Shiny objects and bullish men
Continuing the trend, I am also a huge fan of retellings. One of my first stories to get in the Top Three at YeahWrite back when we had a blog share was a retelling of Ariadne, who fell in love with the hero Theseus and helped him escape the Minotaur in the Labyrinth by being clever enough to give him yarn. He, in turn, dumped her in most versions and left her on a beach for the drunk god to stumble over and marry. Poor Ariadne. I think we’ve all been her at some point in our lives, haven’t we?
~Nathan
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay retelling Ariadne’s tale. We’ve linked to the synopsis of Ariadne’s journey by William Smith, but there are so many versions of her life though, feel free to pick the one that appeals to you. Stuck? We’ve gone into detail in this month’s Technique Toolbox on Navigating Prompts. Nonfictioneers, think how an aspect of Ariadne’s story relates to or mirrors one from your own life, and consider writing a braided essay where the two tales run in parallel, using your story as the “retelling.”
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 - Retellings (Free Workshop)
In our monthly Navigating Prompts series, 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!
In September, we’re revisiting some old advice that we’ve given time and time again: Nobody can tell your story like you do. To prove it, we’re diving into retellings. To retell a classic story, you’ll need to be able to analyze the original, extract its critical elements, and make them your own. Ready to write your fresh take on an often-told tale? Check it out!
Super Challenge #21 - Nonfiction
Super Challenge #21 is officially underway! Good luck to all our remaining participants as they anxiously await the final results! Miss out on registration? Be sure to sign up for our email blast so that 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.
