My Life in Boxes
I’m leaving New Jersey for good (no, for GREAT!) one week from the time I’m writing this. I packed all the mugs last night so it seemed there was no hope for coffee until I found the donation box in the living room that I’d procrastinated dropping off. There was a mug in there! Sometimes putting things off actually pays off! Not so much with my writing though. When I delay getting that done, the only thing that happens is more time goes by. How about you? Have you ever had writing procrastination pay off? Tell us about it!
Welcome to Week 380
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
For the Birds
The most beautiful pair of cardinals has been visiting my bird feeder. And they aren’t the only ones. This is the time of year that I have to refill the seed nearly every day to satisfy all the voracious bird appetites. Birds, words. Who has words in their heads right now? I’m too distracted by family this week, but I’d be thrilled if you could harness your thoughts and write a mostly-true story for the nonfiction grid. Remember, prompts are not required! But hey, if you want one, tell us a bird story. Or ask for a different prompt in the YeahWrite Coffeehouse on Facebook.
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
The Holiday is Over, Baby
I’m ba-ack [insert Poltergeist reference]. My European adventure has come to an end, and I’m struggling with jet lag. I’ve also entered the endless circles of hell that are washing everything we packed and putting my house back to rights. Though in fairness, my teenaged children did a remarkably good job of keeping the house clean and the dog alive.
Between loads of washing and stress baking, I’ve been thinking about who my most trusted writing confidantes are. Do you have go-to people you trust with your work and your words? Are there people you rely on to talk through story ideas with? Are they unfailingly supportive? If not, how do you deal with waning support, or complete lack of it from those you rely on?
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 #378 fiction|poetry winner Janvi of Gawky Scribbler, is: (a/the) walled city.*
*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/the walled city 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 anxiously await their results. Did you miss out on registration? Make sure you 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 YeahWriters.
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.
