New Year, New You?
Anyone else sick of that phrase yet? How about “New Year, New Slogan?” In any event, happy 2019! This is a perfect opportunity to set some goals for your writing and then get to work crushing them! Be sure to set small and measurable goals along the way so you can feel the sense of accomplishment you’ll need to propel yourself forward. No excuses – go make amazing things happen!
-Michelle
[ed’s note: Are you as bad at setting goals as I am? Try playing along with our Year of Fearless Writing. We’ll set one for you each month, and you can check them off your list with the confidence that each one moves you closer to being where you want to be as a writer. /rbg]
Welcome to Week 404
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 Saturday 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.
Technique Toolbox: Year of Fearless Writing – Tracking Submissions
Ready to take yourself seriously as a writer? Not sure how, or not convinced you’re ready? We think you can, and are, and will be. This year is our Year of Fearless Writing, where we’re going to focus on the craft of writing, not the art, to take you from “I write” to “I’m a writer.”
Our January focus is tracking submissions: why do you need to, and how should you do it? Find out, and take this month’s YFW challenge, right here!
Nonfiction: Optional Prompt
The nonfiction grid has no mandatory prompts. However, each week, we will give you an optional prompt in case that helps your mostly-true story juices flow. This week’s prompt is to write about a new beginning. Have fun!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
It’s a new month and a new year! In celebration, we’re returning to the compulsory two-prompt format in January; the first prompt will come from from this list of personality traits (click the link to go to the list), and the second prompt (a genre prompt) will come from YeahWrite Editors! Both prompts are compulsory and should be identifiable in your story.
2019 is the Year of the Pig according to the Chinese Lunar calendar, so we’re asking you to write a main character that embodies a personality trait of people born in the Year of the Pig chosen from this list.
Remember if your main character is lazy, for example, don’t say “she’s so lazy”. Instead, show the reader how she reclined on the couch, the TV remote inches from her left foot, and called out to her husband in the kitchen to fetch it for her — and could he get her a glass of water too? I’ve chosen a negative trait as an example, but there are plenty of positive traits to choose from, and some that could, well, go either way. If you’re this week’s winner, keep an eye out for an email in your inbox, because we’ll be asking you to help pick our prompt!
The personality trait prompt for your main character, chosen by our YeahWrite #402 fiction|poetry winner, is: vain.
The genre prompt, from YeahWrite Editors, is: Magical Realism.
Need a refresher on our genre and how to write it? You can find a guide right here. Or check this one out.
Poets: January’s poetry slam is blank verse- check it out right here, and write a poem in that style. Or you can write a poem incorporating our personality trait prompt. Or both! (Just not neither- you have to pick at least one prompt.)
Poetry Slam - Blank Verse
Trying to remember how poetry works? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. This month our slam takes it back to basics with blank verse, the simplest form of metered poetry. Get a handy tutorial on scansion (or learn how) and then jump in right here! We’ve got additional levels of difficulty for experienced or adventurous poets to step it up, too, so don’t skip this one.
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Our tiniest challenge with the biggest bang is open the first Wednesday of every month from midnight to 10 p.m.
YeahWrite Super Challenge
Super Challenge #11 (nonfiction!) is now open for registration! Our next contest kicks off in 2019 so sign up today to ensure your spot. 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.
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.
