Have You Set a Date?
I was talking to someone today who is trying to wrap up his book. He’s been putting it off because life (we can all relate, right?), but he’s determined to get it done. To meet his goal, he set a deadline. This is some pretty solid advice, and maybe you’ve heard it before. But have you tried it? Giving yourself a specific time to reach a milestone can go a long way toward making it happen. I’d add to tell people about it, even if it’s just a trusted friend or partner. Everyone needs accountability.
Do you have a WIP that you need to finally finish? I know I do. Set a date. Meet your goal. I believe in you – you can do it!
Welcome to Week 369
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
Listen to Nate the Great
Nate gives some super sound advice below about emotional intent. This doesn’t only apply to fiction. Take a minute to think of some mostly true stories you want to tell. What emotion were you feeling? Maybe you were anxious, your mind reeling like a fishing pole, your breath bated like an unfinished sneeze, your heart fluttering like the wingbeats of a million tiny birds or maybe bats. Oh wait, I’m not supposed to be purple anymore. Carry on and write a mostly true story this week!
Technique Toolbox: Writing About Writing
While nobody wants to read another essay about how hard it is to be a writer, everybody wants your valuable comments, concrit, and beta reading skills, which doesn’t start with a C, we’re sorry. But how do you read critically, and how do you describe what you see when you do read? Check out Part I of our vocabulary and skill-building critique series in this month’s Technique Toolbox!
Nonfiction Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry Challenge
Feelings! (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
We’re writing emotions into our stories this month to practice intention and tone. Anyone who participated in Fun With Words, the introduction to poetry writing class that just ended, knows I’m a stickler for these techniques. Having an emotional goal to convey to readers before you start writing a scene helps to establish a strong voice in narration (and in poetry). You don’t even really have to think about it. If Susie sits down to write a scene on a boat in which her main character is angry, the phrasing of that character’s actions and dialogue are going to be very different than if Susie just started writing with no intention in mind.
Writing with an emotional goal in mind without being able to state the emotion outright also helps keep showing actions, emotions, and motivations at the forefront of the writer’s mind. It’s the difference between “Angela was upset.” and “The loud thud of the door echoed through the conference room when Angela walked in. She slammed her bag on the table and plopped into a chair. The clicks of her texting punctuated the presenter’s introduction.”
May Poetry Slam: Odes
Who (or what, or where) do you love? Tell us this month as we explore the ode, a lyrical poem that uplifts something you care deeply about. With three levels of difficulty to choose from, you’ll be churning out Sapphic stanzas before you know it!
Prompt Up!
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
This month, we’re deviating from the path a little. Both prompts are still mandatory, but, instead of having a word or phrase that you must use verbatim, you have an emotion to convey through your writing. This prompt is a good challenge to see how well you can show, rather than tell emotion.
The first prompt to incorporate into your story, a photo prompt, is this image by bluemoonjools at Pixabay.
The second prompt, from YeahWrite #367 fiction|poetry winner Yeshasvi, is to use the following emotion: guilt. Remember with the emotion prompt not to use the word itself in your story. Instead, try to convey a sense of the emotion in other ways; show, don’t tell.
Poets: Use the photo prompt, write a poem conveying guilt, or write an ode (or any combination of those three).
Fiction|Poetry Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
Round Two of Super Challenge #8 is currently underway! Good luck to all our participants as they anxiously await the results. Did you miss out on registration for this Super Challenge? Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any announcements for the next one.
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.
YeahWrite in the Wild
You read their words every week, but it's not often you get to see the people behind those words. Browse through our gallery and see if you can spot regular contributors or editors.
If you'd like to be featured in the gallery, simply head over to our Swag shop, make your purchase, then when it arrives send us a photo of you in/with your YeahWrite swag to editors@yeahwrite.me.
About the author:
Michelle submitted her first entry to YeahWrite in March 2012 and was brought on staff shortly thereafter. Over the years, Michelle has been an integral figure at YeahWrite, but in 2016, we were thrilled to have her step into the role of Editor-In-Chief. Personally, she has worked in the insurance/employee benefits industry for over twenty years and also fills her time as a freelance writer. 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.
