Is it summer yet?
It’s June, but the weather isn’t cooperating. One day it’ll be in the 80’s (around 30C) and the next it’s 20 degrees colder and raining. The rain soothes my sunburn, though, so I guess I can’t complain. Besides, it gives me an excuse to stay inside and work on my writing.
I’m in the “next book planning” phase, and it’s a little overwhelming at times. This part feels like it’s too fast and too slow all at once. I want to get to writing, but I know I need to understand my world a little better before I can really start putting prose on paper. But I’ve got a secret: instead of writing up outlines and summaries of everything in the world, I just take my characters there for a couple thousand words of fun. I still have to figure out the worldbuilding details, but sometimes it’s just more fun to do it through someone else’s eyes. And my little side stories help me get to know the characters, so that they can stay in character for a hundred thousand or so words. Ugh, so many words. Why do I do this?
I’m gonna take a 750-word break this week instead. That seems manageable!
-Rowan
Welcome to Week 426
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 – Networking on- and offline
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 June we’re still talking about you, but who else is? Without a little buzz, no matter how busy a bee you are, you won’t get much honey. But who do you need to know, and how do you meet them? Networking is a critical part of the business of writing now, whether you love it, hate it, or constantly forget it exists until you’re digging for your business cards (you do have cards, right? we just asked you about cards, right?) in the back of your desk drawer. Find out some ways to make contact this month!
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, brought to you by the view outside Rowan’s window, is changing weather. Maybe the weather is emotional; maybe it’s not a metaphor at all. Tell us a story!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
June is here! Let’s give ourselves some time to enjoy the sun and flowers (in the northern hemisphere, at least) by only assigning one prompt this month.
The word and definition prompt, chosen by our YeahWrite #424 fiction|poetry winner, MM Schreier, is: racket. You can find the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions here, or the Dictionary.com definitions here (scroll down to see all the definitions).
You must use the prompt word in your story, employing either of its definitions. Stories that make the prompt word integral to the story and use it naturally will be favored by the editors. Hint: You may have to change up your writing style to become an author that would use the prompt word. We encourage that!
Poets: Try your hand at the hay(na)ku. It’s as easy as 1-2-3! But don’t let the simple form fool you, the six (or a multiple of six) words have to move the reader in some way. Or write a poem that uses the one-word prompt!
Poetry Slam - Hay(na)ku
June days may be long, but our June poetry slam is short. Or as long as you want it to be!
To celebrate the Philippines this month we’re writing hay(na)ku. This form with the pun in its name is as easy as 1-2-3, with a simple building block verse structure that you can expand into as many verses as you need to say what you’re trying to say. Join us on the grid!
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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 #13 (nonfiction!) is now open for registration! Our next contest kicks off in July 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:
Rowan submitted exactly one piece of microfiction to YeahWrite before being consumed by the editorial darkside. She spent some time working hard as our Submissions Editor before becoming YeahWrite’s Managing Editor in 2016. She was a BlogHer Voice of the Year in 2017 for her work on intersectional feminism, but she suggests you find and follow WOC instead. In real life she’s been at various times an attorney, aerialist, professional knitter, artist, graphic designer (yes, they’re different things), editor, secretary, tailor, and martial artist. It bothers her vaguely that the preceding list isn’t alphabetized, but the Oxford comma makes up for it. She lives in Portlandia with a menagerie which includes at least one other human. She tells lies at textwall and uncomfortable truths at CrossKnit.
