Crookneck Squash
When I’m pressed for time and deadlines loom, I like to procrastinate by reading random things I wrote years ago. While casually wasting time yesterday, I found a charming sentence I concocted involving crookneck squash. I haven’t thought about crookneck squash in, I don’t know, probably the 4 years since I wrote that sentence. Sure, I’ve thought about zucchini (when are people going to stop the zoodle obsession?) and spaghetti squash (the thing we were all pretending was pasta before zoodles were discovered), but the crookneck? Nah. And it’s a shame, too, because I rather like the crookneck squash.
Why am I so enamored by my own discussion of the crookneck? I like the specificity of it. I could have said anything else, but the crookneck is precise. It’s not any old vegetable. It’s not even any old squash. It’s the crookneck! My point is this: When you use precise language, your reader is able to create a mental picture without you wasting words painting it for them.
Also, I really like saying crookneck. I’ll bet this is the most the word crookneck has ever been used in a single post. I hope it appreciates the attention. Got a vegetable you think is terribly overlooked? Tell us in comments.
YeahWrite Super Challenge
Miss out on the last Super Challenge? Well, you’re in luck! Early (discounted!) registration for Super Challenge #5 (nonfiction) is now open! Also, be sure to sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any announcements for upcoming challenges.
Bring us your personal essays and creative nonfiction!
The Nonfiction Challenge grid opens on Monday at midnight EST. This is the best place on the ‘net to showcase your best writing. Make us laugh, make us cry, make us think, and above all: make us care.
Nonfiction Know-How: Think Outside the Thesaurus
Word overuse plagues most writers but the solution isn’t always as simple as grabbing a thesaurus. Learn how to avoid the most common traps in both overuse and trying to correct overuse in this month’s Nonfiction Know-How. Fictioneers, you might want to glance at this one, too! Learn more from Rowan here.
Is fiction more your thing?
The Fiction|Poetry Challenge grid opens on Tuesday. Grab a mic and join our monthly poetry slam or check out our weekly prompt up!
Prompt up!
Prompt up is our optional weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here’s how it works: we announce a sentence prompt from last week’s winning nonfiction post. It’s your job to use that prompt in your story or poem in some way. Feel free to use it as your first sentence, move it somewhere else, change it, or float it down to other territories.
Unfoldingfromthefog found a parallel between getting rid of old clothes and her writing in Downsizing. The prompt up taken from her essay is: “Are those from the 80’s?”
June Poetry Slam: Filk
On summer (or winter) vacation and looking for a new song to sing around the fire? How about a new song to an old tune? We’re combining poetry and music in this month’s slam as we teach you to write a filk song. Sure, it’s just a sneaky way to make you write a poem that rhymes and scans, but it’s also a fun way to apply everything you know about poetry and show off a little in the process! Learn more from Rowan here.
Winners’ Round-Up
In case you missed them, you can find last week’s YeahWrite staff picks and crowd favorites all laid out for you on Friday’s winners’ post. Leave the winners some love in the comments. They will love you right back, we guarantee it.
Weekend Writing Showcase
The weekend’s not over: the yeah write Weekend Writing Showcase is still open. Have something to add? Old posts and new are welcome. No moderation, no voting. It’s a laid-back relaxed kind of place. Just leave your commercial or sponsored posts at home. Drop by, share your work, and while you’re there, visit your fellow yeah writers.
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