Settle
That word has negative connotations, but I mean it in the sediment sense. A lot of stuff has happened in the past 4 months, huh? Personally, my face has been shoved into news sites and Zoom meetings, but I’m finally starting to find a routine in all of this chaos. And in that routine I’m finding little moments where I’m decompressing. Leisurely walks through parks mean so much more now. Talking to a real live human being face to face is so validating. It’s hard to remember when the world is on fire, but people need to take breaks and enjoy moments in times like these. To remind ourselves that we are still living. That some things are still normal. To come back to the fray focused and ready to fight again.
– Nate
Welcome to Week 481
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: June’s challenge is to do a little more. We’re giving you 2,000 words to play with. Add back those descriptions, put in the explanations, and squeeze in the plot point you’re missing! Just keep in mind the lessons you’ve learned in the past five months and make sure you’re adding what you need instead of just what you want.
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, tell us about your breakfast. Is it your biggest meal of the day? The smallest? Do you eat it at home or at work or in the car? Note: this is not an invitation to talk about “clean” food or inject fatphobia into the conversation. In fact, your challenge is to write about food and eating food without sounding like you’re judging anyone–including yourself–for their food choices. It’s harder than it sounds, but we bet you’re up to it!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
June is the gateway to…new writing prompts!
Last month we transformed flowering plants into characters. This month we’re transforming animals into characters. Give the qualities of animals to a realistic person or give animals human qualities. The Wind in the Willows gives us many examples of animals who behave like people and who enjoy human trappings (Toad of Toad Hall loved his new car, even if he was a terrible driver!). How, for example, would a badger behave as a human being? Why is the bowerbird man building his home, and for whom? Whichever way you interpret this prompt, be sure to give the character a clear plot.
This week’s animal prompt is :
- Write a story with a character who is based on a capybara. Or an actual capybara with human qualities. Capybaras are:
- The biggest rodent on Earth
- Semi-aquatic
- Vegetarian
- Good swimmers
- Eat their own crap–but only in the morning
The second prompt for June is:
- Include the sound of a lawnmower. Capybaras mostly eat grass and in that sense are also lawnmowers. The sound doesn’t need to be integral to the plot, but you can make that a requirement for yourself, for an extra challenge.
Poets: For June, we’re exploring the ways poetry can be built in series. 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 - Series
In 2020, we’re turning from “how to write a poem” to “what is a poem?” with technique-based slams. Since 2020 has apparently been happening for a thousand years, now that it’s Junetember we’re exploring poems that are series: two or more short poems linked to form a coherent work through commonalities and mindful selection of words or topics. 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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Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
Super Challenge #17 (nonfiction) is officially open for registration. Sign up today! 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:
As a professional editor and writer, Nate has published his work in numerous English and history textbooks and in online reading programs. In February 2014, he found his way back to creative writing and began submitting to YeahWrite. Soon after, he became an editor of the Fiction|Poetry challenge. You can read his work at northwest journals, a blog that has been recognized by WordPress Discover, Five Star Mix-tape, Genealogy á la Carte, The Drabble, and BlogHer’s Voice of the Year. He lives in Chicago with his partner and a mini-Bengal tiger.
