Rowan went to the Midwest and all I got was these germs
Y’all, I’m sick. So sick. Sick enough that napping sounds good, even though naps always give me Nap Hangover. Whiiiiiiiine. But I have ginger tea, and honey, and EVENTUALLY whatever’s going on with my body will stop, right? Right? But I’m writing this post early and I’m planning to go to bed before the final results from the popular vote are in.
Besides the popular vote, we also have the option of handing out an editorial staff pick to any post on our grids. 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 #448
One of the things I used to struggle with the most in writing was voice. I wrote like someone’s Victorian aunt had tried to write a technical manual. Sure, the grammar was all there, but who’d want to read it? Then someone handed me a hot tip: consume your writing in the voice you’re trying to write it in. If you’re trying to be conversational, read it out loud. Which phrases sound natural? Which don’t? If you’re trying to be clinical, don’t surround your text with hearts and flowers. Use an authoritative font. These little adjustments can really help you lock in the voice you want for your writing, because anomalies will stick out more to you. For example, while academic writers say “in this essay I will unpack the fundamental truths underlying the Resident Evil movies,” most of us would say aloud: “I think the Resident Evil movies are better than they’ve been given credit for.” See the difference?
When I talk about plot, I guess I don’t talk as much about the payoff as I could. But after reading this week’s grid and a WHOLE bunch of Super Challenge stories, I’ve got payoff on my mind. Like Peter Beagle, I rarely write toward something. Frequently I throw my characters and an interesting challenge in a jar, shake it all up, and see what happens. The characters want something, the plot gets in their way, and eventually we’ll find out if they get it or not, after the reader is invested. The thing is… I write 85,000-300,000 word novels. That technique doesn’t work as well in a short (or flash!) story, and often you’ll find yourself trying to cut off your tale on an artful line, or summarising the end you would have written if you’d only had room to write it. If you find this happening to you, take a breath. Figure out where your story was going, and what you might be able to cut out of the middle or off the beginning to make room for the payoff. Frequently, there’s too much backstory and you can simply imply that throughout the story. Consider starting in the middle of the action… and then not writing the rest of the story as a flashback. Consider the difference between your character in the beginning and the end of your story, and how you can show – not tell – that. I think you’ll find that you’ve got a little more room to wrap your plot up neatly.
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, next week’s challenges kick off at midnight tonight!
Congratulations to the Crowd Favorites at YeahWrite #448
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
Loading InLinkz ...Fiction|Poetry
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.
