‘Tis the Season
Many holidays abound throughout the months of November and December, and I don’t know about you all, but I am exhausted. Not only do I typically bear the labor of organizing family events, what to cook, what to do, presents to get, decorations to put up (due to my own type-A personality, not for lack of help, fortunately), but I can’t help but feel this sense of desperation that I need to accomplish more before the end of the year. No matter whether I’ve accomplished all my goals or not, my brain continues to tell me it wasn’t enough, so for 2022, I’ll create even loftier goals, and next December, you’ll most likely find me in the spot. Repeat ad infinitum.
So this is me trying to command my stubborn mind to go easy on myself, and if you find yourself in a similar place, I hope you’ll go easy on yourself too.
~Arden Ruth
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
[Image: a night scene with no land. The horizon is a third of the way up the photo, and the sky dominates. At the horizon, cumulus clouds still reflect golden light from a sunset or sunrise, although the stars are clearly visible above, including the streak of the galaxy the planet is in. The water below the horizon is still enough to reflect the sky perfectly. Just left of center a sloop appears in silhouette against the reflection of the clouds, sailing toward the right distance.]
December’s Navigating Prompts article is an overview of all the topics we covered this past year, and so there’s no fixed prompt style for the month. This week, your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay using the above setting image prompt. Stuck? We’ve gone into detail about unraveling this sort of prompt style in this Technique Toolbox post on landscapes and landmarks.
There are no word limits. You can write fiction or nonfiction; you may interpret the prompt any way you like, but you must use it exactly as written. 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 - Annual Roundup (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!
We’re wrapping up our 2021 writing help series with an overview of everything we covered this past year. Refresh your memory and sharpen that pencil – you’ll find everything you need to know about the most common prompt types all in one place. Check it out!
Super Challenge #22 - Flash Fiction
Super Challenge #22 is officially underway! Good luck to all our finalists as they anxiously await the final results. Miss out on registration? 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 (with a few exceptions due to the upcoming holidays). 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:
Behind the scenes, Arden is currently working on the first novel of her Fated Paths trilogy. She also published a number of short stories and a fantasy anthology which can all be purchased on Amazon. Arden lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and two rescue pups. To read more of her stories, visit her website.
