Scooter Trash
I have this plan for the summer, if I could just get everything to cooperate. But having 1) good weather; 2) free time; and 3) a working scooter, all at the same time, is just not coming together for me. On the plus side, I’m becoming a passable scooter mechanic. On the minus, if it’s not one thing, it’s another: the battery won’t hold a charge on my charger, but the fancy charger at the battery store says it’s fine (so the problem is my charger?). So the battery’s having a slumber party with the other batteries while it charges up. In the meantime, it might also be the air filter (there’s spiders in there, y’all), spark plug (now gapped within the .6-.7mm tolerance), carburetor (please don’t let me have to take this engine apart), or starter (see above). Fortunately, I’m a writer, so I’m familiar with taking something entirely apart to fix it, even if you’re not sure what part wasn’t working, tuning up what you can, and then if it’s still not working asking a friend to take a look. Even if the end result isn’t quite the same, the process of fixing this scooter is remarkably similar to what it takes to earn that top spot on the grids.
Besides the popular vote, we also have the option of handing out an editorial staff pick to any post on our grids. Our editors comb the grids to find, not just the best writing on this grid this week, but what we think is pretty darn great writing anywhere anytime. Picks are based on writing quality, how successful the author is in conveying information, and just plain style. The great part is that we don’t have a finite number of picks to hand out. That means that if two, three, five, or even all the works on one grid are fantastic, we can give them all kudos- and we’d love to, so keep that great work coming!
On weeks when we don’t award a staff pick, keep an extra close eye on the Roundup. That’s our rundown of trends we see from week to week. We try to highlight the good stuff and point out problems that more than one writer is struggling with. There’s probably a handy tip in there for you right now, so check it out!
Once you’re done reading through the Roundup, keep scrolling down to check out who won the popular vote on both grids. If you earned the highest number of votes in any challenge, you are this week’s Crowd Favorite! If you came in first, second or third, you get “Top Three” honors. Grab your badge from our sidebar!
Looking for your badge? Both grids have the same Winner, Editorial Staff Pick, and Top Three badges. It doesn’t clutter up our sidebar, and they’ll still look pretty on yours!
Rowan’s Roundup: YeahWrite Weekly Writing Challenge #370
As an editor, one of my jobs is figuring out what people are trying to write, based on what they’ve actually written, and I like to think I’m pretty good at it. But once in a while even I’m left scratching my head, wondering “where was this essay going, and why didn’t I have a reason to care if it got there?” Figuring out where the end of your story or essay is can help you figure out the beginning – it’s like fixing this scooter. If I’m elbows deep in the engine and I find a completely disconnected wire, I know I definitely will need to fix that, whether what I’m working on is part of the problem or not. Read back through your story or essay when you’re done writing and figure out where that ending is – then make sure it’s connected to the rest of the post! Give your reader a reason to invest in your ending, and they’ll stick with you until you get there.
It’s not a big secret that besides being scooter trash I’m fanfic trash. And since nobody here wants me to get mad and disassemble their story (trust me), I’m going to talk about one of my least favorite fanfic authors, and you’re going to figure out how to extend the metaphor to your own work. See, the thing about this author is they could be great. And it makes me mad every time I see their name pop up because I look at the summary, and I think this could be a great story. But it won’t be, because [redacted] wrote it. And I’ll click on the darn story anyway, and I’ll experience that rush of disappointment all over again and close the story angrily, once again wondering why this person doesn’t have a friend who will tell them “bb you have great ideas can u maybz finish writing them once in a while.”
This author never bothers to write a story. I always feel they’re too impatient for the actual process of writing, for the immersion in their own characters, for the story itself. As a result, they end up basically writing 10,000 words about the 70,000 word novel they could have been writing. Or 1,000 words about the 5,000 word story that the story should be. Fine, I’ll extend the metaphor for you. Go read your work. Did you write a story? Or did you write a book report about a much longer story? That’s what we mean when we say show, don’t tell. Write the story, don’t summarize it. If you’re summarizing, you’ve come up with an idea for a story that won’t fit in 750 words. That’s not a bad thing! Write that story! But consider taking one small scene out of that story and giving it the 750 words it deserves instead of trying to cram the rest of your novella in around it.
Don’t tell me “I was born in a small town and when I was five we moved to the city and when I was ten my parents took me out of public school and when I was fifteen I met my first boyfriend and he kissed me but my father found out and didn’t like it.”
Write “I knew when I saw my father’s face that he was reconsidering every decision he’d made that brought me to a place where I could meet Jiang. This town wasn’t like the city he’d intended to raise me in, and he never missed an opportunity to tell me that, or to blame Mum for moving us here.”
That’s it for this week! If you’re lost in the middle of the grid and wondering how you can get a little more feedback on your posts, check out our membership perks! If you’re more the self-help type, remember to scroll through our writing help section for tips and tricks. Even if a post isn’t directed at your favorite grid, there’s probably a handy hint for you in there anyway!
Everybody: before you go, please take some time to leave your favorites a little love in the comments, and don’t forget, the Weekend Writing Showcase opens tonight at 6pm Eastern US Time!
Congratulations to the Crowd Favorites at YeahWrite #370
The thumbnails are now sorted in order of most votes to fewest. Ties in the overall number of votes are broken by number of editor votes.
Congratulations if you’re at or near the top! Writing well is hard work, and we’re honored you’ve chosen us this week to showcase your entry.
If you’re at or near the bottom, don’t be discouraged. You’re in the right community for learning and growing as a writer, and we are always available with resources for those who ask nicely.
To our readers and voters: thank you! See you next week.
Nonfiction Challenge
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Loading InLinkz ...About the author:
Rowan submitted exactly one piece of microfiction to YeahWrite before being consumed by the editorial darkside. She spent some time working hard as our Submissions Editor before becoming YeahWrite’s Managing Editor in 2016. She was a BlogHer Voice of the Year in 2017 for her work on intersectional feminism, but she suggests you find and follow WOC instead. In real life she’s been at various times an attorney, aerialist, professional knitter, artist, graphic designer (yes, they’re different things), editor, secretary, tailor, and martial artist. It bothers her vaguely that the preceding list isn’t alphabetized, but the Oxford comma makes up for it. She lives in Portlandia with a menagerie which includes at least one other human. She tells lies at textwall and uncomfortable truths at CrossKnit.
