Story Time
It’s almost February (where did January go?) and time to refocus on writing and telling stories. The end of January brings with it the Society for Storytelling’s National Storytelling Week in the UK. Officially starting on January 26 and ending February 2, 2019 marks the 19th year of this annual tradition. There are also four days before and four days after the week, known as the “coat tails” (click this link for more details). For me, February means it’s time for the Perth Writers Week. My writing usually suffers through December and January between the bustle of family commitments for Christmas, and summer school holidays. There’s never enough time or silence to just ruminate on ideas, let alone write. The Writers Week at the end of February is my opportunity to be physically around other writers, exchange ideas, and talk craft. I always leave inspired, or at least rejuvenated. In previous years the Writers Week has consisted of panels of writers discussing their craft, individual writers presenting their latest work, or interviews with writers on particular issues. This year, it also includes workshops on craft. I have predictably pounced on whatever workshops I can fit in during the week, lamented over timetable clashes, and made hard decisions about whether the poetry workshop or the crime fiction workshop is more my jam (crime fiction won). I’ve also convinced my second child to come to some of the workshops with me. I know! We’re doing some mother-son bonding over writing workshops and my writer’s heart is filled to bursting — I’m counting this as a huge parenting win. I may also be just a tiny bit smug about finally convincing one of my children to invest energy in writing.
– Asha
Welcome to Week 407
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 conversation you had with a stranger. 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
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 #405 fiction|poetry winner, Michael, is: poor operating capability.
The genre prompt
Need a refresher on our genre and how to write it? You can find a basic definition here, and the YeahWrite guide to dystopian fiction here. You can also check out these 7 Tips for Writing Post-Apocalyptic Fiction or find a more detailed guide here.
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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Loading InLinkz ...Our tiniest challenge with the biggest bang is open the first Wednesday of every month from midnight to 10 p.m.
YeahWrite Super Challenge
Round One of Super Challenge #11 (nonfiction!) is now officially underway! Good luck to all our participants as they furiously finish their essays. Miss out on this Super Challenge? 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:
Asha keeps moving from one side of the world to the other. Her most recent move has taken her back to Perth, Western Australia where she grew up. She lives near the beach but hates sand between her toes. It’s a real conundrum. Asha began blogging at YeahWrite in October 2014 with this post, and YeahWrite was lucky to pull her on board as a Contributing Editor in December 2016. She is currently working on a novelette that grew from a series of flash fiction pieces. Asha is published in a variety of places including Modern Loss, PANK, Dead Housekeeping, and SheKnows. You can find her inconsistent blogging at Parenting In The Wilderness, or at her fiction blog, FlAsha Tales.
