#WEP/IWSG August Challenge for 2020 - Long Shadow

Hello everyone! Laura here!

2020 has proven to be a stressful and frightening time for us all, and we're so grateful that so many of you continue to take part in WEP! Perhaps writing and community are just the thing so many of us need right now.

Let's talk a little about this month's writing challenge!

Welcome to the August Challenge

Long Shadow!

Firstly, we tried something new last challenge, WEP lite. For those of you who weren't here for it last time around, here are the basics.

WEP lite is WEP stripped of everything but the absolute essentials.

There will be no...

• Comment counting. Again this month we rely on your goodwill to read as many entries as you can, remembering how it sucks if only 2 people read yours. Don't let this happen!
• Blurbs. We'll hold off on them again this month. 
• Constant post monitoring. We'll still try to check the website and C-Box as much as possible, but if you have a very urgent query, email Denise at den.covey@gmail.com.

There will be...

• Shortlist and judging
• Winners' post announcement
• Winner's Guest post
• Mail Chimp emails (at least some of the time)

So, let's get to it...

This is the put-your-thinking-cap-on post ONLY. Sign up post goes live August 19, EST, and will remain open for 3 days. Be ready to pounce! 3 days of reading and commenting. This is a great way to relax and tap in to your creative side.

We all know times are tough. We hope you'll find some joy in participating in WEP. Work that stress out through your writing. Use that creative spark to bring a smile to your face.

HAPPY CREATING!

How does the Long Shadow prompt inspire you?

Do you ever feel like someone is watching you from the shadows?

Do you feel as if you live in the shadow of another and yearn to break free?

Or is your shadow a dark secret that you carry with you and would do anything to protect?

What hides within the long shadow?

PRIZE FOR AUGUST

This month we have a wonderful prize for our winner! Juneta Key is offering feedback and an edit on a short story, a piece of flash fiction, or the first twenty pages of a manuscript.  On top of that, the winner will also receive an author spotlight on Writer's Gambit and Stormdance Publications, questions/setup with website or technical help, and questions/setup with Facebook or Twitter.

It's come to our attention that there have been some issues with critique prizes. Not everyone who wins WEP has something ready for critique. That's okay. If you win and you don't have something ready and would like to pass the prize on to someone else who can use it, let us know! We can then offer it to the runner-up. These wonderful editors have a lot to offer, and we want to make sure the prize goes to someone who needs it!

Your admin for the August WEP is L.G.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, our prompt for October is:

We'd love if you'd Tweet Tweet Tweet some/all of these:

WEP writing prompt Long Shadow @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/08/wepiwsg-august-challenge-for-2020-long.html

Sign up August 19! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction

Get-your-thinking-caps-on for Long Shadow @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/08/wepiwsg-august-challenge-for-2020-long.html

Sign up August 19! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the fourth challenge of the year August Long Shadow Sign up August 19! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/08/wepiwsg-august-challenge-for-2020-long.html

#WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Step out of the shadows by joining @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the latest challenge! Long Shadow Sign up August 19! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/08/wepiwsg-august-challenge-for-2020-long.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Laura for the WEP Team

#WEPff #WINNER of JUNE challenge! URBAN NIGHTMARE! Toi Thomas Guest Post: The Revelation of Expression Through Technique.

Hi, Denise here.

June's winner for the WEP challenge, URBAN NIGHTMARE, guests for us today. Her winning entry was short, succinct and terrifying. Goes to show, we don't always need 1,000 words to get our point across. Again, congratulations Toi. Thank you for putting this piece together to inspire us.

Because of the poignancy and relevance of Toi's entry, I'm reposting here in case you missed it or would like a reminder...

DRIVING HOME

It’s cold outside, but I can’t wear a hoodie.

My pants are too tight, but at least it doesn’t look like I’m carrying.

My car is run down, but at least I’m less likely to get pulled over.

I just need to make it a few more blocks…

#BlackLivesMatter

Take it away, Toi.

The Revelation of Expression Through Technique 

Oh boy, is that title a doozy! I was pretty proud of myself when I came up with it. 

Essentially, this article is going to be all about how I discovered the necessity of "Showing" readers my emotions versus "Telling" them about it. This is not a continuation of the long-running debate over Show versus Tell. I, for one, think there is merit to both techniques, but that’s an article for another day. No, this is me, Toi Thomas, admitting that I struggle with these techniques constantly until there’s something I really want to say. 

For me, and likely, many writers out there, writing is an extension of my love of reading. It’s a form of escapism. It’s a chance for me to get lost in worlds and characters I’ve created. However, it’s one thing to write for one’s own entertainment and another to write for the masses. Pleasing others is much harder than pleasing oneself. I can tell you a good story, but you might find it a bit boring if I don’t show you any emotion. 

That’s what I discovered when I started to write something that was more than an escape. I started working on a very personal short-fiction project. Something so special and private I haven’t even tried to share it with anyone yet. Still, when using a nifty read-aloud program to hear my words from a different perspective, it was clear that they lacked impact. For the first time, I didn’t need a critique partner or beta reader to point out where the initial weaknesses were ‘cause I could hear them. It was a true revelation for me. 

I poured over that first draft and added about two thousand words to replace all the “feelings” words and convert them into physical descriptions. The whole process took thirty-six hours and I was mentally numb afterward. It may seem crazy to some to say that it took thirty-six hours to write two thousand words, but there was more to it. 

I wrote and rewrote. I cried, I yelled, I paced. Moved things around and restructured them, all in an effort to perfect this piece so that it could properly express the ideas and emotions I wanted to convey. I can’t say with one hundred percent confidence that the piece is perfect because I recognize that a second opinion is still needed. Yet, I know when I hear my words spoken back to me now, they move me. It doesn’t feel like I’m hearing words being spouted out, trying to make me feel something. I do feel something. Maybe someday I’ll share this with someone, and they too will be moved by it. 

Toi’s latest release: Why Are You Afraid?

There’s no easy way to explain racism, especially to young kids, but the sooner kids learn the truth, the better they can combat it and work to help make changes.

This is a light, yet serious, story about perceptions. This book was written to help parents start the race conversation with their children, whatever their race or skin color may be.

Amazon link

Toi Thomas is a geek-girl, vinyl collector, chocoholic, movie buff, animal lover, avid reader and reviewer, blogger, vlogger, and an indie author of children's books, fiction, and nonfiction. Find Toi online at the following links.

Website- The ToiBox of Words

YouTube- Toi Thomas

Facebook- Toi Thomas Author
Twitter- @ToiThomas

Website- Lit Carnivale

YouTube- Carnie the Bookworm

Instagram- @CarnieTheBookworm

Thanks so much for guesting for us Toi. And congratulations again for your win for URBAN NIGHTMARE. 

And everyone, our next challenge is upon us. Please get your thinking caps on for LONG SHADOW. First post up on August 1. Entries ready by August 19 - 21. Once again, we will be practising WEP-Lite.

Denise for the team:

SHARE THE LOVE! 

@ToiThomas #WEPURBANNIGHTMARE  #WEPwinner #guestpost https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winner-of-june-challenge-urban.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

@ToiThomas #WEPURBANNIGHTMARE  #WEPwinner  The Revelation of Expression Through Technique #guestpost https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winner-of-june-challenge-urban.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

@ToiThomas #WEPURBANNIGHTMARE  #WEPwinner  The Revelation of Expression Through Technique #guestpost #ShowDon'tTell https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winner-of-june-challenge-urban.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

#wepFF #WINNERS' POST - URBAN NIGHTMARE

Hi all, the team here. Everyone helped collate this post:

JUNE 2020 saw WEP move to WEP-Lite to stay afloat during trying times. Many of the team were struck with various storms of life and need some time to recover. We're glad we went ahead with the challenge as many found it cathartic to write about various horrors. Even though fictional, there was a large dose of truth intermingled. Some of us have been personally touched by the virus and death. So, writing is a great exercise to take us away from the horror for a while. The JUNE entries were excellent and reflect that need.

Thank you, everyone, for your amazing tales, they were filled with hope, humor, love, life lessons, but especially the creativity that continues to amaze and inspire us.

It's always a delight to welcome new writers to WEP. New writers add an excitement as we eagerly anticipate a new writing style and approach to the prompt. This month we welcomed Helen Mathey-Horn  . Thank you all for making Helen welcome!

CRITIQUING

And we'd like to add in a friendly reminder about the different levels of critique while we're here. Each of you should choose a level of critique you feel comfortable with. Here's a quick reminder of what the various critique levels are:

The explanations are fairly straight forward. If you choose Full Critique Acceptable (FCA), that means people may offer a thorough critique. While we would never condone a critique that is outright cruel, such a critique may involve pointing out a lot of issues with your writing you may not have seen before. For some this may be uncomfortable. Only choose FCA if you think you can handle it and wish to use such commentary to strengthen your work in the future. Otherwise feel free to select any of the other levels you feel are right for you at this time. Alternatively you could ask for a full critique to be emailed to you.

We're sorry that we lack blurbs this month. But all entries are perpetually available to read by accessing the sign-up post.

SHORTLIST

As usual, we had a difficult time deciding our shortlists, but it quickly became apparent that everyone had a favorite: We sent this list to Nick:

Susan - Urban Nightmare
Sally - Blame
Shannon Lawrence - The Widow
Dixie Jarchow - Urban Horror
Carole Stolz - Her Urban Nightmare
Toi Thomas - Driving Home

~*~

COMMENTING

Thank you, everyone for commenting so generously without the motivation of the Best Commenter award!  And please know that the team reads your comments, taking them into consideration when forming the shortlist. They are more important than you may think. Besides informing our decisions, it feeds the writer. Feedback is not a simple thing. It means the world to the writer.

Quite a few readers left comments on the WEP blog as they couldn't access your comments. Please turn off comment moderation for the week. There's always glitches beyond our control, but please try to make sure your blog accepts comments. It takes a patient person to comment multiple times then have to come to the WEP blog in the end. Thanks everyone!

OUR WINNERS:

Nick commented: "All entries were excellent ... Tough choice!"

But we had to choose ... so ...

THE WINNER OF JUNE'S 2020 CHALLENGE 

URBAN NIGHTMARE is:

Congratulations, Toi!

Nick wrote,  "Timely and devastating in just a few lines. This one gave me pause."

Congratulations Toi! We were all moved so much by your few words. Please link the badge to your story, Driving Home, and post it on your blog.

In addition, you've won a 5,000 word critique plus synopsis from Rohini Sundaram, and a guest post here at WEP.

Details will be emailed to you shortly.

Congratulations, on such an evocative entry!

 ~*~

THE RUNNER-UP OF JUNE'S 2020 CHALLENGE URBAN NIGHTMARE is:

Congratulations, Carole!

Nick wrote, "Really packs a punch. I hope the narrator can escape this nightmare."


Carole, please link the badge to your story, Her Urban Nightmare, and post it on your blog.

 ~*~

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD FOR JUNE’S

URBAN NIGHTMARE is:

Congratulations, Sally!

Nick wrote, "A really different take on the prompt as well as the current times. Interesting to see the rat's POV and then to find out they're just the scapegoat."


Sally, please link the badge to your story, Blame,
and post it on your blog.

Here's our prompt for AUGUST. So get those thinking caps on. The announcement will be posted on AUGUST 1st in the thinking-caps post.

And the Sign-up Link Post goes live on AUGUST 19th.

Until then, say safe and stay well!

And Sue!

Thank you, Sue, for stepping in and helping to monitor the posts and report problems, and helping us choose the winners. You made a difficult job run much more smoothly!

We'd love for you to Tweet this post or share it to Facebook 

or your favorite social media site.

#WEPFF URBAN NIGHTMARE winners announced @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @LGKeltner @OlgaGodim  https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners 

More writing excellence from our WEP June winners @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @LGKeltner @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners

Come congratulate our June winners. #WEPFF URBAN NIGHTMARE Challenge @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html

The #WEPFF writers had some fantastic entries! WEP winners announced! @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html

#WEPFF URBAN NIGHTMARE winners all @DeniseCCovey @yolndarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html

Thank you for the writing excellence, WEP Winners! @LGKeltner @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/07/wepff-winners-post-urban-nightmare.html

#WEP JUNE CHALLENGE -URBAN NIGHTMARE - SIGN UP HERE - INLINKZ CLOSES IN 3 DAYS!

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO THE POST BELOW!

 ______________________________________________________________________

 

The linky closes after the 20th of June 23:59 EST.

- Read and comment on the participating blogs. This is one of the most important aspects for us. So sad if few read our work :-( Messes with our heads.

It's simple, so have fun!

Due to both Nila and Olga needing time this month, Sue, Elephant's Child is acting in an admin capacity. She'll help answer your questions and compile the shortlist. 

Thank you so much, Sue!

COMMENTS:

Comment counting will cease at midnight on Wednesday, June 24th 23:59 EST time, which gives about a week to read/comment. (If this is a problem to you, let us know and we'll give some leeway). When you've finished reading, leave a comment on the main post to tell us you're done.PLEASE, everyone, make sure comments are allowed on your blog and if you're using multiple names other than the one you signed up under, please add that to your comment.

PLEASE TWEET!! PLEASE TWEET!! PLEASE TWEET!!

Sign up for the WEP challenge, Urban Nightmare. @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wep-june-challenge-urban-nightmare-sign.html #amwriting, #amreading, #amediting, #ff, #flashfiction, #nonfiction, #poetry, #prizes

Join the enthusiastic writers at WEP. Sign up here for the Urban Nightmare challenge  @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wep-june-challenge-urban-nightmare-sign.html #amwriting, #amreading, #amediting, #ff, #flashfiction, #nonfiction, #poetry, #prizes

Third WEP writing challenge of 2020 @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wep-june-challenge-urban-nightmare-sign.html Sign up or read. #amwriting, #amreading, #amediting, #ff, #flashfiction, #nonfiction, #poetry, #prizes

Read some great short #writing here at the WEP, @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wep-june-challenge-urban-nightmare-sign.html #amwriting, #amreading, #amediting, #ff, #flashfiction, #nonfiction, #poetry #prizes

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!

#WEP/IWSG June Challenge for 2020 - Urban Nightmare

Hello everyone! Renée here!

If you've been watching the opening up of the world after the worst of the pandemic, you're probably keeping your fingers crossed that folks will do the right thing. In many countries they are, but in the US things aren't going as smoothly. Folks prefer to pull out their guns instead of wearing a mask. Empathy is lacking in the highest echelons of society, and most of us see a bleak chance for a change with voter suppression being the fresh game in town. 

Oops, didn't mean to get on a soapbox...

Photo by Mattia Agustoni on Unsplash

So before this becomes a political post, why don't we get to the challenge, 

and use our angst to fuel our writing!!!

Welcome to the June Challenge

Urban Nightmare!

Before we get into it...


...we introduce a new concept - 
WEP-Lite.


What is WEP-Lite? It is WEP stripped of everything but the absolute essentials. 

The WEP team are going through their own Urban Nightmare, assailed by physical and emotional ailments from every direction. So in June, the workload can't be shared so much. 

Rather than shutting down temporarily, we have voted to go with WEP-Lite (and this may continue into August).

How is WEP-Lite different?

There will be no...

• Comment counting. This month we rely on your goodwill to read as many entries as you can, remembering how it sucks if only 2 people read yours. Don't let this happen!
• Blurbs. We'll hold off on them this month. Even though we had a volunteer (Sanhita) to do blurbs, we would still need to edit, link, post...so better to leave it this month. 
• Constant post monitoring. We'll still try to check as much as possible, but if you have a very urgent query, email Denise at den.covey@gmail.com.

There will be...

• Shortlist and judging
• Winners' post announcement
• Winner's Guest post
• Mail Chimp emails

So, let's get to it...

This is the put-your-thinking-cap-on post ONLY. Sign up post goes live June 17, EST, and will remain open for 3 days. Be ready to pounce! 3 days of reading and commenting. What better way to spend our time during the shutdown or whatever they call it where you live.

We at the WEP know how tough these times are. Use that in your writing for this prompt. Get that stress out of your system and put it in your writing! We don't care how deep you delve. Actually, the deeper and darker the better.

HAPPY CREATING!

How does this Urban Nightmare prompt inspire you?

A city where the trees are pulling up their roots, bunching them over their branches like old fashioned women's skirts and trudging away to greener pastures.

A city under the haze of volcanic ash where no birds, no airplanes can land, no living creature can breathe.

The underground city within a city where fatbergs and noxious fumes create a deathly trap for your characters.

A concrete jungle where the walls close in and collapse every morning and everyone must wait for the night to be alive again. 

Tell us, what is your urban nightmare?

PRIZE FOR JUNE

This month we have a CRITIQUE prize for the WINNER. Author Rohini Sundaram is offering the winner a 5,000-word critique plus synopsis.

Thank you, Rohini!

 Your admin for the June WEP are Yolanda, Denise, and Sue (Elephant's Child).  

FYI: Here's a list of FREE or low-cost sites for a blog.

·         Blogger.

·         Medium.

·         Penzu.

·         Squarespace.

·         Svbtle.

·         Tumblr.

·         Webs.

·         Weebly.

·         Wix.

·         Wordpress.

                                 

We applaud those brave souls who use their WEP stories as a series. And there are those of you who like to write ahead of time. So...the next challenge is: 

We'd love if you'd Tweet Tweet Tweet some/all of these:

WEP Summer 2020 writing prompt Urban Nightmare @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wepiwsg-june-challenge-for-2020-urban.html Sign up June 17! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction

Get-your-thinking-caps-on for Urban Nightmare @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wepiwsg-june-challenge-for-2020-urban.html Sign up June 17! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the third challenge of the year Urban Nightmare Sign up Jue 17! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wepiwsg-june-challenge-for-2020 urban.html  #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Begin Summer by joining @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the latest challenge Urban Nightmare Sign up June 17! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2020/06/wepiwsg-june-challenge-for-2020-urban.html
 #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Renée,

FOR THE WEP TEAM!