Nothing New Under the Sun
As a fan of history, I’ve been reading up on the effects of the 1918 “Spanish” flu epidemic on society. The flu hit right when World War I was gearing up and several political and social upheavals (the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the ramping up of gender inequality demonstrations to name just two) came to a head. Sound familiar?
According to this TIME magazine article, the chaos of the world made people feel that life was meaningless. This ennui inspired, among other things, Dadaist art and Bauhaus furniture. Absurdity reigned in Dadaism, but not just absurdity; it’s opposite. Artists tried to regain control of their experiences by cutting up disparate items and displaying them together in collage pieces. The demand for hygenic and adaptable living spaces inspired designers to create structures with airy rooms and minimalist furniture.
I find something comforting in seeing the parallels and the window these observations open to our future. We have been down a similar path before and made it through.
~Nathan
The Schedule
We will release a new prompt on our blog every Friday at 12pm Eastern.
Then it’s up to you! Write your response to the prompt on your own blog or website and share the link in the Coffeehouse, located both on Facebook or Discord. If you prefer to keep your work under wraps (and away from the eyes of potential publishers), you can still ask for beta readers in the Coffeehouse and share your work privately!
Every Monday, we’ll check in to see how you’re doing and what your writing goals are for the week.
Wednesdays are “Work-in-Progress Wednesdays.” Share a few sentences or even a paragraph or two in the Coffeehouse (no more than 250 words, please). Even if you’re not done writing, this could be the boost you need to stay motivated.
Did you publish a book? Do you have a story in a magazine? The First Friday of every month is for self-promotion, where you can share commercial links to your work for purchase. (You can always share the news that you’ve been accepted for publication, though!)
And of course, the entire community is here 24-7 to share your victories and setbacks, challenges and accomplishments. So come on in, pull up a chair, and say hello. We’re all writers here.
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
a pipe
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to incorporate this object into your story or essay. Want some pointers on how to do this? We’ve gone into detail in this month’s Technique Toolbox on Navigating Prompts.
There are no word limits. You can write fiction or nonfiction; you may interpret the prompt any way you like. Share your response in the Coffeehouse, located both on Facebook or Discord, by linking your blog post, Google Doc, or other file. Check out your fellow YeahWriters’ responses, and don’t forget to leave them some love in the comments!
Looking for our weekly grids? After nearly ten years, they’ve been retired. Read more about the latest changes to YeahWrite in the #500 Weekly Writing Challenge Kickoff Post.
Upcoming and Ongoing
Sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any upcoming classes, workshops, or competitions.
Ongoing: Navigating Prompts (Free Workshop)
Each month, we’ll talk you through how to analyze and respond to a specific prompt style. We’ll coordinate the weekly prompts with the monthly post so you’ll have a chance to practice, compare notes with other writers in the Coffeehouse, located both on Facebook or Discord, and get advice from beta readers and YeahWrite editors. You’ll get to hone your skills when you’re not in crisis mode, trying to meet that fast-approaching deadline. And who knows—maybe you’ll end up with a new story or two in your back pocket!
This month, we’ll be taking a hard look at the ubiquitous—and deceptively difficult—”object” prompt. How do you incorporate a particular object into your story to maximum effect? How can you center the object in your story while maintaining your own unique perspective? January’s post will walk you through it. Check it out!
Super Challenge #19
Registration for Super Challenge #19 opens on Monday, January 4! This one’s for the personal essayists and creative nonfictioneers out there—or for anyone looking to stretch their writing skills. Make sure you also sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any Super Challenge announcements.
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.
