If it hadn’t been for those darn kids…
What happens when you pull off the scary mask and see who’s really holding you back? Is it your kids? Is it your boss? Or is it—drumroll, please—yourself? We all tend to be our own worst enemies, and hiding under a sheet won’t get that book written or that story drafted. (Well, unless you bring a laptop into your blanket fort, that’s different, that’s a writing retreat, right?) There’s plenty of external stuff to get in the way of writing; don’t be your own downfall! So ignore that spooky internal whisper that says you’re not good enough, you’re not working hard enough, you can’t do this. The truth is, you can, and the YeahWrite community is here to help chase those ghosts away.
~Christine
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
Steampunk
Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay using the above writing style.
Steampunk stories are often set in an alternative history, where steam power remains in mainstream use, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. But steampunk is more than just clocks and gears and retrofuturistic gadgetry. Whether you set your story in Victorian London, the American Wild West, or elsewhere in the world, it’s the vocabulary and voice that really anchor your story. We’re keeping it simple with a straight-up style—we can’t wait to see what you bring us. (For examples of steampunk books, check out this article on Reedsy; Wikipedia also delves pretty extensively into the history of this subgenre.)
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 is now open for registration! This time around it’s our ever-popular flash fiction competition, so be sure to register today. 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 and Arden every other Friday from 12:00 – 2:00pm Pacific Time 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:
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.
