Writing when I’m not writing
It’s been a tricky few weeks for me as I deal with the death of a close family friend and the grief and mourning that accompanies his passing. Naturally, that’s meant that putting words on a page has taken a back seat over this time. But writing isn’t only about putting words down. Thinking about plot, characters, and dialogue also counts. So does working through sticking points and odd pacing in the shower, changing setting while walking the dogs, and jotting down notes about characters based on people you meet while grocery shopping. The ordinariness of life continues despite great sorrows, and for me, so does writing. I’m not sure if you need the reminder, but here it is anyway: be gentle with yourself as you face adversity, broaden your definitions of writing, and keep going.
~Asha
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
Comedy Noir
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay using the above writing style.
Traditional Noir leans heavily on dialogue and plot. The dialogue is often terse, sharp, and used to move the narrative along. The plot can be used to reflect on bigger social issues, and is often snappy and current. Like other forms of suspense, Noir also uses highly descriptive imagery to set scenes. One characteristic particular to Noir is the heavy use of metaphor in those descriptions. “She had legs like a baby giraffe: all the knees and length you could ever want, and none of the coordination.” Your job this week is to use the Noir voice to write a funny, not necessarily suspenseful, story. Need some examples? Think Who Framed Roger Rabbit, The Mask, Detective Pikachu, or Knives Out. Lean into the tropes and voice characteristic of the genre, and then make them, well, silly. Want more prompt? Start with “it was a dark and stormy night.” That’s a classic!
Stuck? We’ve gone into detail about unraveling style prompts 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 - Styles (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 October, we’re talking about style over substance. A story is more than a list of events, and certain genres call for a particular voice or format. How do you make sure your crime story is “noir” and not “thriller”? It’s all in the voice. Check out the post to see what we mean!
Super Challenge #22 - Flash Fiction
Super Challenge #22 opens on Monday, October 4 for early bird registration! This time around it’s our ever-popular flash fiction competition, so be sure to register today to take advantage of this discounted rate. You can also sign up for our email blast so that you don’t miss out on any Super Challenge announcements.
WIP Write-Ins, AKA Co-Working Hours
Last summer, you all joined the YeahWrite editors (and writers like you) for a series of laid-back, low-key co-working sessions. We chatted, we brainstormed, we got to know one another, and arguably most importantly, we wrote actual words! Once summer ended, we weren’t ready for co-working to disappear like the hot weather, so starting in October, co-working is back!
Join Christine every Wednesday from 9:00am – 11:00am Pacific Time beginning October 6 for regular WIP Write-ins. Other sessions will be scheduled in the future, so keep an eye on our calendar and we’ll be sure to post announcements of pop-up sessions in our Discord and Facebook groups. See you there!
[Ed’s note: if you add that calendar to your own Google calendar, it’ll change the times to match your time zone automagically. No more searching “what time is 9am Pacific in Warsaw?” You’re welcome. /RBG]
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.
