Quit Procrastinating Now (or don’t)
I was chatting with another YeahWrite editor the other day about how hard it can be to find the time to write. I said I needed a wealthy benefactor so I didn’t have to work and she added that I’d also need a nanny, housekeeper, cook, personal shopper, and secretary. It sounds perfect, right? Then I pointed out that if all those stars managed to align, the worst part would be that I’d be expected to write. If all my excuses were erased, what would I do?
When I have the time, I still find it hard to write – so what’s the REAL problem? It’s not time. It’s fear. That’s on me to deal with for myself. But how about you? What holds you back from doing all you want to? Fear of failure? Fear of success? Something else? Maybe it’s a variety of things. The bottom line is that unless you just push through the fear, you’ll be stuck in this space forever. So what are you going to do about it? Start a convo in The Coffeehouse and lets help each other through! (Bonus: chatting in The Coffeehouse is a *great* way to avoid writing!)
-Michelle
Welcome to Week 424
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 – Your Bio and Website
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 May we’re talking about you and how you can get more people to do that. That means having a meaningful bio and website. You’ll need to tell people who you are and what you write, and what’s better than having all that information at your fingertips any time you want it? Plus, the next time someone asks “what do you write? would I have read it?” at a cocktail party you can shrug and say breezily “oh, it’s all on my website” and hand them your card with the URL on it. Wait… you do have cards, right?
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. It’s Memorial Day in the USA, and many families treat the long weekend as the first “summery” opportunity to camp: why not tell us about the last time (or worst, or best) you went camping?
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
It’s May, and we’re sticking to the two-prompt format. The first will be an object; the second will be a setting. Both prompts are mandatory for short story submissions.
The object prompt, chosen by our YeahWrite #422 fiction|poetry winner, Laura, is: car air freshener. The degree to which you incorporate this object into the plot is up to you, but objects that are integral to the story are more likely to impress the editors.
The setting prompt, chosen by the YeahWrite Editors, is: the magical city of Wistwick. The setting doesn’t have to be the only place the story happens, but it must be integral to the story (obvs).
Poets (and microprose fans!): May’s form reminds me, Nate, of how the genie in Aladdin describes his lamp: “Phenomenal cosmic powers . . . Itty bitty living space.” The lune will have you telling epic stories in just 13 syllables. Read up on how this form differs from a haiku. Or you can bypass the featured form and write a poem that incorporates either of the short story prompts.
Poetry Slam - Lune
If National Poetry Month has you a little worn down, don’t worry: May’s poetry slam is worn down to only 13 syllables!
Unlike many short-form poems, which were invented in other languages and only nominally work in English because they lack the layered meaning available when you can (for example) write the same sound three ways, the lune – a 13 syllable, three-line poem – was invented in English to take advantage of its linguistic flexibility. So get your counting fingers out and join us on the grid this month!
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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 officially underway! Good luck to our remaining competitors as they anxiously await the final results! Did you miss out on registration? Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss any Super Challenge announcements. Super Challenge #13 (nonfiction) is coming soon.
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.
