See a Movie, then Write
I have been going to a lot of movies over the past few months, after years of rarely seeing any. Writing a screenplay is obviously different from writing a short story, but you can get some interesting ideas from watching movies, like how time jumps are handled and whether it’s seemless or jarring. Or if the cinematography [ed’s note: this can mean the way a scene is shot, but also for your purposes as a writer the choreography of a fight, the quality of light, or how the setting is manipulated to give or withhold information /rbg] of a particular scene is striking, you can think about how you’d put that picture into words. Or really studying what makes a character stand out. I’ve always said, if you feel stuck and can’t write, read because reading still stimulates writing. But now I also think if you don’t have the bandwidth to read, going to a movie can also be helpful. Who doesn’t love another excuse to see a movie? Why don’t you try it?
–Stacie
Welcome to Week 458
We’re kicking off the week in style at YeahWrite with 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: 20/20 Hindsight
For 2020 we’re looking back at stories. Well. We will for the rest of the year, anyway. This month your challenge is to write the story or essay you’ll be looking back at, and re-envisioning in creative ways. Sound interesting? Check out our 2020 workshop right here.
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 something you’ve overheard. Maybe you were a kid listening to adults talking about you or someone else or a world event. Maybe you heard something in the cafeteria at work, or someone didn’t know you were in your cubicle. Good? Bad? How did it make you feel to be an outside observer?
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
January’s prompt is about plotting. Here’s how it works: We give you a decision point in which a character (probably your main character) must make a decision, and you set up and follow through on the consequences of that decision. Think Choose-Your-Own-Adventure!
For example, say the prompt is “A character must decide whether to take the dog for a walk or continue watching tv.” As a source of conflict in the story, you could put your MC’s leg in a cast. Does the MC avoid using their leg and continue watching tv? If so, have them slip in the dog poo on their kitchen floor. If not, have them fall into a creek in the park because their dog darted for a squirrel.
This week’s decision point is:
Your MC has an opportunity to lie for the greater good. Do they do it?
Your story must contain a point where a character either makes a clear decision to lie or tell the truth. Good stories will build significance to the decision made, invoke emotion from the consequences of the choice, and not end before the decision is made.
Poets: Check out our technique-based January slam, then explore that technique to write a poem of your own. Or write a different style of poem incorporating the prompt above. Or both, we’re only mostly the boss of you.
Poetry Slam - This is Just to Say
In 2020, we’re turning from “how to write a poem” to “what is a poem?” with technique-based slams. This month, deconstruct line breaks with William Carlos Williams, and use them to good effect in a short poem. There’s even a bonus round! Check it out.
Ed’s note: if you’re doing a poem specifically in the style of This is Just to Say, remember that those line breaks are about more than counting the number of words on a line. Do they fall after a verb? a noun? Pay attention, and feel free to use more or fewer words per line to get the right effect!
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, and are looking into alternative services. Thank you for your patience!
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Our tiniest challenge with the biggest bang is open the first Saturday of every month for exactly 48 hours.
YeahWrite Super Challenge
Registration is now open for Super Challenge #15! We are heading back to the realm of flash nonfiction this time, so make sure you take advantage of the discounted rate through January 22. 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.
