The Ugly Side of Writing
When I think of the top three things that hold me back as a writer (besides time, of course), they are imposter syndrome, jealousy, and fear. I know it’s not glamorous to talk about this sort of thing and probably most don’t want to admit when they’re feeling this way, but I’m willing to bet all of us feel this at one time or another. Have you asked yourself why you bother writing because you’re not as good as so-and-so? Or do you see others where you hope to one day be and the green-eyed monster takes over? Or are you just so paralyzed by fear of success and/or failure that you do nothing?
I think I’ve felt all three this week. And I’m telling you this because I’ll bet you’ve been in a similar place before too. That’s what’s great about YeahWrite. It’s a community where you can share your work, get constructive feedback, and try new things, all in a supportive environment. I’ll make a deal with you: I’ll stop letting negative thoughts get me down if you stop too. OK? Let’s all get writing!
Welcome to Week 370
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
What’s in your Cupboard?
Not Old Mother Hubbard, for one. I took my younger son grocery shopping the other day and now I have a cupboard full of Milanos. This is the price you pay when you stop on the way home from something else. The things that jump into your basket, I’m telling you, are varied and often not what you would normally buy. But Milanos. Mmmmmmm. Writing can be like that too. Why not try something out of the ordinary for you? Write about a time you felt uncomfortable. Write about a time you did something unexpected or something unexpected happened to you. Heck, write about Milanos. I know you have stories in your head. Let them out! We want to read them.
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
First lines
I’ve been thinking about opening sentences a lot this week. They carry an unnaturally heavy burden in writing. It’s your reader’s first meeting with you, your first opportunity to hook them into your writing. Those words should entice the reader in, make them want to go on. Some of my favourite opening lines are:
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again. — Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. — 1984, George Orwell
The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there. — The Go-Between, L. P. Hartley.
Do you have favourite opening lines? Share them with us in the comments.
April 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, without using the word for the emotion. 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 Tobi at Pexels. You can access a downloadable version of the photo by clicking on it.
The second prompt, from YeahWrite #368 fiction|poetry winner Nathan, is to use the following emotion: spite. 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 spite, or write a Sapphic ode (or any combination of those three).
Fiction|Poetry Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
The Final Round of Super Challenge #8 is currently underway! Good luck to all our participants as they furiously finish their submissions. 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.
