Substitute Me for Her
Oh hi! Psssst, it’s me Stacie. Michelle is on a plane right now, though not by the time this post goes live, so I get to moonlight as head honcho of the kickoff post! I hardly know what to do with my newfound power, bwah ha ha.
It’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere so lots of folks are busy with holidays, kids out of school, moving (::waves to Michelle::), and the like. Unfortunately, that means that many people don’t have time to write. Fortunately, that also means that if you do write, you have a much greater chance of winning the popular vote! Exciting, right? I can’t really push you though, considering it’s been twenty-times forever since I’ve written anything. BUT I WILL ANYWAY: Go write something for either or both grids and get yourself that sweet winners’ badge! You know you want it.
[BTW who’s old enough to get the slightly modified title reference?]
Welcome to Week 382
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
Clear the Air
Sorry (not sorry), it’s me again. Is anyone else obsessed with an app? I check my weather app on my phone often. In my life, knowing the weather is practical. I have dogs to walk and errands to run. If I can avoid precipitation of any kind, I do. However, predictions are not always reliable. I walked my dogs early this morning to beat the rain, only I got caught in a massive downpour midway through the three-mile loop anyway. I’ll admit, it actually felt kind of good, given the heavy humidity hanging in the air. So that was my little adventure of the day. How about writing a mostly-true story of one of your adventures, big or small? On the nonfiction grid, prompts are not required, so feel free to write about whatever you want. But if you need an idea and an adventure tickles your brain, go for it! If you’d like a different optional prompt, feel free to ask for one in the YeahWrite Coffeehouse on Facebook. Happy writing!
Technique Toolbox: Summaries
So you’re fine writing your story or personal essay, but when it comes to that summary for your title page or authorial pitch, you freeze up? This month’s Technique Toolbox is ready to come to the rescue! If you missed last year’s class, never fear: you can still learn about the two summary structures. And if you’re looking for a little more in-depth instruction, the class video is still archived and accessible for a small fee!
Nonfiction Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry Challenge
Came Through Drippin’ (drip, drip)
It’s a soggy, boggy winter around these parts! The rain’s come in with a vengeance — which will hopefully mean that we won’t have terrible water shortages and restrictions in summer — and I’m never more grateful for living at the top of a hill than now. All that water around makes for dangerous traffic (why do people lose their ability to drive at the first rain drop?) and difficult dog walks (eau de wet dog is not my favourite cologne). It also makes for terrific writing conditions. After all, what’s more appealing; braving hazardous traffic in wild and windy weather, or curling up on the sofa with a nice cup of tea and your latest writing project?
So, grab your cup of tea (or beverage of choice) and dive in to this week’s fiction and poetry prompts. See you on the grids!
August Poetry Slam: Diminishing Verse
Summer (or winter, depending on where you are) is shrinking away, and so is our August poetry form. This month we’re learning how to write a diminishing verse, a form of poetry where the last word of each line is a little shorter than the one before it. Join us!
Prompt Up!
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
It’s August and time for a new round of prompts! This month we’re giving you a What If prompt that will allow you to explore alternate possibilities and timelines, and a second prompt that might be a character trait, a prop, or an emotion. The What If prompt is designed to generate ideas for an alternate world or timeline. It should not be used exactly as written. Plot, genre, setting, and voice are all up to you!
The prompt, from YeahWrite #380 fiction|poetry winner Meg Galipault from Pigspittle Ohio, is: What if humans had no sight? Incorporate this prompt into your setting or as a plot device. Do not use it word for word.
Your second prompt is a character trait; conceited. Again, don’t use the word exactly as is. Instead, have one of your characters embody this trait. Convey a sense of the word, perhaps through how other characters react to them.
Poets: Write a poem that includes “what if humans had no sight”, or that incorporates conceited, or write a diminishing verse (or combine them).
Fiction|Poetry Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
The second round of Super Challenge #9 (nonfiction) is officially underway! Good luck to all our participants as they anxiously await the 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.
