Refresh yourself
I was reminded, this week, that sometimes it’s worth taking a break. Not necessarily from writing altogether (although I did spend an entire day or two playing Animal Crossing this weekend, don’t judge), but from what you’re writing.
For the last few weeks I have been struggling to connect with a story that I very much want to write. I love the characters, I’m excited by the plot, and it ought to be a joy to write. Instead, something was bogging me down. Finally, I switched stories. I returned to a piece I set aside the last time I got overwhelmed, and I took a fresh look and remembered how much this particular story meant to me. Suddenly, I’ve got the energy and the willpower to write again.
Are you feeling bogged down? Maybe the answer is to give yourself permission to write the thing that brings you joy right now. Your other stories aren’t going anywhere in the meantime. Give it a try.
~Christine
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
I didn’t want to ask for help, especially from [name, pronoun, or other identification].
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. Bonus points* if you use this as the opening sentence to your story!
*Kidding, there are no bonus points. Still, it could make for a great hook.
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 is over, and the judges are busy reading all the entries! Good luck to all our participants as they anxiously await the results. 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.
Super Challenge #20
Registration for Super Challenge #20 will open in early March! Our twentieth (!!) Super Challenge will be a flash fiction competition, and we hope you will join us. Want to be notified when registration opens? Make sure you sign up for our email blast.
About the author:
Christine Hanolsy is a (primarily) science fiction and fantasy writer who simply cannot resist a love story. She joined the YeahWrite team in 2014 as the microstory editor and stepped into the role of Editor-In-Chief in 2020. Christine was a 2015 BlogHer Voices of the Year award recipient and Community Keynote speaker for her YeahWrite essay, “Rights and Privileges.” Her short fiction has been published in a number of anthologies and periodicals and her creative nonfiction at Dead Housekeeping and in the Timberline Review. Outside of YeahWrite, Christine’s past roles have included Russian language scholar, composer, interpreter, and general cat herder. Find her online at christinehanolsy.com.
