#JUNE #WEP/IWSG CHALLENGE SIGN UP -- CAGED BIRD and Changes in WEP

Changes in WEP

STOP PRESS!!

This is an update to tell you that WEP is pushing back on the changes made this month. Denise, and many of you, were unhappy with some changes, especially the People's Choice voting system. We'll fill you in on more news later, but for now just wanted to let you know we're going back to a professional judge and retaining the WINNER, RUNNER UP, ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD and BEST COMMENTER. And the Amazon Gift Card is coming out of retirement along with Denise. 
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As any living entity, WEP is changing and growing. Today we introduce several of those changes.

Our founder and long-time host, Denise Covey, is stepping down. It might be a temporary arrangement, or it might be permanent, but for now, she is going to concentrate on her own writing, and we three – L.G., Nila, and Olga – are going to pick up where she left off. From now on, L.G. will be the official host of WEP. We want to thank Denise for all she has done for WEP and hope to see her name here, as a participating writer, for many challenges to come. WEP would not be what it is today without her hard work and dedication.

We would like to give our participating writers more power and flexibility. One of the ways to accomplish that is to dispense with the DLs in the links. From now on, please sign up on the list only when you already posted your story, with the real link to it. We won’t touch the list entries anymore. We’ll assume if you signed up, it means the story is ready for reading. To reflect that, we’re changing the posting date on the badges as well. You can post your story from the moment this post goes live to the day of the deadline, which is always the third Wednesday of the month of the challenge.

Another way to empower our participating writers is to give them a voice to choose the best. We’re not going to select winners ourselves anymore. Instead, we’re retiring the Amazon gift card and all our old winning badges. Those badges will be replaced by one (and only one) new winning badge – People’s Choice.

Read the stories. See which one you like best, and let Olga know your choice, either in the comments, or, if you want more anonymity, in an email. Voting will be open for one full week after the challenge comes to a close. For the June Challenge, voting will close on Wednesday, June 26^th. After that time, Olga will compile your votes. The story with the most votes will be the winner, but we are only giving the voting powers to the participating writers. Nobody else can vote: no friends or relatives, folks.

Now, without further ado, here is the new challenge for June 2019: Caged Bird.

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The topic of a caged bird has many possible interpretations, both literal and metaphorical. Choose one and write the best flash story you can in 1000 words or less. Or maybe create a photo essay about your favorite canary. Or a non-fiction story about captivity and its psychological impact. Whatever you choose, we want to read it.

1. CREATE your entry for the JUNE challenge – CAGED BIRD.
2. EDIT your entry, making sure 'WEP' is in the TITLE
3. PUBLISH your entry onto your BLOG or FACEBOOK page by the date shown - state feedback preferences
4. SUBMIT your name to the list below when your entry is live
5. READ other entries, giving feedback as requested
6. SHARE THE CHALLENGE on social media.
PLEASE NOTE: ENTRIES CLOSE JUNE 19
ALL GENRES WELCOME except erotica - 1,000 words maximum
FURTHER ENQUIRIES VISIT www.writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com and leave a comment or: email: laura.gene.walker@gmail.com or olgagodim@gmail.com

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Please share on Twitter!

The WEP 2019 June Challenge Caged Bird - @TheIWSG @LGKeltner https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-caged.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF 

Will your caged bird fly free? June's Challenge @TheIWSG @LGKeltner https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-caged.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

Join @TheIWSG @LGKeltner for the Latest FF Challenge Caged Bird https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-caged.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

What does Caged Bird bring to mind? Join @TheIWSG @LGKeltner for the latest challenge https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-caged.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

#WEPff #winner Jemi Fraser Talks About Writing the Long and the Short

Hi! L.G. here!

We here at WEP would like to offer a hearty congratulations to Jemi Fraser for winning the WEP/IWSG April Challenge Jewel Box. All winners are offered to write a guest post on any topic they choose, but we always like to read something about their writing journey.

Jemi wrote a heartfelt tale of a man reliving the memories of a life spent together with the woman he loves as she dies, her hand in his. Our judge Nick Wilford said of her entry: "...short and sweet, very sad but also uplifting at the same time, love and loss captured in just a few lines. I could hear the music box and the short sentences seem to echo the slightly jerky motion of the dancer."

For her guest post, Jemi has chosen to write about transitioning from writing longer works to shorter ones.

From Long to Short

I’m not a person who wrote stories as a kid. Created them in my head? Absolutely. Put them down on paper? Nope. The thought didn’t even cross my mind.

We had exactly 2 creative assignments in elementary school (both Grade 6) and zero creative writing assignments in high school — and I took every available English class.

A whole lot of years ago I wrote a Star Trek story for fun. I had a blast! It took forever and it was absolute trash I’m sure. All +200k words are probably on a floppy disk somewhere…

Then I wrote another novel because that had been so much fun. About a reporter, a cop, and a lot of dead bodies. Another 190k words of trash. But fun!

That’s when I realized that maybe I could actually write a book. It hadn’t really crossed my mind that people who weren’t Authors could write books. (I know!) I’ve been writing since.

While my current stories aren’t nearly as long as my first couple of just-for-me novels, I’d never tried my hand at writing a short story until the IWSG put out the prompt for the Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime anthology.

An idea popped into my head. With far too many viewpoints for a short story.

But, why not? I didn’t have to show anyone if it stunk.

I normally write romance and nonfiction, so writing these 8 characters (all with evil intent) was so much fun!

After some playing around and advice from a friend (thanks Deniz!) I added names to the snippets and the story worked.

Now, I’ve tried a few more shorts for the WEP challenges and I’m still having a lot of fun with them!

All this to point out that (for me) writing is ALL about trying something new. About having fun and putting even the weirdest ideas down on paper. Each time we write we learn something and hopefully get better!

How about you? When was the last time you tried something new? Were you a writer as a kid? Do you prefer the Long or the Short?

                                                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Thanks Jemi!

So join us here at WEP. Write lots. Get better. Be kind to others. It’s the path that matters.

If you'd like to write for us here at WEP (Write...Edit...Publish), you are most welcome. We are open to flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photo essays, art...

Our June prompt is Caged Bird. That should bring forth some interesting entries. Lots of possibilities to choose from and explore!

You can sign up starting June 1st and post any day up through June 19th!

We'd love if you'd Tweet one of these:

The WEP 2019 April Challenge Jewel Box Winner Jemi Fraser on From Long to Short - @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/05/wepff-winner-jemi-fraser-talks-about.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF

#WEPFF Jewel Box winner Jemi Fraser's guest post is up. @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG

https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/05/wepff-winner-jemi-fraser-talks-about.html #amwriting #flashfiction

Do you prefer the long or the short write? @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/wepff-winner-dixie-j-jarchow-writes.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF

#WEPFF WINNERS' POST for JEWEL BOX, the April Challenge

Hello all!

Welcome to the report of the April 2019 WEP/IWSG combined challenge. Just a quick reminder-for each WEP Challenge, The Insecure Writer's Support Group Facebook page will have a post available where you can add the link for your entry. This is a great way to get more eyes on your work and to interact with more people!

How is the month of April treating you? I hope life is going well and you're getting a lot of writing done. It's hard to believe we're nearly 1/3 of the way done with 2019!

JEWEL BOX, the April prompt, inspired a lot of wonderful entries. I understand that the A to Z Challenge added an extra dimension for some of our participants, but I'd say it all went quite well!  We're thrilled to announce the winners for the WEP/IWSG collaboration for the JEWEL BOX Challenge. Thank you all for taking the time to post and encourage your fellow participants!

As always, there's been a lot of discussion regarding our picks for the shortlist here at WEP but finally, we came to agree on a list for our judge, Nick Wilford. 

The outright winner of the April WEP will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, while another three will have a lovely badge created by Olga Godim to show off on their blog. 

Okay, let's move onto the crux of the post - the winners!

Thanks to our team member, Nilanjana Bose, here is a quick blurb for each entry.

D.G. Hudson – Madeleine receives an old jewel box with a ring and a pearl choker, will it bring her good fortune or bad luck?

Roland Clarke – Sibling rivalry and fire obfuscate  the case – is it just an accident or has a gift shop named The Jewel Box been rammed in with a purpose?

Carrie Ann Golden – Winter and death – a beautiful and timeless theme strung into a  sinister poem.

C. Lee Mckenzie – what can you take with you and what price do you have to pay? Contessa Juliana Costa da Verdi finds out.

Team Netherworld – Organising a jewel box after a near fatal illness does not always make for a positive experience but the self-flagellation can be offset if a ghostly admirer is nearby…

Dixie Jo Jarchow –  The king of a prosperous kingdom takes three wives. Who will survive the palace politics and succeed him?

Pat Garcia – An alabaster box arrives after 12 years in the mail, what’s in the mystery package?

Ursula Hartlein – Jewish immigrant sisters are on a rare trip to New York to buy a jewellery box for the keepsakes from another life…

J Lenni Dorner – a has-been goes to a carnival on his own doorstep and wins copies of his own biography so that no-one else reads it.

Operation Awesome -  A jewel box full of a  different kind of gemstone.

Bernadette Braganza – A drop of water can be worth more than a diamond given the right time and place.

Jemi Fraser  – A lover relives his life with his lady as she lies dying with her hand in his.

Toi Thomas – An anti-hero shows off her ‘crazy cool, realistic eye-ball marbles’ to a group of boys. Just don’t ask how she came by them!

Jemima Pett – An old queen’s  ill-gotten jewel box is probably getting reburgled back…

Anstice Brown  – Siblings Opal and Onyx are incarcerated in the Jewel Box…how will they find an escape route?

Hilary Melton-Butcher – Stained glass, sunlight, flowers in a garden – a toddler is excited by a living jewel box…

Rebecca M Douglass –  gave us a photo essay on her travels in NZ and a glimpse into the magnificent jewel box of Nature.

N.R. Williams -  Primrose makes a trip to the human world to nick a jewel box…will she make it safely back?

Tyrean Martinson  – another installment of Captain Wrath’s  ongoing mission to rescue Lia – where he lands up in a place where toxin secreting plants dominate…

Roland Yeomans - A woman sifts through the jewel box of memories as she prepares for the big sleep...

Kalpana – A vanishing Granny and her unorthodox but uplifting legacy.


Jamie - A hilarious  sci-fi flash combining the slightly dubious contents of a jewel box and the tensions and trials of step families.

Denise Covey – a husband rises from the dead to give his unfaithful wife her birthday gift.

L.G. Keltner – a beloved pair of ruby earrings that have been shut away after one death are brought out at the approach of another.

Olga Godim – An escaped monkey on Rendezvous nicks the Mar’s Ambassador’s jewel box  and a spacewide monkeyhunt gets underway…

Nilanjana Bose – a ring teaches a life lesson and pickles illustrate mortality to a teen in a photo essay.

Without further ado, here is our shortlist which we sent to Nick:

Jemi Fraser 

Ursula Hartlein 

J Lenni Dorner

Toi Thomas

Anstice Brown  

Kalpana 

If you didn't make our shortlist, it doesn't mean your entry went unnoticed. Every entry is given consideration, but in the end, there are entries that make the cut.

So (((drum roll)))

THE WINNER OF THE

2019 WEP APRIL CHALLENGE JEWEL BOX

is

Congratulations Jemi!

Nick said: 
"...short and sweet, very sad but also uplifting at the 
same time, love and loss captured in just a few lines. I could hear the music box and the short sentences seem to echo the slightly jerky motion of the dancer."

Jemi, please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

An Amazon Gift Card of $10 will be winging your way shortly.

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THE RUNNER UP OF THE

2019 WEP APRIL CHALLENGE JEWEL BOX

is

Congratulations Toi!
Your experiment with a new way of writing paid off!

Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

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THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR THE

2019 WEP APRIL CHALLENGE JEWEL BOX

goes to 

Congratulations J Lenni!

We loved your 'old man at the fair' story!

Please link the badge to your story and post it on your blog!

***

Once again we will also be thanking one of you who took the time to read through all of the wonderful entries and to comment. This is vital to the success of the WEP community. It's our chance to offer support and, when desired, critique that can help us all grow as writers.

At last count, these were the wonderful ones who qualified for this award as they swiftly read and commented. Some have indicated on FB or in comments that they were still reading, so we thank you for your dedicated efforts. It means the world to us to see you supporting your fellow writers!

Here are our top commenter contenders!

Roland Clarke

Pat Garcia

Jemi Fraser

Hilary Melton Butcher

(Note: I wanted to add that Elephant's Child has, as always, done a stellar job at visiting and commenting. I'm sorry I missed mentioning her the first time!)

All of these individuals are deserving, but alas, only one can receive the award!

The random pick winner from those who commented most is Roland Clarke! Roland, please accept the badge on behalf of all the great commenters and display it on your blog!

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Check out ideas from the WEP 2019 Challenges Page for Caged Bird in our menu.

Thank you all!

We'd love if you'd Tweet this post or share to Facebook or your favorite social media site.

#WEPFF Jewel Box winners announced. @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/04/wepff-winners-post-for-jewel-box-april.html #amwriting #flashfiction

Come congratulate our first place winner. #WEPFF Jewel Box Challenge @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/04/wepff-winners-post-for-jewel-box-april.html #amwriting #flashfiction

The #WEPFF writers are all winners! @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/04/wepff-winners-post-for-jewel-box-april.html #amwriting #flashfiction

When you give the #WEPFF challenge a go a win could show! @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/04/wepff-winners-post-for-jewel-box-april.html #amwriting #flashfiction

#APRIL #WEP/IWSG CHALLENGE SIGN UP -- JEWEL BOX.

Hello all! It's April! Time for our next WEP/IWSG challenge. We'd love to have you join us. Go HERE for ideas for Jewel Box. They're guides only. You're welcome to your own take on it!

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PLEASE SHARE ON TWITTER!

The WEP 2019 April Challenge 28 Jewel Box - @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/april-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-jewel.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF 

What comes to mind with Jewel Box? April's Challenge @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/april-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-jewel.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

Join @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey for the Latest FF Challenge Jewel Box https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/april-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-jewel.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

What is in your Jewel Box? Join @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey for 2019's second challenge https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/april-wepiwsg-challenge-sign-up-jewel.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction

#WEPff #winner Dixie J Jarchow writes about VOICE!

Hi! Denise here!


A huge congratulations to Dixie J Jarchow who won the WEP/IWSG February challenge, 28 DAYS. All winners are offered the opportunity to write a guest post on whatever topic they choose, but we always like to read something about their writing journey.

Our judge Nick Wilford said on choosing Dixie's story as the winner with her untitled flash on the danger of eating kale (thank you God), he said -- "A chilling glimpse at a future world where things have taken a very sinister turn. The author drops breadcrumbs to be picked up, and I'd like to sample the full meal. An idea worthy of exploration in much more depth."

For her guest post, Dixie has chosen to write about something every writer struggles to achieve -- that all-important Voice.

WRITERS' VOICE

Finding your voice is a big fuzzy buzz in the writing world. Publishers want it, you can recognize it but how do you get it?

Voice is what makes people smile when they read someone’s writing. It is unique to each writer. It feels like the author imbued it with three parts attitude, one part experience and a sprinkling of insight.

The word choice, the cadence of how thoughts are put together, it all plays a part.  So how do you get there?

I used to coach cross country. Most of my family are elite runners. I am an expert observer of the art.

When I see someone running down the street, I can tell if they are a serious runner or an occasional putzer. A serious runner’s gait looks different, smoother, their muscles flow in a rhythm unique to them. And even if I’ve never seen them run before, I can tell that they have put in the miles. I can tell a runner’s identity from far down the street, if I’ve seen them run. They have a style, much like a voice in writing. Their body knows what to do and they can focus on the minutiae of movement and mind. They are free to improve in ways an occasional runner doesn’t even consider.

So it is with writing. 

You can tell when someone has put in enough words to hone their craft, when they are focusing on the small details that sparkle in our minds, when they open our consciousness in a way it hasn’t been before.

So, write. Write a lot. 

How much is that exactly, Mrs. Jarchow?

Darn, I don’t know. I’m too busy writing. I do know that before I got published by Prism/Pelican, I had nine complete novels sitting on the shelf, shall I say, seasoning. I’d won a couple of awards for essays and short stories. 

I don’t write every day but I do think about my writing every day. 

Sometimes I plot. Sometimes I plan. Sometimes the spirit of editing overtakes my body and holy cow, things get done.

I belong to two writing groups that pretty much meet every week unless the Hell-Freezeth-Over Wisconsin weather defeats our intentions. I belong to them because they inspire me and encourage me to continue writing. They also provide some great characters for me. There is usually coffee involved and the illusion of friendship without serious commitment, which appeals to all of us writing introverts.

Thank you Dixie!

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So join us here at WEP. Write lots. Get better. Be kind to others. It’s the path that matters.

If you'd like to follow Dixie's suggestion and write for us here at WEP (Write...Edit...Publish), you are most welcome. We are open to flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photo essays, art...

Our April prompt is Jewel Box. Now that should bring forth some interesting entries. If you're doing the A - Z Challenge and don't want to miss the WEP challenge, try to fit your entry in with the letter of the day.

You can begin signing up on April 1 and post sometime preferably before April 17.

Who knows? You could be writing the Guest Post next time!

We'd love if you'd Tweet one of these:

The WEP 2019 February Challenge 28 Days Winner Dixie J Jarchow on Writers Voice - @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/wepff-winner-dixie-j-jarchow-writes.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF

#WEPFF 28 Days winner Dixie J Jarchow's guest post is up. @DeniseCCovey @theIWSG
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/wepff-winner-dixie-j-jarchow-writes.html #amwriting #flashfiction

Struggle with your writing voice? @TheIWSG @DeniseCCovey https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2019/03/wepff-winner-dixie-j-jarchow-writes.html #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF