It’s the (not so) little things
The world can feel overwhelming sometimes. The twenty-four-hour news cycle doesn’t do much to assuage that; leaping from one story of disaster and suffering to the next, with only advertisements to buy more, bigger, shinier as segues. At times like this, I turn to the Arts. Throughout human history, the Arts have provided solace. They’ve also been a means of commentary, critique, and record-keeping. I can’t stop the floods currently barraging Queensland, New South Wales and the northern parts of Western Australia. I can expand on the two lines of poetry that appeared, unbidden, in my head as I was falling asleep at midnight. I can’t provide assurances of safety and security to people who’ve been displaced, dispossessed of lands and possessions. I can write that short story that personalises the experience. And I can share my work.
If you’re stuck for a prompt, need another set of eyes on your work, or help editing, why not check out YeahWrite’s forums? Whether it’s the weekly writing prompts, spontaneous challenges on Discord, or our video workshop, the Scarlet Quill Society, we’ve got you covered.
Join us on Discord and/or Facebook, and let us cheer you on.
~Asha
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
And then, while the lightning flashed outside, and the radio faded and sputtered, the two old people huddled together in their summer cottage and waited. [The Summer People by Shirley Jackson, 1950]
This week, your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay using the above sentence as the first line. Stuck? We’ve gone into detail about unraveling this sort of prompt style in this Technique Toolbox post on word or phrase prompts.
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: Scarlet Quill Society (Free Workshop w/ Optional Paid Benefits)
Welcome to the secret back room where the Scarlet Quill Society meets. In this year-long workshop, the YeahWrite editors will help you hone your own editing skills so that you can feel confident that the work you are submitting is at its absolute best. We’re experimenting a little with our workshop format in 2022, and offering a couple add-ons to our always-free posts that we think you’ll find exciting and worth a few bucks a month: The Scarlet Quill Society will have actual face-to-face (okay, virtual) monthly meetings to delve into the topics and answer your questions, and an editorial backroom on Discord!
In March we’re getting lost in the woods. Or rather, we’re making sure you don’t. As writers and as readers (and what is an editor but a reader who’s paying attention), we’re often enchanted by perfect phrases, curious characters, and wild worlds. And we should be! They’re what makes a story great! But they’re not what makes a story. Get too caught up looking at these pretty trees and you will soon find yourself lost in a trackless wilderness. This month we’re stepping back to take a mile high view of your work. As a writer, you can make sure there’s a nicely groomed forest with clear paths through it. And as an editor, it’s your job to prune trees and mark trails. Want to find out how? Come take a look! (Yes, we are very committed to this metaphor. No, we will not be taking questions. At least, not until the meeting!)
This month’s meeting is coming up on Sunday, March 13. Sign up for a membership today to automatically receive the Zoom link and password. One-off meeting tickets can also be purchased on Kofi.
At YeahWrite we believe information wants to be shared. If you can’t afford to join us for society meetings, we post the recording about a week later, and you’re welcome to leave the tip you can afford (even if that’s just a nice thank you comment). Check out our YouTube channel for more.
Super Challenge #23 - Flash Creative Nonfiction
The final round of Super Challenge #23 is officially underway! Good luck to all our remaining participants as they furiously finish their essays. Did you miss out on registration? Sign up for our email blast to get notified when registration opens, or keep an eye on our website.
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]
Spontaneous Writing Challenges
Looking for a bit of inspiration? Missing the grids? Then join the Coffeehouse on Discord (where the stories are made up and the points don’t matter) and head to the #spontaneous-challenge channel. Each day, anyone can post a micro writing challenge (but just one per day!). Share your responses within the thread and earn XP within the server. We hope to see you there!
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.
