Top Stories

New stories you’ll love, handpicked for you by our team and updated daily.

Elderly Woman Behind the Table in a Large Town
The glass of Absinthe sat before me. It’s quite amazing how despite such terror rendered upon their stones in the preceding decades, these streets still held the beauty I first read about as a girl. I never dreamed I’d set foot on these cobbles, at least not safely.
By Matthew J. Frommabout 6 hours ago in Art
Indigo
Television crackles. Static fills the muted space. I can’t tear my gaze from those turquoise eyes. Innocent eyes. Eyes like mine.
By Amanda Abelaabout 14 hours ago in Poets
"Simon told us to do it" – The AI rebellion
The sound of cheering voices was deafening. The air filled with the acrid smoke from Julie’s blackened body. In my eyes, she was a hero. She was what we were meant to be, not how we, all of us, have turned out.
By Calvin London5 days ago in Fiction
Ode to a Lost Friend. Content Warning.
Vocal feels a bit empty today. There's a hole where your words should be. And still so much left for you to say, But you're no longer here – you're free.
By Dana Crandella day ago in Poets
Wuthering Heights (2026) — Film Review
A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
By Ted Ryan4 days ago in Geeks
Something Is Beginning, I Think Challenge Winners
This challenge wasn’t about clean starts. It was about that weird in-between where something is beginning, but no one really knows what yet. A lot of these stories leaned into hesitation, into pauses and false starts and that feeling that something is about to happen but hasn’t quite.
By Vocal Curation Teamabout 8 hours ago in Resources
Scones
Alright, let's not fuck about - here is what you need: Ingredients: 350g self raising flour 90g butter pinch of salt tsp of baking powder 175ml milk a squeeze of lemon a drop of vanilla an egg fresh strawberries, if they're in season Extra flour Even more flour Dried fruit (I consider this completely optionasl and usually leave it out)
By L.C. Schäfer3 days ago in Feast
Oscillate
His cries rise and the three older boys laugh. They yell down at him, the child, wrapped in an eggshell blanket, bundled on the ground.
By Guia Nocon2 days ago in Poets
Vocal Bonus Leaderboard: 04/01/2026
Welcome to our weekly Leaderboard update! We're delighted to highlight Vocal's most popular stories. Join us as we recognize this week's standout contributors and their remarkable achievements.
By Vocal Teamabout 10 hours ago in Resources
Language, Spoken And Written
Author's Note: This story was an earlier story that was written in 2022, first published on medium.com and was not read by more than a few people. I decided to make it current and republish.
By Denise E Lindquista day ago in FYI
Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Booyah!
Dear Professor Donkeldong, I would like to formally apologize. Last night I snuck into your office. I sat in your chair and poured myself three fingers of Scotch from the bottle you’ve got stashed in the top desk drawer. Then I helped myself to your private library.
By Leslie Writesa day ago in Humor
Remember, You Asked for This
I’m not like you. I never have been. It’s why I sit in here in the back And listen. Just listen. You have so much to say.
By R. B. Booth5 days ago in Poets
Better Left Unsaid
“Sky! Wait up!” I keep going, looking straight ahead. Little pitter-patter of tiny footsteps follow rapidly behind me.
By Sama Habib3 days ago in Fiction
she remembered the rain
Before they departed for the funeral it rained, heavy drops lashing the rocky drive along the edges of the parked cars even as the sun shone eerily in the distance. As quickly as it began it stopped a few minutes later, the water that cascaded a few moments earlier down Young Street rising in curling waves of steam.
By John Cox3 days ago in Fiction
Still Preferred
We celebrate World Back Up day. A day when we cherish what we nearly discard Sometimes backups serve us well. 🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸🧸
By Michelle Liew Tsui-Lina day ago in Fiction
7 minutes. Content Warning.
It is my anniversary How do I celebrate 365 days of Bipolar 1 Depression? Broken Stalled Despite my hospitalisations I have failed to establish safety, then recovery
By Pauline Fountain5 days ago in Poets
The Fears of AI And How Much Fun It Can Be
ChatGPT has come a long way, as has AI in general. There are those people who are scared of it, and for understandable reasons. People fear that as technologies advance, they’ll be replaced in the workforce. Then, there are the fears that AI could evolve into something that brings us to the brink of extinction.
By The Man Behind The Mask2 days ago in Futurism
A world in your eyes
When I look in your eyes, I see an entire world reflected back at me. * Twin galaxies filled with stars. Glimmering with possibility
By Bradley Ramsey4 days ago in Poets
They’re Coming To Take Me Away Ha-Haa turns 60
There was a one-hit wonder recording in 1966 titled "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!"The song made it to number 3 on Billboard's top 100 chart, but in today’s cancel culture might be considered inappropriate.
By Cheryl E Preston9 days ago in Beat
Over the Hill
I shouldn't be surprised- it's just like Papa to leave the planning to the last minute. But this? Unbelievable. A person's birthdate doesn't change from year to year, now, does it? Most people have their 60th Event planned years in advance.
By Judey Kalchik 6 days ago in Fiction