Way Back When
We’re coming up on seven years since I submitted my first post* to YeahWrite. It was terrible. On the surface it was about a box of crackers, but it was actually about my relationship with a former coworker. I don’t remember exactly how the two were tied together in my head, other than the fact that I didn’t like the crackers and I really didn’t like my coworker. Still, you’d never know because I didn’t effectively convey that the whole thing was a metaphor for something else. You’re better off not knowing, though, because the coworker story is even worse than the cracker story.
I like to think I’ve come a long way in seven years. If nothing else, at least I stopped putting two spaces after a period. Do you ever go back and reread your old work? Tell us about it in comments or the Coffeehouse.
-Michelle
Welcome to Week 412
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 – Finding and working with an editor
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 March focus is on finding and working with a professional editor. No matter how good you are at writing, your work needs the final polish that comes from having an outsider review it for your habitual tics, grammar errors, and blind spots. But not all editing is equal: learn how to find an editor who helps you sound like the best version of you, and take this month’s YFW challenge, right here!
Nonfiction: Optional Prompt
The nonfiction grid has no mandatory prompts – you’re free to write about whatever inspires you. However, each week, we also give you an optional prompt in case that helps your mostly-true story juices flow. This week’s prompt is to write about a travel disaster. Did your family road trip get a flat tire, leaving you stranded in a small town for days? Did you miss your plane… and the entire work trip? Let us know!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works! This year is Marching on (see what I did there?) and we’re looking back to go forward this month! Some of you may remember when there was an Ultimate Question to answer as a prompt for all three grids; Fiction|Poetry, Nonfiction, and Micro. Some of you may also remember a time before Google and online searches, when librarians were our go-to source of all knowledge. In July of 2015 the New York Public Library began releasing its records of the questions that librarians were asked. You can check out all the questions at their Instagram account, at their Twitter account, or by following #LetMeLibrarianThatForYou on Twitter or on Instagram. You can also find compilations of the questions in this article from the Daily Mail, or this one from The Guardian.
For March we’re asking you to answer one of these questions (chosen by the weekly winner) somewhere in your story. We’re leaving the interpretation of the question and how you answer it up to you. You only have one prompt this month so be creative, surprise us, but you must answer the question in a way that will be obvious to others who know the prompt.
The question prompt, chosen by our YeahWrite #410 fiction|poetry winner, Jen, is: What kind of apple did Eve eat?
“What kind of an apple did Eve eat?”
Perhaps this question was inspired by a fall apple picking adventure. #LetMeLibrarianThatForYou
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Before Google, here’s what our librarians were asked by telephone or at the reference desk! pic.twitter.com/b2dPlS2QlF— NY Public Library (@nypl) October 2, 2018
Poets: In March we’re working with synesthesia – playing with sensory input to pack additional meaning into your work. Write a poem using this device (learn more about it here). Or you can write a poem that answers our question prompt. Or both!
Poetry Slam - Synesthesia
This month’s poetry “slam” isn’t going to focus on a form, but on a technique. Learn about incorporating a literary device called synesthesia to pack more meaning into your poetry this month!
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Loading InLinkz ...Microprose Challenge Opens Wednesday
This week has the first Wednesday of the month, and you know what that means: our tiniest challenge will be open for under 24 hours, starting Wednesday at midnight! Every microprose challenge has different rules, so you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled and your fingers fast. Need a quick link to the challenge? This one goes live when the microprose grid opens.
Micro Weeks are Moderated Weeks!
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. In 2016, she stepped into the role of Editor-In-Chief. Outside of YeahWrite, she is a freelance writer working with a variety of corporate clients, primarily in the insurance and employee benefits space. Her work has been featured on The Huffington Post, Cosplay Culture, and xoJane, as well as several local websites near her former home in northern NJ home. She now lives in Southern California, enjoying the sunshine. She sometimes blogs at themichellelongo.com.
