Who knew?
According to R.E.M. at the end of the world as we know it we’re supposed feel fine (you’re welcome for that earworm). I don’t know how fine you’re feeling, but I’m about fair to middling. It’s interesting how those simple lyrics evoke such depth of memory and emotion, isn’t it? Some of us remember where we were and who we were with when we first heard that song, some remember the exact feeling we had in that moment, some remember the prickle of sun-warmed skin and the incongruity of singing about the end of the world with university friends while wading into the cool arms of the Indian Ocean on a scorching hot summer’s day. Oh, wait. That last one might just be me. As my high school English Literature teacher used to say (repeatedly); songs are poetry put to music. Poetry, just like songs, should invoke memories and emotions. I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently as I venture more into poetry. It’s uncertain ground for me. I’m nervous and tentative, and utterly lacking the swaggering self-assuredness I have with prose. It feels more like art, more open to interpretation, more exacting in ways I can’t quite put my finger on. But (and this is a revelation for me), the more poetry I write, the better I get at it. Who knew? Yes, okay, literally everybody knew. Like any skill, like any craft, the more you practice it, the more you understand it and what’s required for good craftsmanship. Why not try your hand at something new to you? Maybe, like me, you’ll have a revelation about practice and learning and improving skills.
– Asha
Welcome to Week 483
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: July’s challenge is to tell it in a different order. And not just as a flashback: we’re exploring the different structures possible for your narrative arc by rearranging the elements of the story!
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’s prompt is the ocean. I would explain that but I’m hoping you know what an ocean is.
Fiction|Poetry: Mandatory Prompt
July is here! How is this year simultaneously 500 years, and two weeks long? This month we’re giving you three mandatory prompts to work with; an image, a point of view (POV), and tense. Beyond that, let your imagination go wild. Want to write a steampunk mystery? Sure, why not. Want to write that rom-com you’ve got burning inside you? Go for it. Noir more your thing? Bring those smokin’ dames and smokin’ guns. Why not use this as an opportunity to try a genre, style, or voice that’s unfamiliar to you? Push some boundaries, but make sure you include all three prompts.
This week’s image prompt is this image by Tiffany Combs on Unsplash:
You can find the image for download here, or click the image itself. Don’t forget the image credit in your post.
This week’s POV is: third person, limited. Not entirely sure what the third person limited point of view is? Click here to read a handy explanation with some examples, or read this masterclass tutorial by Dan Brown (scroll down past the images to find the tutorial). If you’d rather watch a video tutorial, this one by Shaelin at Reedsy on YouTube is useful.
And the tense you should write your story in this week is: present tense.
Have fun, try something new, and come join us on the grids.
Poets: It’s halfway through July and we’re all feeling a little unmoored, so this month we’re exploring how to anchor a poem in space or time. 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: Anchors Aweigh!
In 2020, we’re turning from “how to write a poem” to “what is a poem?” with technique-based slams. For July, we’re exploring space and time, and how to locate your poem on that X-Y axis. Don’t worry, no math is required, just a working knowledge of a date, time, or place that’s important to you. 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:
Asha lives near the beach in Perth, Western Australia, but hates sand between her toes. She 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. Asha writes flash fiction, short stories, and creative nonfiction. She is published in a variety of places and you can find links to her work at Asha Rajan Writer.
