One is the loneliest number
This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about community and how to get more involved with local (to me) writing groups. Writing can be a woefully lonely business, or at least a woefully alone business. It can feel like you’re shouting into a void, which I don’t recommend – there’s no echo in a void. This is where a writing community can be a beacon of light. Being in a like-minded group of writers can provide you with inspiration, motivation, commiseration, mentors, and opportunities. If you can connect with local writers, do. If you can’t, don’t forget that you’ve got a welcoming community right here at YeahWrite. Have you checked out our Discord server? How about the Coffeehouse on Facebook? Drop in and say hi. Let us know what you’re working on, and check out what others are up to.
~Asha
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
Image credit: Photo by Joshua Hibbert on Unsplash
Image description: A white lighthouse with a red roof on an island or promontory at dusk, light shining. The sky shows gradients of colour from dark blue at the top of the image, through to orange at the horizon. Behind the lighthouse, to the left, is a small white building with a red roof. Stars litter the darkening (or lightening) sky.
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay using this image. 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.
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 the first of two looks at the difficult photo prompt. Photo prompts are broad and specific at the same time. So how do you incorporate a particular photo into your story to maximum effect? March’s post will walk you through it. Check it out!
Super Challenge #19
Round 2 of Super Challenge #19 is officially underway! Good luck to all our remaining participants as they anxiously await the final 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:
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.
