WE INTERRUPT YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED KICKOFF
Rowan here, with the most exciting news I’ve had in a while. How exciting?
Y’all?
That’s right. We’ve got our shop up and running with the tees, tanks, totes, t’sweatshirts, t’pants and t’notebooks you’ve been dying to get your hands on for ages. We’ve even got throw pillows. Oh, and mugs and waterbottles for those of you who need to caffeinate or hydrate. Declare your allegiance to your favorite grid or give us all a shoutout with our logo in black, white, or glorious color. Me, I’m ordering new jammies and I’m going to sit around the house completely unwashed gulping coffee and editing, but you do what you want.
We’re opening our store in conjunction with a special offer from Threadless: from now until 10:00am CDT on March 19, get free shipping on US orders over $45 ($80 USD for international customers) with code SHIP18af8f71.
Back to you, Michelle.
Onward and Upward
My Facebook memories just reminded me that it was about a year ago that we launched our new website design and branding here at YeahWrite. Since then, so many wonderful things are happening behind the scenes in order to make exciting things happen, um, in front of the scenes? (what’s the opposite of behind the scenes?). In less than three weeks, some of us will be gathering for our first ever YeahWrite corporate retreat to plan and scheme for fun things to come. If you’re in the Seattle area, make sure you stay tuned in the Coffeehouse for the announcement of our public meet up on April 7.
It’s been quite a year for us and I’m looking forward to bigger and better things to come. We’re so glad you’re here to share it with us and, frankly, to make it all possible.
Welcome to Week 362
We’re kicking off the week in style at YeahWrite with both our competitive challenge grids in one post, plus prompts, tips, tricks and more. You asked, we answered! Keep scrolling down cause it’s all right here.
Submissions for this week’s challenges open on Monday at 12 midnight and close on Wednesday at 10pm ET. Voting will then open immediately thereafter and close on Thursday at 10pm ET. The winners, as always, will be celebrated on Friday.
Having trouble getting started? Hop on over to our quick guide. And don’t forget to doublecheck the full submission guidelines before you hit that button.
Looking For Microprose?
Our tiniest challenge with the biggest bang is open the first Wednesday of every month from midnight to 10 p.m.
Nonfiction Challenge
At Least I’m Reading
Something happened. I wrote about the thing but never hit publish because the writing was terrible when I looked over my draft the next day. When this occurs, which is quite often with me, I retreat to reading even more and writing even less. Perhaps I’d be better at wading through the mire if I didn’t enjoy reading as much as I do. I like to write but, if I’m honest, I love to read more. At least I can be comforted in the knowledge that reading other people’s words does help with my own writing, giving glimpses into what works and what doesn’t. At least I’m doing something. How about sending your mostly true stories my way this week?
Technique Toolbox: Pitch and Submit
Got a great piece of writing but not sure how to find a home for it? Know you’re a good writer but not sure what to write or who wants it? Check out our tips and tricks for pitching, submitting, and even getting ideas (plus three bonus rants from Rowan) in this month’s Technique Toolbox!
Nonfiction challenge grid:
Basic YeahWrite guidelines: 750 word limit; your entry can be dated no earlier than this past Sunday; nonfiction personal or persuasive essay, creative opinion piece or mostly true story based on actual events.
Check the submission guidelines for our full set of rules. If you’re not sure how to link up, hop over to our quick tutorial for getting started at YeahWrite! Otherwise, click that blue button when the challenge is open, and good luck! Come back to vote starting Wednesday at 10pm, and check out our winners on Friday!
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry Challenge
Nevertheless, She Persisted
Anyone else feeling like they’re spread a little thin this week? It might be because for the first time in a very long time, I’ve gone back to look at what exists of my novella. I’d been resisting it. There’s something kind of terrifying about going back to a story. Self-doubt rears its head; is it any good? Are the characters believable? Can I even write? Imposter syndrome affects everyone. That’s the good news. Since absolutely every writer goes through periods of doubting themselves and their abilities, you can bet that all the writers you love have probably been through it too. And then they’ve picked up their pens or pencils or keyboards and come out the other end. For some people writing every day is the key, while others prefer to wait till they have the right words. Whatever method works for you, keep writing.
March Poetry Slam: Acrostics
Take one of the building blocks of learning poetry to new heights as we play a new game with the old acrostic form in this month’s poetry slam. You’ll learn one way to integrate your title into your poem with a little bit of nuance and a lot of fun! Get your spellcheck ready and let’s go!
Prompt Up!
Prompt Up is our weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
The first prompt is: Use one of the definitions listed below in an INTEGRAL way in your story. In other words, your story wouldn’t work if the idea of the defined word were taken out. To be clear, you do not have to use the word in your story, but one of the definitions of the word must be a pivotal and identifiable element in your plot.
Definition of lighter (noun)
1 : one that lights or sets a fire
2 : a device for lighting a fire; especially : a mechanical or electrical device used for lighting cigarettes, cigars, or pipes
3: a large usually flat-bottomed barge used especially in unloading or loading ships
(definition source: merriam-webster.com)
The second prompt, a genre prompt, comes from YeahWrite #360 Fiction|Poetry winner, MM Schreier. The genre that your story must be written in is: Magical realism. The Encyclopaedia Britannica defines magical realism as a “chiefly Latin-American narrative strategy that is characterized by the matter-of-fact inclusion of fantastic or mythical elements into seemingly realistic fiction”, but we encourage you to research the genre more widely.
Poets: write a poem that incorporates the prompt word (lighter), fits within magical realism, or is an acrostic. You are free to incorporate all three if you wish.
Fiction|poetry challenge grid:
Basic YeahWrite guidelines: 750 word limit; your entry can be dated no earlier than this past Sunday; fiction or poetry only.
Check the submission guidelines for our full set of rules. If you’re not sure how to link up, hop over to our quick tutorial for getting started at YeahWrite! Otherwise, click that blue button when the challenge is open, and good luck! Come back to vote starting Wednesday at 10pm, and check out our winners on Friday!
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
Congrats to Donna-Louise Bishop, our Super Challenge #7 champion and to JJ Mikel and Nisha Mody for rounding out the top three! Well done! Did you miss out on registration? Well you’re in luck! Early (discounted!) registration for Super Challenge 8 is now open! Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any announcements for the next Super Challenge.
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 last Friday’s winners’ post. Leave the winners some love in the comments. They will love you right back, we guarantee it.
Last call: This week’s Weekend Writing Showcase is still open for business until the challenge grids start at midnight! 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:
Michelle submitted her first entry to YeahWrite in March 2012 and they haven’t been able to get rid of her since. After nearly 20 years in the insurance/employee benefits industry, she decided to give it all up to pursue writing full time. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post and xoJane, as well as several local sites near her northern NJ home. She blogs at Michelle Longo.
