Click click click click
I am not really a New Year’s resolution kind of person. In fact, I try not to be too strict with myself in general, given I am in the weeds of early-years parenting, with a two- and four- year old. But this year, I made a promise to myself. I would write for twenty minutes a day, every day, borrowing those twenty minutes at the beginning of work time or at the end of every day. See, it had been so many years since I had written with any kind of regularity, and I missed it like I was missing a limb or a hunk of my soul. Plus, I was going a little stir-crazy from pandemic parenting and working, and I knew I had to carve out those twenty minutes or I would grow to resent my life. The clicking sound of my laptop keyboard signals my commitment to reclaiming myself, and myself likes to write.
~Natalie
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
[pronoun] hadn’t expected a precarious climb
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to incorporate this phrase, unchanged in any way, anywhere 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. Note that because this is a phrase and not a sentence you’re free to add words before or after it. And that [blocked in part]? That’s for you to insert to match the style you’re writing in.
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.
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.
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 look at one of our favorite prompt styles: the word, phrase, or sentence prompt. We use this prompt style in both our fiction and nonfiction Super Challenge competitions. It’s a great way to test a writer’s flexibility and attention to voice, nuance, and context. So how do you use it? February’s post will walk you through it. Check it out!
Super Challenge #19
Round 1 of Super Challenge #19 kicks off tonight! Good luck to all our participants. Did you miss out on registration? Make sure you sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any Super Challenge announcements.
About the author:
An English Professor living in Southern California, Natalie enjoys too many hobbies to be a practical person. When her children give her a minute, she writes essays, fiction and poetry on her personal blog, The Cat Lady Sings. Natalie is a Contributing Editor here at YeahWrite.
