Power of two
I got together with my writing partner* this week. It’s been a long time since we were able to just sit down and talk about our writing projects face to face. Lots of things have conspired to keep us from focusing on our latest book: there’s the pandemic, there’s her day job, there’s my two kids. Thankfully, we were able to sit outdoors on a cool morning and dive deep into the things we love about our collaborative stories. It was the best kind of work.
Earlier this week, I got to talk with a newer YeahWriter about their novel-in-progress. They were able to bounce ideas off of me, and I was able to give some suggestions for plot and character development that they hadn’t considered. Plus, I got to hear all about their cool new world.
They say writing is a lonely vocation. It can be, but it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes, you really need that other person, not just to critique your work, but to remind you why you love it in the first place. If you feel like shoving that story (or poem or essay or novel) into a drawer (or the fireplace), try telling someone else about it first. Let them ask questions; have a discussion. Sometimes, a conversation with one other person can be the most powerful tool in your belt.
Want to chat about your writing? There’s usually somebody in the Coffeehouse on Discord. Drop by and say hello.
~Christine
*Rowan, y’all. My writing partner is Rowan. I’m so freaking lucky. She also proofreads my posts so we’ll see if she lets me leave this in. [Ed’s note: you’re making this weird, Christine. /rbg]
This Week’s Writing Prompt is:
A conversation
This week, your job, should you choose to accept it, is to write a story or essay entirely in dialogue. Characters and setting are up to you! Tip: stick to just two people, unless you’ve got a clear way to differentiate speakers (that doesn’t rely on offensive stereotypes). Stuck? We’ve gone into detail in this Technique Toolbox post on writing dialogue. And you can get a little more detail on characters (and avoiding those stereotypes) in August’s Scarlet Quill Society post.
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!
This month we’re getting into the nitty-gritty and talking about what most people expect editing is for: line- and copyedits. Check out our October post, where we’re doing all this and more, and then tune in (and ask questions) (like why are there so many parentheticals here) to the live talk!
This month’s meeting will take place on Sunday, October 9 at 2pm US Eastern time. Sign up for a membership today to join the Scarlet Quill Society and automatically receive the Zoom link and password for every meeting. One-off monthly 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 #25 - Microfiction
Congratulations to Jen Mierisch, our Super Challenge #25 champion, as well as Kate Goodheart and Leila Murton Poole for rounding out the top three! Did you miss out on registration? Sign up for our email blast today so you don’t miss any important Super Challenge announcements.
Super Challenge #26 - Fiction
Registration for Super Challenge #26 will open on Monday, October 3! This one is for flash fiction – we’ll give you a prompt, you incorporate that into a story of 1,000 words or fewer. And all within 48 hours! You just might win some cash at the end of it. Curiosity piqued? Check out the schedule and registration details.
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 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:
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.
