The Great Book Debate
In the process of moving house and moving toward a more minimalist lifestyle, I’ve found books to be a real sticking point for me. On the one hand, they’re BOOKS. On the other hand, they are really heavy. Anyone who has moved before knows what a pain it is to move books. (PS, this is my 3rd move since my first apartment and I think I’ve had most of these books since then.) On the other other hand, many of them have been read already and since I find it hard to make time to read new stuff, am I really going to read stuff I already read? On the other other other hand, they were good books. On the other-times-4 hand, I could borrow from a library or download it digitally if I really need to read it again, thus making the literal space I and my things take up a little smaller. I probably should figure out what I’m doing soon, I move in two weeks.
Where do you stand on the book debate?
Welcome to Week 379
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
Bon Apetit
I love summer and for once I’m not talking about the weather, though I love that too. My town clears out in the summer, in part because I live in a college town, but also because lots of people just leave and go “Down the Cape” (to Cape Cod) for the summer. When school is in session, any plans to dine out must be made at least days in advance. But in the summer, I can make a reservation just hours before, even on a Friday or Saturday night. Ahhhh. Speaking of appetites, I hope you are hungry to write this week! Remember, our nonfiction grid has no prompt requirements but if you need a prompt, you can always roll with “appetite” or ask for a different prompt in the YeahWrite Coffeehouse on Facebook. Hope to see your mostly-true story on the grid this week!
Technique Toolbox: Writing About Writing (Part III)
Ready to start reading critically, and learning how to describe what you see when you do read? Check out Part III of our vocabulary and skill-building critique series in this month’s Technique Toolbox! This month we’ll dive into substantive issues: the stuff that’s frustrating to read, how to spot big problems and plot holes, and a few gentle ways to break that news to the author who trusted you with a work they care a lot about in its current form.
Nonfiction Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry Challenge
Lazy Summer
It’s writing contest eve as I write this. In just a few hours, a lot of us will be brainstorming, researching, and exasperating. So, I was pretty much stressing out earlier this week because I had it in my head that I hadn’t written in a while. I didn’t want to be rusty going into a writing challenge. But I put it to a test. I listed everything I’d written in the past week: at home, at work, in my cell phone, on social media.
Turns out I haven’t been lazy at all. I might be a little creaky on the fiction, but I’ve been wordy all week. Good luck, everyone! Support each other.
July Poetry Slam: Chant
Same old, same old. But the same old can be brand new when you read it in a different context. This month we’re exploring chants, a kind of singsong poetry with a line that stays the same and keeps changing, depending on where you read it in the poem. Join us!
Prompt Up!
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
For those of you who appreciate a looser prompt, July is the month for you! This month we’re only giving a setting prompt to frame your story around. However, more than half of your story MUST take place at this location. Characters, plot, genre, voice are all up to you!
The prompt, from YeahWrite #379 fiction|poetry winner Nate, is: a hiking trail.*
*This is where I’m going to tell you a little secret. I like writing to more than one prompt. So I will probably Google “random prompt generator” and give myself a second one, but that’s just me. Shhh! No one needs to know.
Poets: Write a poem set on a hiking trail or write a chant (or combine the two).
Fiction|Poetry Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
The first round of Super Challenge #9 (nonfiction) is officially underway! Good luck to all our participants as they furiously finish their essays. Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any Super Challenge announcements.
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.
