironed it smooth. She’d moved from Riverside, where at least there were hills, but here in Barstow, everything felt baked and brittle.
By Sara Wilson6 days ago in Fiction
From ad men to mad men
It's after 2am in the morning when a local police patrol vehicle in Northern New Jersey spots a figure costumed as Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, proceeding southbound on the sidewalk along Lydecker Street. Though the hunchback’s costume stuffing offers added insulation, it's January, and friggin’ freezing. Carefully, the officers slow down, gently question the subject, and offer him a ride home.
By David W. Maury7 days ago in Humor
Bomb Scare
It was 2027, and the world never thought it would happen. A missle hit the United States, but it wasn't where they had anticipated. A little town in the northeast was hit by a missile strike, they didn't know why, and they didn't know exactly where it hit, but they did know it was a coastal community, somewhere between Maine and Delaware.
By Gregory Payton6 days ago in Fiction
📢 Raise Your Voice Thread: 03/05/2026
Our “Raise Your Voice Threads” are hosted most alternating Thursdays at 12PM ET to offer creators more avenues to uncover exceptional stories on Vocal. As we are continuously searching for fresh creators and inspiring stories, this thread provides an opportunity to exchange and discuss the stories that have moved and motivated us on Vocal.
By Raise Your Voice by Vocal7 days ago in Resources
Rachel Reviews: Lakefront Wolves by Joseph Deegan
Meet Finn. He's an 18 year old kid who has potential. He's bright with great school scores and he's also an athlete, a footballer of some prowess. He has it all going for him, it would seem, and yet, he's determined to send what could be a well-planned, stable existence firmly off the rails. He drinks, he smokes, he takes drugs, he has violent tendencies and he's in danger of losing not only his mind but all that he holds dear.
By Rachel Deeming11 days ago in BookClub
Guard Your Battery
Why are some people so attractive just by standing there? It’s not because they are "likable," but because they don’t need everyone to like them. I realized later that truly charismatic people allow themselves to be criticized, but they never criticize themselves. They never try to please the world; instead, the world stops to watch them.
By Emily Chan - Life and love sharing8 days ago in Poets
Who is your "Person"?
It's important to recognize that you cannot go through life as easily on your own. My name is Elizabeth and I'm a survivor of child abuse and horrific trauma. Healing from trauma is not a quick fix and recognizing that it will take time, is part of the struggle.
By Elizabeth Woods10 days ago in Psyche
