Vocal Media Reviews

I subscribed a year ago and didn't realize it would automatically renew without an email notification so I could cancel. When I saw the $99 charge come through on my account, I immediately cancelled but they refuse to refund. Classic bait and switch, disreputable. BEWARE!

I joined Vocal+ to take part in a contest. Man, I had the toughest time trying to get my entry in. After I finished everything, there was no submit button to be found. That was a clear indication that this site just wasn't worth my time. I canceled my account today.

They claim that multiple entries to contests aren’t allowed, but from what I’ve seen, that’s not the case at all. Often, those who submit more than once end up winning. It feels more like a popularity contest than a genuine writing platform, which is a bummer for anyone serious about their craft. The customer service? A bit snarky, to say the least. Plus, I can’t shake the feeling that the judges don’t even see a good chunk of the submissions. Not once has anyone from Vocal provided feedback or anything useful. It all seems a bit rigged to me. I ended up deleting my account.

I've come to realize that Vocal Media is more of a storytelling site than a haven for writers. They don't seem to care much about grammar, punctuation, or the essential elements of storytelling. Instead, they pick Top Stories and contest winners based on personal likes. It feels like the same folks keep winning over and over again, and I can't help but think that many of them are connected to the judges.

Vocal seems to operate under the belief that if you can pay for an education, you’re too privileged to take home a prize. It’s got nothing to do with actual talent. Normally, I’d be all for giving the underdog a chance, but in this case, I just can’t. As someone who’s had to teach myself for a decade because I couldn’t afford college, it’s frustrating to be critiqued for writing too well.

After spending years on Vocal, here’s what I’ve figured out. Just take a look at their so-called “contest rules.” They’re pretty weak. They say entries should be between 600 and 5,000 words, yet winners have gone way over that limit. They also state, “Must include the prompt,” but some winners don’t even follow that and still come out on top. It honestly makes no sense. Their judging is all over the place.

If you’re a writer, steer clear of Vocal. But if you’re a storyteller who doesn’t mind grammar being tossed aside, then this might be your jam. I’m planning to leave this month, which is a bummer because the concept of Vocal is fantastic. The actual experience, however, is lacking.

I've really enjoyed my time on the Vocal platform. I haven't been able to write as often as I'd prefer, but I've noticed a definite improvement in my work with the little time I do have. Connecting with some truly amazing (and experienced) folks in the Vocal community has really aided my journey. Since I love reading, the push to engage with others and their creations is a feature I've found delightful! I was honestly taken aback by the bonuses I started getting. I’m not exactly rolling in dough, but I’d be fibbing if I said the extra cash hasn’t been useful at times.

A lot of the negative feedback I’m seeing seems to come from folks who are upset about not winning a contest. To those people, I’d say they’re missing the whole point of the platform, especially when they put down the work of others. What I appreciate most about Vocal is that they don’t promote elitism. I enjoy seeing pieces from hobbyists and new writers. It’s inspiring to watch their progress while I’m also learning from the community. If you’re a serious writer or just have a passion for the craft, I’d definitely suggest checking out Vocal. But if you’re only in it for the contests and looking down on others, you might want to find another platform.

Why on earth doesn’t Vocal Media offer a way to cancel your subscription? There’s no way to get in touch with them, and it feels like they want your membership to go on forever. When they take money from your card, you don’t even get a heads-up. What kind of business model is that? Are you planning to stick around for the long haul? I’m not so sure.

I just got my hands on two personalized Harley-Davidson baseball jersey shirts. The day I decided to wear them, the buttons began to pop off! When I took a closer look at the other buttons… A LOT of them were already about to fall off because they weren’t attached to the fabric right. These jerseys are REALLY BADLY MADE and definitely not worth the cash I spent on them!!

The latest winning tales on Vocal.com were just plain awful, showcasing some of the worst writing I've seen, with obvious flaws and a style that was tough to slog through. One entry didn’t even stick to the prompt about waking up on a runaway train! Honestly, it feels like a scam where folks pay to participate and grow their audience just to win, since the quality of the writing is really lacking. I’d like a refund for my membership and I’m done with this disappointing site.

I signed up to take part in the Campfire Ghost Story contest, which asked for "the scariest, most bone-chilling horror fiction story—the kind of tale you'd share around a campfire on a warm summer evening." If you want to get why I gave it a one-star review, I suggest checking out the winning entries with that prompt in mind. The stories that won aren’t exactly terrible (though they’re not exactly great, either), but they don’t fit the bill for a campfire story, a ghost story, or even a campfire ghost story. So, my advice is, if you decide to fork over the cash to join Vocal Plus's contests, just ignore the guidelines and don’t waste too much time on your writing.

Vocal Media is a major scam. They profit from their plus account, which costs $10 each month. Once you’ve paid for the plus account, they won’t compensate you when users view your articles. Instead, they’ll claim there’s suspicious activity and shut down your account. You can trust me on this; I was just a member of Vocal Media.

I just set up my account and forked over $49 for the year. Right away, I found myself locked out. It keeps telling me my password is incorrect, and it won’t send me any of those 'Forgot Password' emails I’ve been asking for. But hey, I did get the charge alert from my credit card! I'm really frustrated. I shot them an email asking for a full refund. I better see that cash back! This is ridiculous!

VOCAL+ ain't really a "writers' group". It's more like a $10 monthly lottery. This site is all about gambling, dodging tax responsibilities by pretending to be a "competition provider". That's the reason why the so-called winners of these competitions are so lacking! No matter how good or creative your entries are, it just won't make a difference!

This website is just awful. I can’t seem to log in at all because it keeps saying my passwords are incorrect. I reached out to Vocal for assistance, but they either don’t respond or come off as really rude and impatient in their replies. It’s a real shame, but I’ve paid to be treated poorly. Even my attempts to file a complaint are brushed aside.

The challenges were the main reason I signed up, but I regret to say that the winners are quite inexperienced. It's hard to have faith in a 'writing platform' when the judges seem clueless about what quality writing looks like. On top of that, earning money here is really tough. Save yourself the trouble.

This was just awful! The judges seem really biased and favor what they enjoy rather than what’s actually good or sellable. I took part in a contest, not thinking I’d win, but hoping to pick up some knowledge. When I saw the submission that won the 5K, I was taken aback! It was just terrible—no, that’s putting it lightly. They definitely have some sort of agenda or political leanings and don’t judge in a fair manner. Seriously, don’t bother with this.