Words of Wisdom
There’s a saying: Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. I know that writers often suffer from imposter syndrome, and sometimes we write something and think, “Wow, that is good!” Don’t pretend you don’t. If you didn’t think you had some talent you wouldn’t keep doing this.
Here’s the thing – all the talent in the world means nothing if you don’t work hard. If you don’t write, submit, pitch, submit more, write more, pitch more… you’ll get nowhere. You’ll be a writer who doesn’t write anymore. You’ll be someone who used to be a writer. Maybe you can live with that. No judgment from me if that’s cool with you.
But if it’s not cool with you, if you’re sitting around watching life pass you by and seeing friends get book deals and finishing projects and the like, but you haven’t written anything in as long as you can remember, that’s on you. It doesn’t matter if you’re any good if you don’t work at it because someone less talented who puts in the work will get further along than you. Do you want to be in their rearview mirror? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
NOTE: I am 100% talking to myself here, but hey, if the shoe fits…
[Ed’s note: I feel personally called out by this relatable content /RBG]
Welcome to Week 385
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
Musical Chairs?
Everyone was so nice about writing my posts so that I could go camping in the smoke, so I took Stacie’s this week. I usually get around to reading the kickoff around… Tuesday… so seeing Michelle’s comment about getting out there and writing and submitting was both timely and, well, personal, this week. But what do you do when you’re a creative nonfiction writer? How do you “submit?”
Find a publication you’d love to be in. Read it. And write like that. (Then pitch, or submit.) Not sure how or what I mean? Deconstruct those stories with your critical reading skills, figure out what they’ve got in common, and use that as a writing prompt! And YeahWrite’s weekly grids are a great way to test those new skills as you’re developing them, with immediate feedback and a rich community of writers to draw from while you hone your writing. Who would you love to write like? Whose writing do you love but you’d never want to write like them? What topics do you enjoy reading about? If you’re still feeling stuck, here’s a list of 50 more nonfiction ideas to get you started, or ask for (or start!) a game in the coffeehouse.
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
O Captain! My Captain!
It’s been a tumultuous week in Australia. We’ve had two leadership challenges and a change of Prime Minister, half of Parliament shut down early to deal with the shenanigans, and the 24-hour news cycle has been frothing and foaming gleefully at the carry-on. We’ve finally installed a new Prime Minister and a new Treasurer, so hopefully the country can get on with the business of, well, nationhood and I can get on with the business of writing. I’ve been reading some beautiful essays recently and they’ve inspired me to write more. What are you reading that’s got you motivated?
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 first prompt is: “What if all the trees in the world suddenly disappeared?” Incorporate this prompt into your setting or as a plot device. Do not use it word for word.
Your second prompt is a prop: a wooden chair. Use the prompt without change (no plurals, not a chair made from another material, etc.).
Poets: Write a poem that includes “What if all the trees in the world suddenly disappeared”, or that incorporates a wooden chair, or write a diminishing verse (or combine them).
Fiction|Poetry Challenge Grid: Basic YeahWrite Guidelines
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
Super Challenge #9 is a wrap! Congrats to Trish Tuthill, our champion, and to Jennifer Palmer and Danielle Dayney for rounding out the top three! Did you miss out on Super Challenge #9? Well don’t fret! Registration for Super Challenge #10 (fiction) is now open. 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 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.
