I’m Giving You an Assignment
My son just finished up the school year, and he was given a packet of homework – math – to complete over the summer. Me, being the super cool mom that I am, have been joking around that he needs to do the packet by next week, that he’ll get more packets, that I’ve asked teachers for extra assignments, and other nonsense. He doesn’t think I’m funny or cool at all. He’s probably right, but who cares?
There’s some statistic that I’m way too lazy to look up about just how much information is lost by a child over the summer. I think the same thing happens to us. When we have time off, time away from writing, not only do we fall out of practice, but we forget some of the skills we picked up. If we don’t use it, we lose it, as the old saying goes. If you find it difficult this season to write, or any season for that matter, take a few steps before you get in too deep to examine why it’s hard for you and to find ways to combat that. Set a time to write, schedule play dates for the kids when you can have an hour to yourself, or plan a mini writer’s retreat and get out of the house for a bit (even just the afternoon at a coffee shop is something!). If summer is no different than winter, you’re not off the hook. You have down times, too.
My challenge for you is this: Keep writing this summer. Make it work. Don’t suffer from summer information loss. Do your math packet.
Also, my apologies to our friends in the Southern Hemisphere and others for whom the US school schedule means nothing. But you have times when it’s hard to write, right? It’s not just me, is it?
Who’s on Fourth
This month we invite you to learn more about Danielle Dayney! The interview will publish Monday at 12pm ET, but in the meantime, head over to her page and catch up on all of her awesomeness.
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.
Nancy took a moment to appreciate the people in her life in the essay “Good Company.” This week’s prompt taken from her piece is: “Eight weeks is a long time to be a guest.”
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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