For Science!
When I first started writing for the grids, it took me a long time to lose some of the habits I’d developed writing scientific papers for years. Passive voice? BYE BYE. Long, convoluted sentences? I’m working on it. But one thing I refuse to let go. Accuracy. Nothing ruffles my feathers like seeing a songbird described with “talons” (they have claws, for perching. It’s different.). Or reading a story where characters casually drive between two towns that I know are five hours apart by car. It doesn’t take that long to look things up, and it can save you a reader or two. Try it…. for science!
–Stacie
Welcome to Week 442
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 – The MFA
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 September, we’re going back to school. Is an MFA right for you? Or do the cons outweigh the pros? What about that workshop you’ve had your eye on? We can’t make the decision for you, but we can give you some things to think about while you’re weighing your options.
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. Since someone has sat down to write this prompt five times so far and failed to do it every time, let’s give them an emotional boost by sharing a story of distraction. Or an essay. Or you can get actually distracted and write about something else entirely!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
Forget pumpkin spice lattes; this fall is gonna be all about CHARACTER.
Here’s how September works. We give you two mandatory prompts: a Western zodiac sign and an animal. Your job is to combine key traits of the two prompts into a single, HUMAN, main character. The main characters of your stories MUST BE HUMAN. (In October we’ll do something exciting with this, hang in there.)
Example: if the zodiac prompt is Libra and the animal is owl, then the main character could be an older judge (Libra is about balance and fairness) who works the night court circuit and keeps her hair cropped to her skull.
Active character sketches are encouraged. Not sure what we mean by “character sketch”? Read (but skip the first paragraph after the heading “But first, what is a character sketch?” because it’s just…not helpful) this explanation. Not sure what we mean by “active”? Don’t keep the narrative trapped inside your character’s mind, please. Have them interact with people and things. How would they tell a friend that their dog died? How would they get ready for work in the morning?
This week’s prompts are:
The Western zodiac prompt from YeahWrite #439 Fiction|Poetry winner, Allison, is Scorpio. Scorpios are characterized as passionate, independent, and unafraid to blaze their own trail. Their feelings are what drive them and strengthen them, but their mutability can scare them and make them feel vulnerable and out of control. Because of this conflict, Scorpios, like their namesake, the scorpion, put up an outer shell and may seem prickly. [Do not. /RBG]
The animal traits prompt is a beaver – brush up on your beaver qualities here. Remember, your main character must be human, even though they should have recognizable, er, beaverness.
Poets: In September we’re looking at your old favorites in a new way as we explore poetry from song lyrics. Get an earworm with us, or write a poem in the form of your choice which includes either of the prompt above. At least one of these three things is mandatory! But remember, our nonfiction grid also welcomes poetry that expresses your truth.
Poetry Slam - Lyrics
This September we’re finding poetry in other poetry, deconstructing songs for their meaningful lyrics and reassembling them into poems that have independent meaning. We know you have a favorite song – why not come explore it with us in a new way?
A QUICK NOTE REGARDING OUR GRIDS: Inlinkz, which supports our grid format, is currently upgrading its offerings and website which can sometimes result in a glitch or two. If you upload a piece to the grid and notice it disappears later on, please email us and let us know. This has been happening to one or two pieces each week. We will happily add it manually once we are notified. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you for your patience!
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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!
YeahWrite Super Challenge
Super Challenge #14 (fiction!) is now open for early registration! Take advantage of this discounted rate through September 30. Our next contest kicks off in October so sign up today to ensure your spot. Make sure you also 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:
Stacie joined YeahWrite as its Fiction Editor in early 2013 before becoming YeahWrite’s Executive Editor in 2016. She blogs at Stacie’s Snapshots and Tidbits and was thrilled to be honored as a 2015 BlogHer Voice of the Year (VOTY) for this post. Before retiring, Stacie’s career involved developing new medicines for cancer and autoimmune diseases, work that resulted in more than twenty publications in scientific journals. Now, she enjoys daily hikes with her dogs and spending more time with her youngest son while her oldest is off at college.
