Same but different
The last few weeks have felt especially hectic and exhausting to me. Or perhaps it’s just the accumulated weight of watching the world literally and figuratively burn, combined with the weird survivor’s guilt of living in a place where it doesn’t even feel like the pandemic ever happened. The world didn’t change here. No, really. Where I live, nobody maintains 1.5m distance anymore, hardly anyone ever wore masks, pubs are open, the football’s on (I’ll be there this weekend), people are going out to restaurants and the beach and the movies and shows and and and. But there’s a disquiet in daily life too. Somewhere, lurking in the backs of everyone’s minds, is the threat of another wave. A few days ago, an older man at the supermarket tried to get my attention in order to help him reach for a packet of flour. He stretched his arm out, intending to touch my forearm with his hand. I instinctively shrank away from him. Maybe the world did change here after all.
–Asha
Welcome to Week 495
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.
*Note that our microprose grid now opens on Saturday at 12 midnight and closes on Sunday at 11:59pm ET. You’ve got a whole 48 hours to get your submissions in! Voting will open with the rest of the grids on Wednesday.
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.
Get into character—or into your story—in a different way in October by exploring the scenes you set and the people in them via… poetry? That’s right. This month, we’re turning prose into poems. Get ready to dive deep into the emotional impact of your story or essay and explore some ways to make a reader care.
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 to write about refusing to do something. Whether it’s go to bed on time (you’re a grownup now and nobody can make you. Related: why am I so tired today?) or do something illegal for your boss, we’ve all said no at some point in our lives. Tell that story… or another that floats your boat this week, the prompt is optional. Have fun!
Fiction|Poetry Mandatory Prompt
It’s October and time to get out your Halloween decorations, enjoy a little pumpkin spice, and brace yourself for the changing season. Whether the days are getting shorter and cooler where you are, or longer and warmer, we’ve got two new mandatory prompts to get you through.
The first prompt is a first line. The given line must be used without any changes as the first line in your story. You may not change tense, number or sentence structure, and you may not add or subtract words. You may, however, add quotes around the text if you’re putting it in dialogue. This is good opportunity to practice writing in a different voice or style to match the line we give you.
The second prompt is a photograph. You may use the photograph as the setting or main character for your story, or you may want to work the image into your story in some other way. However you choose to use the image, it must be easy for your reader to locate and must be integral to the plot. Remember to credit the image if you use it in your blog post.
This week’s two prompts are:
first line: If I could change one thing, it would be sharpening that knife.
photograph: You can click here, or on the image itself to download a copy to use in your post.
Poets:
In October, we’re taking a word-level look at our poetry by examining and deliberately recycling words with more than one meaning or spelling. (Check it out here). Write poem using these words, or use one of the above prompts (oooh, an image prompt!) in a poem of your choice.
Poetry Slam - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In 2020, we’re turning from “how to write a poem” to “what is a poem?” with technique-based slams. No matter whether you’re a spelling bee champ or can’t remember which witch is which, October’s technique is going to be interesting (and, we hope, fun). We’re talking about words that are the same—or almost the same—and how to re-use them in your poetry in different ways. Plus we’ll learn what the different pairs of words are called! You don’t have to memorize these, but it’s nice to be able to name what’s going on in a poem. It makes you sound smart, but more importantly, it ensures that you’re on the same page. Paging all editors: this goes for you, too. If you can’t tell the writer what they’ve done, you’re going to have a hard time helping them do it better. Check it out!
Microprose Mandatory Prompt
It’s the first Saturday of the month, and that means it’s time for 48 in 48! Here’s how it works: we give you a prompt, and you have 48 hours to write a response in exactly 48 words. Submissions will close on Sunday at 11:59pm US Eastern time. Voting opens on Wednesday at 10:00pm, which gives you plenty of time to read this grid—and the others!—before you vote.
Here’s the prompt: Give us a story in exactly 48 words that includes a race.
A few rules:
- For the purposes of this challenge, a race is a competition in which the participants attempt to move physically from point A to point B more quickly than anyone else. The race may not be metaphorical or figurative (such as a “rat race”).
- There must be at least one opponent/challenger—that is, we’re not talking about competing against oneself or purely against the clock.
- It can be a car race, a footrace, or a race around the world, but it can’t be a static competition, i.e., a cup-stacking race or hot dog eating contest.
- Your story may be fiction or nonfiction, but it should be a complete story.
- As always, we are looking for prose, not poetry.
- Surprise us: you don’t have to tell the most unique story ever, but don’t fall back on lazy writing and tired tropes that can turn off your readers.
That’s it! Happy writing!
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!
Loading InLinkz ...
Loading InLinkz ...
Loading InLinkz ...YeahWrite Super Challenge
Super Challenge #18 (with a special fiction surprise!) is coming! Registration opens this week! Make sure you 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. In addition to short stories and personal essays, she is currently working on a novel set in the Perth hills. Asha is published in a variety of places including Modern Loss, PANK, Dead Housekeeping, and SheKnows. You can find her inconsistent blogging at Asha Rajan Writer.
