Welp, I am a Libra.
Balance. It’s always in the back of my head when we choose the month’s fiction|poetry writing prompt themes. Are we trying to push you all out of your comfort zones with the prompts? Or are we just trying to give you building blocks so that you’ll create something?
Our transition from March to April prompts was probably the most dramatic swing between the prompt poles. I like to liken it to that old saying “March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.” As in, March 1 is snowy, slushy, and gray, and March 31 is sunny, green, and warm. Welcome to the sunny, green, and warm prompts, friends! May the weather in the northern hemisphere soon follow!
~Nate
Welcome to Week 417
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 – Critique Groups
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.”
In April we’re going to tell you all about critique groups. How can you tell if your idea is good? Are you stuck on a plot point? A critique group can help you sort out in-progress writing that isn’t ready for an edit, or figure out what’s missing in a piece that’s racking up rejections.
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 bad or funny experience you had with wind. Have fun!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
Prompt Up is our mandatory weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here's How It Works!
After two months of some pretty challenging prompts, we’re steering this ship back to familiar waters. Two prompts!
The occupation prompt, chosen by our YeahWrite #415 fiction|poetry winner, Nate,
The dialogue prompt is, which must not be changed in any way, is: “Don’t be scared. I just need you to come with me for a second.”
Poets: It’s National Poetry Month! This month we’re focusing on reading and writing more poetry. Work at least one of our prompts into a poem in any style or form! If the prompts aren’t speaking to you this week, remember that our nonfiction grid also accepts poetry that speaks your truth, and doesn’t require you to write to a prompt. And for this month only, we’re waiving our linkup rules for poetry. It’s fine to also link to your NaPoWriMo, Poem of the Day, or whatever other challenge you may be taking part of, as long as it’s not a competition and not a commercial link!
Poetry Slam - National Poetry Month
It’s National Poetry Month and all we want is… poetry! This month’s “slam” focuses on poetry itself, what makes us love it, and why we want to write it. Discover a new poem that you’ll love, and write one that we’ll love. It’s as simple as that!
Since there’s no official form requirement, poetry for the fiction|poetry grid will need to incorporate one of the grid prompts. But never fear, our nonfiction grid also accepts poetry that speaks to your understanding of the truth, whether that’s your inner truth or the world around you.
For April, we’re waiving our linkup rules for poetry. It’s fine to also link to your NaPoWriMo, Poem of the Day, or whatever other challenge you may be taking part of, as long as it’s not a separate competition (i.e. with voting, etc.) and not a commercial link.
NOTE REGARDING OUR GRIDS: Inlinkz, which supports our grid format, is currently transitioning to a new website and may no longer support image-based grids for a brief period of time. Don’t be surprised to see “just text” over the coming weeks (or perhaps even months) during this transition. Thank you for your patience! We prefer the pretty pictures too!
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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 #12 (fiction!) is now open for registration! Registration is open until April 24, so sign up today to take part in this awesome writing contest. Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss 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:
As a professional editor and writer, Nate has published his work in numerous English and history textbooks and in online reading programs. In February 2014, he found his way back to creative writing and began submitting to YeahWrite. Soon after, he became an editor of the Fiction|Poetry challenge. You can read his work at northwest journals, a blog that has been recognized by WordPress Discover, Five Star Mix-tape, Genealogy á la Carte, The Drabble, and BlogHer’s Voice of the Year. He lives in Chicago with his partner and a mini-Bengal tiger.
