Draft

The Blade Itself
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie Every once in a while, I pick up a book that reminds me fundamentally why I enjoy reading—a book that turns my brain off and sweeps me away to some far flung world that I can sit at any quiet moment and. . . disappear into.
By Matthew J. Fromm2 months ago in Critique
The Empathy Deficit: When Activism Becomes a Performance Art. AI-Generated.
We live in an era of unprecedented awareness. Global injustices, local tragedies, and systemic failures are broadcast to us in real-time, packaged in high-definition video and poignant threads. Our response has become equally streamlined: a heart react, a retweet, a share to our Story with a sleek, pre-designed graphic and the perfect, pithy caption. We perform our morality in public, building a personal brand of consciousness. But in this grand theater of digital activism, a quiet, corrosive trade is happening. We are swapping the weight of genuine empathy—the kind that demands discomfort, sacrifice, and sustained attention—for the lightweight currency of performative allyship. The result is an empathy deficit, where we are more connected to causes than to people, and where caring has become a curated aesthetic rather than a compassionate action.
By HAADI3 months ago in Critique
Are You Joking Vocal?
I hate having to do this. Vocal just sent me an email telling me I had 34 hours to enter The Forgotten Room Challenge. One Problem, This:
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred - EBA3 months ago in Critique
A Difficult Week Writing On Vocal
Introduction This is a sort of apology for not commenting on many Vocal stories this week, and also not being able to be as supportive as I normally am on Vocal.
By Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred 4 months ago in Critique
Shadow at the Gate
On my way home from middle school, I spot what might be a possible shortcut to my home. Checking both ways, I cross to the other side of the street and kick the gravel where a sidewalk should be. A canal runs through a field and under the train tracks. Maybe I can go under the train tracks through the canal. That can save me a mile of walking five days a week, technically 180 days a year. That potential shortcut is worth exploring for one day.
By Eileen Davis4 months ago in Critique
Gratitude of a bad bitch
I wake up like the sun not rising, but reigning. My smile? A crown. My strut? A sermon. My life? Overflowing. I’m grateful for lashes that flirt with the wind,
By Musulyn M (MUSE)4 months ago in Critique
🇨🇳🤝🇺🇸 Trump in China: A New Chapter in U.S.–China Relations?
Donald Trump’s latest visit to China has sparked a wave of global attention. The former U.S. president, known for his bold diplomacy and unconventional style, has arrived in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. Their meetings, reportedly centered on trade, economic cooperation, and regional security, are being viewed as a potential turning point in U.S.–China relations. But beyond the photo opportunities and handshakes, the real question remains—can Trump and Xi truly bridge the growing divide between Washington and Beijing?
By Filmon Ke Raaz | Movie Mysteries Explained4 months ago in Critique
the cave that forgets: an excerpt
One of the first weird things I wrote that turned into many weird things I wrote that made it into the manuscript. Like I said, still writing poetry but with fight scenes!
By Guia Nocon5 months ago in Critique
Truth Demands Proof
I saw a post on Facebook where a man shared a letter he had sent to his elected officials calling for the impeachment of the sitting president. He claimed that the offenses were “so obvious” and “so well documented” that he did not even need to include them. That single assumption captured everything wrong with modern political thinking. When someone says “the reasons are obvious,” what they often mean is that they cannot defend them. Emotional conviction replaces evidence. The appearance of certainty replaces truth itself.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcast5 months ago in Critique
I Couldn't Stomach Monster: The Ed Gein Story
A technically proficient series that ultimately exploits tragedy rather than illuminating it, leaving one wondering if the only monsters here are those who profit from such suffering.
By Parsley Rose 5 months ago in Critique
Returning to Vocal and Writing
Wow. It's been a wild ride the past five years. From telemarketing in 2021, to a failed craft business in 2022, to Vanlifing in 2023, to wasting tons of money in 2024, to hiding in my four walls in 2025. Bizarre, absolutely bizarre. I have horror stories and comical stories. I have romantic stories and tragic stories. But most of all, I have my own emotional journey story and that begins with coming back to the world wide web to continue my writing career. And that begins with the two websites that have prompted me to call myself a professional writer: Vocal.media and allpoetry.com.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman6 months ago in Critique
Mineral Water: The Hidden Luxury in Plain Sight
The label was glossy, embossed in silver. It read “Alba de Vita – Naturally Sourced Mineral Water” and it sat like a trophy in the center of the hotel mini-fridge. Price tag? $14. For a single 500ml bottle.
By Shehzad Anjum7 months ago in Critique