Read Me?
I’ve been doublechecking class handouts for Deconstructing Prompts all week. Like PowerPoint presentations, handouts should have enough information that a student doesn’t have to take detailed notes, but not so much that the class doesn’t add nuance to their understanding of the text. Unlike an essay (or this post) I can’t just ramble on through a series of digressions hoping the students will stick with me. Instead, a handout becomes a layout problem: did I pick my fonts and arrange my words in a way that makes this information come to the reader as quickly and easily as possible?
Don’t worry. I’m sure I didn’t.
But you can give that same type of thought to your essay, story, or poem: does my format make it easier or harder on the reader? If your text almost matches your background, your fonts and colors are all over the place, or everything is in allcaps (LOOK I LOVE ALLCAPS BUT IT IS MOSTLY SUITED TO THINGS YOU NEED TO SHOUT AND IF YOU ARE SHOUTING FOR MORE THAN A FEW SENTENCES SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG IN YOUR WORLD AND MAYBE SOME OF THE ENERGY YOU ARE PUTTING INTO YELLING COULD BE USED TO PUNCH A NAZI OR EDIT YOUR POEM OR SOMETHING) you’re going to lose readers, because it’s simply too difficult to follow the text. Paragraphs exist for a reason – largely the same reason as verses, in poetry. Line breaks exist for a reason. The next time you’re writing, consider your format and layout as you do that final proof. The reader who wouldn’t have been able to get through your writing otherwise will thank you!
If you read this intro instead of scrolling immediately to the popular vote results, let me know in the comments if a unicorn could beat a velociraptor in a fair fight. But it’s not all about the popular vote at YeahWrite, folks. We also have our editorial staff picks to hand out. See, while there’s a popular vote winner every week, we don’t always give out a staff pick. Our editors comb the grids to find, not just the best writing on our 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. If you got a staff pick this week, grab your badge from the sidebar and wear it with pride! 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.
The other benefit of the editors’ pick, of course, is that unlike the popular vote we’ll tell you why we liked that post. So don’t just skip reading the blurb if it’s not about your post; you’ll pick up some handy pointers about what makes good writing great that you can apply to your own work. For more of that critical feedback, keep an eye on our Roundup for a quick rundown of trends we see each 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 Editorial Staff Picks and Roundup (and congratulating the winners in the comments), 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!
YeahWrite #381 Weekly Writing Challenge Staff Picks:
Nonfiction
Melony’s piece this week is a great example of how to write about an emotionally awkward or painful event without relying on extraneous emotional adjectives and adverbs. Her writing shows, not tells, her spectrum of feelings, allowing the essay to be short and to the point. She has enough faith in the reader to believe that they can follow not only the child’s perceptions but the adult’s understanding of what was happening and why. The simple phrasing and structure is appropriate for the narrator’s age, which not only makes the essay much more powerful, it also makes the voice of her younger self ring true and adds believability to the story.
Rowan’s Roundup: YeahWrite Weekly Writing Challenge #381
Everyone tried something a little bit new this week, and even if it didn’t immediately pay off in the popular vote, you’ve got some new tools to use. Remember – if you’re considering trying something wildly different from your usual, focus on tweaking one thing at a time whether that’s format, length, or content. That way you can really get a sense of what you need to adjust so you can hone your new skills!
Editor Nate’s on vacation (I know, you missed his comments!) this month, so make sure you’re making the comment rounds and offering concrit where it’s asked for! We all have to support each other in these dark times.
Speaking of dark times: when you’re writing an emotion, especially a “dark” one, remember to give your reader a break now and then so your piece doesn’t feel dreary and monotonous. Readers are more likely to invest in a character or narrative outcome when they see a chance of hope and laughter, even if you plan to eventually take that away from them and murder all your supporting characters (see also: Game of Thrones).
Boy, is it tempting to end a micro with a zinger. To put in a punchy ending that leaves your reader gasping like OH MY GOSH I DID NOT KNOW THERE WAS A PLOT TWIST IN THIS STORY. If you’re going to give into that temptation, remember that your punchy ending will have more punch if it slips in under the reader’s guard by remaining in the same voice as the rest of the story. A sudden fragment, out of character phrase, or verb tense change will be more jarring than thrilling to the reader, and will stick out like a sore thumb in a short piece. I’m not sure I’ve used enough idiomatic phrases in this roundup, but trying to cram in more than one per sentence seems like gilding the lily, don’t you think?
That’s it for this week! Remember, we don’t always give out a pick on both grids; if we were impressed by several posts on one grid we’ll give them all picks, and if nothing really stood out for us we’ll hold off. If you didn’t get a pick this week, read back through the Roundup to see if you can use some of this week’s tips and tricks.
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!
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 #381
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
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry Challenge
Loading InLinkz ...Microprose Challenge
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.
I’m thinking velociraptor would win. Much meaner than the unicorn.
Congrats, winners!
My money’s on the dinosaur.
I enjoyed reading all the entries this week, as always, but I especially like the microprose entries. I read them to my husband & son after dinner last night, and they each had a favorite. Thanks for sharing them with us.
A single velicoraptor doesn’t stand a chance against a unicorn! I’d go as far as saying how unfair that fight would be.
Thanks so much for the editor pick, ladies! You have made my morning. ☺️
I think a unicorn would definitely beat out a velociraptor because…magic. (All unicorns are magical, right? RIGHT?)
I loved the staff pick story this week – well done! I enjoyed reading all of the entries.
Also thank you to the voters who picked my story for the fiction/poetry contest! This was my first time here and I’m super stoked about it! I also really appreciated the feedback left on my page! I’m always open to critique and improving my skills.
Now I have to wonder, though… was my piece “dreary and monotonous?” Hmmm… 🙂
Anyway this was fun, and I might try my hand at the nonfiction entry next!
I don’t know about the average unicorn, but I think Stacie would definitely beat a velociraptor.
And handouts: layout *problem*? No, layout opportunities! The power to make information so much easier to access so simply!
I totally would! Thank you for the vote of confidence 🙂