One is the Loneliest Number

I’ve had this whole day to myself to write. I was supposed to get so many things done. But about half way through the day, I lost my steam. Now, that could have been for a number of reasons, but I think it was due in some part to loneliness. As much as I’m an introvert and love to be alone, I also tend to get lonely after a while. With my family out of town and very little reason to leave the house for the past few days, I’m all introverted up and I’m ready for humans again. (Don’t tell anyone though. I’d hate to give the impression I’m a people person.)

Writing is a very solitary thing. I could have made plans to see friends today, but then I wouldn’t have even had the opportunity to get writing done. What I really needed was another writer to sit at the table with me and write alongside. Together but alone. I think I’m going to make it a point to set up a writing date to see if I can be more productive that way. It’s worth a try, right?

How about you? Do you have a writing partner or do you hole up in your house all alone? Tell us in comments!

YeahWrite Super Challenge

Our fifth Super Challenge is officially underway! Good luck to all of our contestants as they finish up their Round 1 submissions. Did you miss out on registration? Sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any announcements for our Super Challenge #6. Next time, we head back to the land of fiction!

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: Emotional Misuse

As essayists, we like to give our readers All The Feels. But sometimes too many feels can get in the way of the reads. Learn how to balance the emotions in your writing to produce more complete and accessible works and to make strong emotion stand out in this month’s Nonfiction Know-How.

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 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.

Margaret had a revelation about writing in her essay Marketing. This week’s photo prompt inspired by her adventures at the Portland Saturday Market is:

July Poetry Slam: Palinode

This month’s Poetry Slam features the palinode, which is Greek for “counterpoem” – retract your own ideas or join Team Petty as we recycle and revise poetry that needs a second look. 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.

About the author: