Say it loud
I was chatting with my playwright friend in Germany this week. (Isn’t the internet marvellous?) I’ve known this friend for nearly ten years–we met because our children were at school together–and our friendship has lasted moves to different continents, and all kinds of changes in our lives and families. When we met, neither of us was a serious writer. Now we both are. Sometimes we exchange work, sometimes we brainstorm ideas, sometimes we point each other towards incredible writing by other people, and sometimes we bring new perspectives to each other’s approaches to writing. As a playwright, she’s used to having her words performed. It has allowed her to hear how her work flows; where and how long pauses fall, where pacing needs adjusting, and where plot needs reworking.
My friend has been helping me shape a short story; going back and forth with edits and suggestions. This week, she recommended I have someone else read my work aloud to me. I often read my stories aloud (when I’m sure it’s just me and the dog at home), but listening to someone else reading allows me to step back from my words, to hear what works and what doesn’t. I’ve written plays before and had them performed, and I know this is a method that works for me. So, next week another friend–an actor and acting teacher–is coming to read my story to me. It takes a leap of faith to trust someone else with your words, to be vulnerable, but I’m lucky to have so many creative, trustworthy friends around me who treat my words with compassion. Do you read your stories aloud? Do you have other people read them out?
~ Asha
Welcome to Week 427
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, drawn from the dim depths of our Super Challenge prompt bin, is “a lesson I didn’t realize I was learning at the time.” Did you go out to fish with your dad and end up learning about patience instead? Did you learn what unconditional love was when you thought you were learning to take care of a dog? Did you learn that slippery when wet ACTUALLY MEANS SLIPPERY WHEN WET? Tell us all about it!
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 #425 fiction|poetry winner, Josephine, is: enclave, which is a distinct territorial, cultural, or social unit enclosed within or as if within foreign territory (Merriam-Webster).
You must use the prompt word within your story (not just in the title), employing 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:
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.
