Closer Than They Appear
I’ve noticed something, let’s call it odd, that is happening during this pandemic “distancing.” My friends that are distant don’t feel so distant. You see, I can’t see my local friends so my far-away friends no longer seem so far away. We are all the *same number of feet* from a computer screen. We are closer than we’ve been in a long time.
Your writing affects people like that too. Your words transcend distance. Put them on paper, share them on your blog, post them to the YeahWrite grids if you have a personal anecdote or fiction story to share. Give us your hopes, dreams, fears, nightmares, or whatever else you would like to write about. We accept all genres here. Your next reader is as close as you want them to feel.
–Stacie
Welcome to Week 474
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. Didn’t get a chance to write one in January? That’s fine: jump in whenever you can.
If you have a story or essay to work on, tag in: May’s challenge is to rewrite your story from a different point of view. That might mean changing narrators, becoming your own narrator, or a shift in focus. Whatever you choose, it’s time to see how your narrative POV affects the information you can give your readers.
Check out this month’s challenge and some suggestions for how to succeed 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, we want to hear about the weather. Did you hear they’ve finally named some new kinds of cloud? Tell us what you see outside, what you want to feel, or whether your toes are still cold in July. Northeast US and Canada, come gripe about that polar vortex because what the heck is going on up there? Or, you know, don’t. It’s optional.
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
April showers bring May…writing prompts!
This month we’re transforming flowering plants into characters. Give the qualities of plants to a realistic person or give plants human qualities. For example, how would a red rose behave as a human being? Why is the weeping-willow man so sad sitting near that river? Either way, just make sure to give them a plot.
Okay. Now for the prompts:
- Write a story with a character who is based on the snapdragon. The snapdragon represents both “deception” and “graciousness” in the language of flowers. Snapdragons come in a variety of colors and are described as tough in the cold as they will keep blooming through a range of weather conditions. Interpret that how you wish, but help the editors out by drawing clear interpretations so that we can tell which character you’ve ascribed the qualities to.
- Mention fertilizer in your story. It doesn’t need to be integral to the plot.
Poets: For May, we’re playing with repetition to build poetic structure. Check out our technique-based slam then explore that technique to write a poem of your own. Or write a different style of poem incorporating at least one of the prompts above. Or both? You might be able to do both.
Poetry Slam - Echo Chambers
In 2020, we’re turning from “how to write a poem” to “what is a poem?” with technique-based slams. For May, we’re looking at not one poem but several to explore the different ways that repetition can be used to build structure and interest in your work. Check it out.
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
Super Challenge #16 is officially underway! Good luck to all our Round 1 contestants as they furiously finish their flash fiction submissions! Miss out on registration? 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.
Hi Stacie,
I’ve been unable to add my link for the Yeah write non-fiction-474, some odd reason. Could be one of those tech glitches.
Could you help me do so.
Thanks a bunch!
https://natashamusing.com/2020/05/ma-she-lives-amongst-us-natasha-musing-monday-musings-monday-blogs-monday-motivation/