[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Timing is everything.
Or at least it’s a lot. I mean, no sooner did I wrap up talking about how to use editors’ picks and roundups to build your own master class in this month’s nonfiction knowhow post than we ended up with this week’s fantastic batch of posts, giving you a chance to get a jump start on that New Year’s resolution to actually pay attention to those things. And don’t forget December brings a new poetry slam tutorial – I know I’m easy but it would really be a great [insert winter holiday of your choice (ok really my choice)] present to see some ballades on the ol’ fic|po grid.
Try those tips and tricks, try out a new form, or do what I do every December and fall back on the triolet. (I’m sorry, it’s late here, I’m a little punchy.) See if you can make it to the top of the popular vote!
As you know, it’s not all about the popular vote at yeah write, folks. We also have our editorial staff picks to hand out. See, while there’s a popular vote winner every week, we don’t always give out a staff pick. Picks are based on writing quality, how successful the author is in conveying information, and just plain style. If you got a staff pick this week, grab your badge from the sidebar and wear it with pride! The great part is that we don’t have a finite number of picks to hand out. That means that if two, three, five, or even all the works on one grid are fantastic, we can give them all kudos.
Speaking of reading the grids, keep an eye on our roundup for a quick rundown of trends we see each week. We try to highlight the good stuff and point out problems that more than one writer is struggling with. There’s probably a handy tip in there for you right now, so check it out!
Once you’re done reading through the staff picks and roundup (and congratulating the winners in the comments), keep scrolling down to check out who won the popular vote on both grids. If you earned the highest number of votes in any challenge, you are this week’s crowd favorite! If you came in first, second or third, you get “top three” honors. Grab your badge from our sidebar!
Looking for your badge? Both grids have the same winner, staff pick, and top three badges. It doesn’t clutter up our sidebar, and they’ll still look pretty on yours![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Yeah write #294 weekly writing challenge staff picks: nonfiction
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jug of almaden by nancy
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As short form essayists, bloggers are typically drawn to single scene stories that provide a snapshot of life – some illustrative moment from which the reader can glean a larger insight. What’s more challenging in under 1000 words is to craft a story that covers a lifetime. This week, Nancy from Chef’s Last Diet accomplishes that feat in her moving piece about a challenging marriage and a blended family, punctuated by the symbolism of a jug of wine. In a mere 700 words, her story spans decades, as a couple comes together, raises children and step-children, argues, loves, and travels. It’s a spare writing style that leaves much for the reader to fill in, but lays out enough of a sprawling framework that we understand so much. Her secret weapon? At its center is the well-developed character of her mother, who we can feel aching with longing and hear lashing out in anger and frustration as the burden of raising four kids pushed together by their partnership weighs on her. It is the power of that characterization that holds together paragraphs that flow through the years.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”22658″ style=”vc_box_circle” title=”cindy”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Yeah write #294 weekly writing challenge staff picks: fiction|poetry
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entrances and exits by modern day dirae
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Extended metaphors are tricky. In order to execute them well, all of the comparisons have to lock together like puzzle pieces in order to form a bigger picture. And they have to be written with a delicate touch; they can swerve so easily into a heavy-handed diatribe or a too-cute parody of themselves. Modern Day Dirae steers this extended metaphor perfectly. Her comparison of a relationship to a being a refugee in a new country worked on multiple levels. The last stanzas feel as true as the first, and she maintains an emotional trajectory that leaves the reader feeling intense loss on the last devastating line.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”22650″ style=”vc_box_circle” title=”nate”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Rowan’s roundup: yeah write weekly writing challenge #294
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nonfiction
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]It builds character. That’s not just something my dad used to say to me about failure, guys, it’s a thing that you have to do as a writer. Yes, even as a writer of nonfiction. It can be hard to remember that you have to build a “character” out of someone you’re so familiar with that you know she won’t eat eggs but will punch a baby to get a brick of cheddar cheese, but your reader doesn’t know her as well as you do. That means you have to include enough detail for the reader to meet and fall in love – or hate – with your character, just like fiction writers do.
Overall this week folks did a great job developing character, so go back through the grid and as you re-read look for the little things that tell you about each person. Don’t stop at just the description of a character; keep an eye out for the unique way each person behaves, responds, and even communicates with the other characters in the story.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”29344″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3/4″][vc_column_text]
fiction|poetry
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]I’m going to tag in on Nate’s editor’s pick here and talk a little about metaphor. What are some famous metaphors? Rosebud is a sled is Citizen Kane’s entire childhood. Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? And of course, if you’re into Hemingway… that stupid fish. (Sorry, I had to take a break from writing and have a flashback to 7th grade English.)
But how do you use metaphors effectively in your writing? By not beating them into the ground, and especially by not explaining them in a pat last-paragraph “and as he pulled his boat into the harbor he realized the fish had symbolized his virility all along” summary. If you introduce your metaphor cleanly and solidly early on in the story, you really have to do little more than occasionally remind the reader of it throughout the course of the plot. The image and connection should stick with them just fine. Even if all you write is stories about white dudes with guns and giant fish, colonizing things. (Please don’t.)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”29345″ alignment=”center”][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator][vc_column_text]That’s it for this week! Remember, we don’t always give out a pick on both grids; if we were impressed by several posts on one grid we’ll give them all picks, and if nothing really stood out for us we’ll hold off. If you didn’t get a pick this week, read back through the roundup to see if you can use some of this week’s tips and tricks.
If you’re lost in the middle of the grid and wondering how you can get a little more feedback on your posts, check out our membership perks!
Everybody: before you go, please take some time to leave your favorites a little love in the comments, and don’t forget, our weekend grid opens tonight at 6pm Eastern US Time![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Congratulations to the crowd favorites at yeah write #294
The thumbnails are now sorted in order of most votes to fewest. Ties in the overall number of votes are broken by number of editor votes.
Congratulations if you’re at or near the top! Writing well is hard work, and we’re honored you’ve chosen us this week to showcase your entry.
If you’re at or near the bottom, don’t be discouraged. You’re in the right community for learning and growing as a writer, and we are always available with resources for those who ask nicely.
To our readers and voters: thank you! See you next week.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
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