Shoutout
On A July Morning - A Mikeydred July Dollar Prompt For All Vocal Creators
Introduction Every month, I set prompts in the Vocal Social Society and offer a dollar tip to five random creators who take part in it and ask them to share their stories in the comments and on the thread in the group.
By Mike Singleton đź’ś Mikeydred 9 months ago in Writers
When the River Forgot Mercy
It was supposed to be a day of joy. The Kareem family—fifteen members, spanning three generations—had set out early that morning for a picnic near the riverbank. Children laughed as they chased each other through the tall grass, elders sipped tea under the shade of a tree, and parents smiled at the rare peace that life seldom offered. No one suspected that the sky above, gray and quiet, was holding back a storm that would soon rewrite their fate. By late afternoon, the winds began to howl. The river, once calm and silver, turned into a roaring beast. Water rushed in with a fury no one had predicted—certainly not the underfunded local weather office, which had failed to issue a proper warning. Within an hour, their picnic spot became an island of stone, surrounded by waves that clawed at their feet like hands desperate to pull them under. They called for help. Again and again. Phones rang unanswered. Emergency lines were jammed. The state’s disaster response team, crippled by poor coordination and a lack of resources, couldn’t even locate them on the map. Officials sat behind desks, watching weather reports with mild concern while lives were slipping beneath water. Night fell. The children cried themselves to sleep in the arms of their parents. Hope faded with every crashing wave. By morning, the river had swallowed the island whole. No bodies were found. No rescue ever came. Just silence. They did not die because nature was cruel. They died because the system was blind.
By Khalid Khan9 months ago in Writers
My Top 10 Writers of All Time
Books have always been portals to other worlds, windows into the human soul, and mirrors reflecting the complexities of life. Behind every great book is a writer whose imagination, intellect, and skill breathe life into stories that endure beyond time. Over the years, countless authors have influenced me, but there are ten whose work has left an indelible mark on my mind and spirit. These writers are my top 10 of all time — not just for their literary genius but for how they challenged me to think differently, feel deeply, and dream wildly.
By Anwar Jamil9 months ago in Writers
Fortnightly Reading Round-Up #1
With no disrespect to the curators behind Vocal’s top stories, I don’t always agree with their choices. While many of the picks are great reads, each week I come across stories that, in my opinion, deserve a place in the spotlight.
By R.S. Sillanpaa9 months ago in Writers
Rethinking Symbolic Leadership
Leadership, at its core, is meant to drive progress, inspire teams, and deliver results that move organizations toward a sustainable and thriving future. Yet, according to Narghiza Ergashova, the modern business world finds itself grappling with what she identifies as "ROT Leadership" – a concerning trend where appearances take precedence over substance and long-term value is sacrificed at the altar of shareholder expectations and symbolic success.
By Narghiza Ergashova9 months ago in Writers
The power of an empty wallet
Ali had always lived by one principle: earn more, live more. His wallet was always full, his clothes always branded, and his phone always the latest model. From the outside, he looked successful. But the truth was—he lived paycheck to paycheck, with a credit card drowning in red.
By Shehzad khan9 months ago in Writers
Why fire nozzle covers are important to use?
Imagine it’s raining hard and you’re a firefighter. You rush to your fire truck, grab the hose, and try to spray water on a burning building. But the nozzle is stuck. It’s covered in mud and rust. The handle won’t move. You waste precious seconds trying to fix it. Those seconds matter. That’s why fire nozzle covers are so important. They protect your equipment, save lives, and keep everyone safe.
By allweathernozzlecover10 months ago in Writers
