May Day
I thought about writing something long-winded about our global colonized history of oppression by elevation, about how the “noble, silent worker/slave/servant” mythos has been used to penalize anyone who spoke out about their oppression. About how I see that abusive mythology extended today in the “essential workers are heroes” narrative that asks people to smile or wave or clap instead of striking or agitating for better conditions for grocery store workers, factory workers, food workers who would much rather be safe at home with the luxury of not worrying about how to pay rent as stay-at-home orders drag on, and how the imperilment of the class just above them is used to keep them working, because the folks one rung up are also scared of not making rent, but can’t go to work either. If you know me, that wasn’t long-winded. Anyway. Instead I’m just going to remind you not to cross picket lines today if you have any other option.
The good news is, we’ve provided alternate activities for you! Today marks a new month, which means a new 48 in 48 microprose challenge this weekend, a new assignment for our 2020 Hindsight challenge, as well as a new poetry slam. Start thinking about that slam now, and maybe you’ll have time to write the poem that takes next week’s popular vote!
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!
But we don’t limit kudos to posts: our commentariat commendation goes to a writer who has gone above and beyond to offer help and community to authors with work on the grids. You can check out our Critic’s Guide for examples of what we mean, but we don’t limit the commentariat commendation to posts with the concrit badge on. There are definitely still ways to help and support authors who don’t feel confident asking for robust criticism, and we trust our community to find them. On weeks when we find a comment to commend, we’ll let you know in the Roundup section.
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 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 #472
What’s working on the grids this week: larger essays composed of smaller ones. When your thoughts are scattered, sometimes the best thing to do is focus on vignettes and moments. Achieving clarity in each moment can help make your whole essay clear. But don’t forget, all your stories need to come together into a coherent whole. Remember that you need a central theme (maybe each story eventually has the same so-what?) or image to connect the dots for your readers, otherwise they might end up playing “one of these things is not like the others.” Unless your plan is to have your readers pick out the anomalies between your stories, but do that deliberately.
I know not everyone’s going to miss the 13 Ways poems but I am. Like this week’s essays, they collect images and impressions from the breadth of your life into a longer work threaded through with a common theme, your word. If you’re going to write a long poem, this is one way to keep your reader moving through the whole thing. Focusing on a recurring image rather than a constant emotion can help readers stick with longer works by not exhausting them emotionally. Remember what you learned writing your 13 Ways poems and carry that with you as you move on with your poetry.
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 #472
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 ...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.
