All this time
No, not the Sting song—I’m talking about hours and minutes. The kids are off to school (in person, for better or worse; fingers crossed) and I have hours every day to… do what? I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing. But September is a time for beginnings (even if the Western calendar year starts in January), so here’s my chance to start over, to create some new habits. Whether that’s dedicated quiet writing time alone, sprints on Discord with other YeahWriters, or scheduled Zoom coworking sessions, this is the time to get started. Maybe you’ll join me?
~Christine
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay retelling the above folk ballad. We’ve linked to the famous poem by Robert Burns, but if the dialect throws you off, there’s also this annotated version of the Burns ballad. [Ed’s note- what, we’re not even going to talk about the Steeleye Span version? /RBG] Essayists, you might approach this using the poem as an allegory. Pick out one or two of the main events which might parallel events in your own life. Stuck? 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 - 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 (set to be released later today)! 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:
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.
