#WEP 2021 Continues the Artistic Inspiration - GREAT WAVE! Sign up here on this post June 16th!

 

The link above opens for submissions on June 16th!

Welcome to the third Challenge of 2021, GREAT WAVE!

We hope you're enjoying the Year of Art

Renee and Denise are your hosts this month. All of us at WEP are hoping to see a repeat of the robust challenge overflowing with creativity and inspiration that was FREEDOM MORNING. The world is still reeling from the events of the past year, but we hope all of you are finding joy in your lives despite the ever-present Covid-19 which just won't let go!

As only Direct Links are now posted, you don't have to add DL after your name. You all caught onto that very quickly!

Once again, we're going with WEP lite. That means:

There will be no...

• Comment counting. 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! We applaud you for reading as many posts as you were able.
• Blurbs. Blurbs are a lot of work. We'll hold off on them again until further notice. 
• Constant post monitoring. We'll still try to check the website and C-Box daily, but for urgent queries, email Denise at den.covey@gmail.com OR Renee at yolandarenee@hotmail.com. That way we have the time zones covered.

There will continue to be...

• Shortlist created by the team and judging by Nick Wilford
• Winners' post announcement
• Winner's Guest post on topic of their choice
• Mail Chimp emails to alert you to posts - please check your spam folder as our emails contain links - some email providers are over zealous and send them straight to spam! 
  

Prizes

WEP is continuing with the popular Critique Prize for the winner along with the regular Guest Post. Each challenge, a different editor/author will offer their unique prize. Check out the sidebar for our 2021 offerings. Have some work ready! And feel free to contact any of the authors/editors with an enquiry if you have a ms you'd like edited/proofread/critiqued.

The June Prize is a first chapter critique from our IWSG liaison and multi-published author, C Lee McKenzie!

C. Lee McKenzie, Author

Books * Website

It’s all about what’s real and happening in C. Lee McKenzie’s novels. Her young adult- crossover books take on modern issues everyone faces in their daily lives. Her story about illiteracy, Double Negative, was voted as one of the best top ten Young Adult books in 2019. Her other books, The Princess of Las Pulgas, Sudden Secrets and Not Guilty are out to four and five star reviews.

She’s a traveler, someone who loves to eat her garden-grown produce and has never met a dog or cat she can resist. 

Join Lee on her social media:

You've got to be in it to win it!

THE AUGUST CHALLENGE

From our CHALLENGES 2021 PAGE

Norman Rockwell was an American artist and illustrator, widely known for his illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post. This particular artwork – The Freedom of Speech, was created as a part of a series called The Four Freedoms based on a wartime speech given by FDR. The painting depicts a young, working class man standing up and expounding his ideas to a group of older, white-collar men. It was inspired by Rockwell’s visit to a town meeting where a man rose to voice an unpopular view. Read more about the Four Freedoms and explore Norman’s other works here.

This prompt has rich possibilities. Particularly topical as authorities have veered towards authoritarianism and people across the world have exploded in unrest. 

Books have been banned and burnt, film shows have been mobbed by fundamentalists, newspapers/editors have been gagged, cartoonists have been shot dead, journalists and activists jailed or killed for trying to voice ideas, question authority and inform the public. Controversies on the role of social media and internet have further muddied the waters.

On the other hand, there have been fearless voices rising and speaking out. From celebrities like Meryl Streep and Greta Thunberg to lesser known but equally important local citizens and activists 

But, just as the young man in Norman’s immortal work, your interpretation need not have the huge sweep or weight of world affairs.

It can equally be a small town teenager speaking up against a bully, a young woman rising to defend a project idea to her employer, a marginalised community representative finding a spot on the local radio station.

Even a writer fighting a proposed cut by their editors - yes, you can go meta!  ‘A million ways to be, you know that there are!’ :)

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

WEP writing prompt Great Wave @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner,  https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.htm Sign up June 16-18! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry

Get-your-thinking-caps-on for Great Wave @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner,  https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html Sign up June 16-18! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, for the next Challenge of 2021, June's Great Wave. Sign up and Post June 16-18! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Write with @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, for the June challenge Great Wave! Sign up and post on June 16-18! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.htm

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We are looking forward to seeing where this month's prompt takes you!

Your hosts for GREAT WAVE --

Renee and Denise, for the WEP team.

#WEP #WINNER's #GUESTPOST - Toi Thomas on the Power of Poetry

 

Hello everyone! L.G. here! As you all know by now, the winner of the WEP Challenge gets the opportunity to write a guest post. Her poem Good Freedom Dream provoked a lot of thoughts and feelings in those who read it. As our judge Nick Wilford said: Nick wrote: "This had such a quietly resigned tone to it. Measured, powerful and understated, but still making a big impact. A thought-provoking piece."

Today Toi would like to talk to us about the power of poetry. Take it away, Toi!

The Power of Poetry

When I was younger, I thought being able to write poetry would make me cooler. Once I got over that, I stopped trying to write poetry altogether. I found that just being myself was cool enough for me, yet even then, I knew it wasn’t enough for the world.

In adulthood, I rekindled my love of reading and writing and began to explore fiction. The process was not only fun, but therapeutic. I did not return to writing poetry, but I did return to reading it from time to time. I always felt that poetry had a special place in my heart reserved for those tough moments that can’t be simply described or explained. Poetry, when done well, helps you feel and empathize- at least I hope it does.

I didn’t begin to explore writing poetry again until I was well into my 30’s. It was simply an experiment I conducted from time to time when I didn’t know how else to express myself. Whether what I produced was good or bad in terms of style, technique, and quality was irrelevant. I was dabbling in poetry as an exercise in self-expression.

At the age of 40 (in the midst of a pandemic and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement), I made a big step, and perhaps an even bigger mistake. I began to write poetry and actually share it with the public. The problem with sharing anything self-expressive with the public is that once it’s out there, it’s not about you anymore. Your words, your thoughts, and your intentions become subject to someone else’s perception.

Whether my poetry is perceived in a positive or negative way, I have accepted that it doesn’t change what it means to me. What I have learned, though, is that other people’s perception of my poetry can tell me more about them than years of conversation and passing comments.

That’s the power of poetry- what it reveals about the reader. When someone reads poetry and feels something, they react based on what they feel. That reaction is impactful- sometimes heated and passionate. A person’s reaction to a poem may reveal suicidal thoughts they never previously acknowledged; it may reveal that despite societal expectations they really don’t want to be a father or mother; it may reveal an opinion of racial and or cultural superiority over others never before explicitly stated ... and so much more.  

The power of poetry is how people react to it.

When I write poetry, I’m often expressing sadness, hurt, pain, and yes, even anger. As a human being, I have a right to express all those things. My poetry is very personal and often speaks to greater matters beyond me. Whether I like it or not, I expect people’s reaction to my poetry to be aimed at me; however, I’ve recently seen that people will take my words, and other people’s words, and try to use them to attack an entire group, culture, religion, or race.  But, as previously stated, this reveals more about the reader than it does about me.

And that’s the power of poetry.

-

I would like to take a moment just to say thank you to the W.E.P. + IWSG community for helping me hone my skills over the years. I will be taking a hiatus from participation in future challenges. I wish everyone good health and good writing.

-

My 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

Instagram- @CarnieTheBookworm

 ~*~

Thank you so much for your guest post, Toi. We truly appreciate all you have brought to WEP, and though we will miss you throughout your hiatus, we wish you well and hope you will return to us.

Our next challenge will be here before we know it! We hope many of you will consider joining us for our June challenge GREAT WAVE! We'll post about it on June 1.

SHARE THE LOVE!

@Toi Thomas #WEPFREEDOMMORNING  #WEPwinner #guestpost https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-winners-guestpost-toi-thomas-on.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

@ToiThomas #WEPFREEDOMMORNING  #WEPwinner The Power of Poetry  #guestpost https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-winners-guestpost-toi-thomas-on.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

@ToiThomas #WEPFREEDOMMORNING #WEPwinner The Power of Poetry #guestpost https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/wep-winners-guestpost-toi-thomas-on.html @DeniseCCovey, @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim #amwriting #writingchallenge

Winners of the #WEP FREEDOM MORNING Challenge 2021

Hi everyone! Thank you to everyone who participated in the WEP April challenge FREEDOM MORNING. The entries this time around were stunning! We're always impressed by the talent and creativity we see from all of you. Choosing the winners was no easy task. 

In the spirit of keeping it lite, there will be no blurbs again this month. If you still haven't read the entries (and we really think you should!), follow this link to FREEDOM MORNING!

SHORT LIST

Choosing a shortlist is always tricky. After a lot of thought and debate, we chose the following short list and sent it on to our judge, Nick Wilford. If you don't see your entry here, don't be discouraged! The competition was fierce.

If you'd like to read these wonderful entries, click on the name to follow the link.

Jemima Pett

Jemi Fraser

Cie

Pat Garcia

Toi Thomas

Steph Wolmarans

Kalpanaa

Dixie Jo Jarchow

J Lenni Dorner

~*~

COMMENTING

Thank you to all who commented. Respectful, constructive, and thoughtful comments are vital to the success of WEP. Due to the nature of this challenge, with participants often baring their heart and soul, some comments were a little hard to take. I remind writers to state the level of critique you desire. And readers, keep your comments to the point and never be disrespectful. 

CRITIQUE PRIZE

The winner of each challenge gets the opportunity to receive a critique prize. They also get the opportunity to write a guest post for WEP. Our sidebar proudly displays everyone who is offering critique prizes for 2021. You are welcome to contact any of the editors with a request for work. 

This month's critique prize is brought to us by the wonderful Christine Rains. She's generously offering a 10,000k word critique to the winner. Thank you, Christine!

NOW, LET'S CONGRATULATE OUR WINNERS

THE WINNER OF APRIL'S 2021 CHALLENGE

FREEDOM MORNING IS:

Congratulations, Toi, for your entry, Good Freedom Dream.

Nick wrote: "This had such a quietly resigned tone to it. Measured, powerful and understated, but still making a big impact. A thought-provoking piece."

Toi, please link the badge to Good Freedom Dream and post it on your blog. Thank you for letting us know that you are unable to avail yourself of the critique prize this month and for kindly passing it on. We eagerly await your Guest Post!

~*~

THE RUNNER-UP OF APRIL'S 2021 CHALLENGE

FREEDOM MORNING IS:

Congratulations, Jemi, for your entry, Jardin. 

Nick wrote: "A note of hope to this one. Offsets some of the heavier pieces."

 

Jemi, please link the badge to Jardin and post it on your blog. You'll also be receiving this month's critique prize. Congratulations!

~*~

THE ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD WINNER FOR APRIL'S 2021 CHALLENGE, FREEDOM MORNING IS:

Congratulations, Dixie, for your stunning entry.

Nick wrote: "Like a gut punch, this one. But an important historical lesson to learn."

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

~*~

Stay safe and keep writing, everyone! We hope you'll join us for the June challenge, which is just around the corner. That challenge brings us...THE GREAT WAVE. Hope to see you there! Baffled about what to write? Check the CHALLENGES 2021 page above.

~*~

We'd love for you to tweet this post or share it to Facebook or your favorite social media site.

Read stunning entries from our WEP April 2021 winners @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @LGKeltner @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html  #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners

#WEPFF FREEDOM MORNING winners announced @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @LGKeltner @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners

Come congratulate our April winners. #WEPFF FREEDOM MORNING Challenge @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html

The #WEPFF writers had some fantastic entries! WEP winners announced! @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html

#WEPFF FREEDOM MORNING @DeniseCCovey @yolndarenee @OlgaGodim @LGKeltner #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html

Thank you for the writing excellence, WEP Winners! @LGKeltner @DeniseCCovey @yolandarenee @OlgaGodim #amwriting #flashfiction #wepwinners https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/05/winners-of-wep-freedom-morning.html

#WEP 2021 Continues the Artistic Inspiration-Freedom Morning! Sign up on this Post April 21

 

The link above opens for participation on April 21st!

Welcome to the 2nd Challenge of 2021!

Laura is your host for this month. All of us at WEP are hoping to see the usual robust challenge overflowing with creativity and inspiration. The world is still reeling from the events of the past year, but we hope all of you are finding joy in your lives despite the ever-present Covid-19 which just won't let go!

As only Direct Links are now posted, you don't have to add DL after your name. 

As always, the April challenge is taking place in the midst of the Blogging from A-Z April Challenge. We know this challenge is important to many of you, (just ask our own J Lenni Dorner!) and we want to encourage your participation! If you are taking part in that challenge, feel free to use the letter of the day, as well as whatever A-Z theme you've chosen, to inspire your WEP entry! On the 21st, the A-Z letter is R. On the 22nd, it's S. Then, on the 23rd, it's T. There's lots of room for creativity, and we know many of you will wow us with your stories which can do double duty!

Once again, we're going with WEP lite. That means:

There will be no...

• Comment counting. 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! We applaud you for reading as many posts as you were able.
• Blurbs. Blurbs are a lot of work. We'll hold off on them again until further notice. 
• Constant post monitoring. We'll still try to check the website and C-Box daily, but for urgent queries, email Denise at den.covey@gmail.com OR Laura at laura.gene.walker@gmail.com. That way we have the time zones covered.

There will continue to be...

• Shortlist and judging
• Winners' post announcement
• Winner's Guest post
• Mail Chimp emails to alert you to posts - please check your spam folder as our emails contain links - some email providers are over zealous and send them straight to spam! 
  

Prizes

WEP is continuing with the popular Critique Prize for the winner along with the regular Guest Post. Each challenge a different editor/author will offer their unique prize. Check out the sidebar for our 2021 offerings. Have some work ready! 

The April Prize is a 10,000k word critique from Christine Rains!

Her new release, Curse of the Hunted, will be available April 12th!

Author bio: Christine Rains is a writer, gamer, and geek mom. She has four degrees which help nothing with motherhood but make her a great Jeopardy player. You’ll find her either snuggled up with a book

or rolling dice with her friends in their latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign. She’s a proud member of S.C.I.F.I. and Untethered Realms. 

Social media: You can find Christine on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon.

You've got to be in it to win it!

THE APRIL CHALLENGE

Freedom Morning is a watercolour by Claude Clark, the African American artist and art educator, painted in 1941.

“As a child in the churches, the schools and the community, I dreamed of a destiny. My search became a single purpose for the dignity of Black Americans.”

Claude Clark was born in Georgia in 1915. His art characterises the African American diaspora experience. He faced prejudice, poverty and racism but did not allow these to deter him. He mixed his own paints from the trashed tubes in art schools. When he could not afford the expensive brushes and cleaning agents, he developed his unique technique with the palette knife. Read more about his remarkable life here.

The interpretation of art (and prompts!) is in the eye of the beholder and this artwork is rich with possibilities.

Will you let Freedom Morning spark a flash of hope for a systematically suppressed character?

Will someone break free - of chains, of the past, of a closed mindset - after years of living with them?

Or maybe someone will watch a brand new sunrise and come to a decision to start life afresh? Rise to a challenge?  :)  Overcome a hardship?

Take the artwork as a whole or in part and seed that into imagination. Your canvas is unlimited.

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

WEP writing prompt Freedom Morning @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/03/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html  Sign up April 21-23rd! #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry #nonfiction #amwriting #flashfiction #WEPFF #poetry

Get-your-thinking-caps-on for Freedom Morning @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/03/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html Sign up April 21-23rd! #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Join WEP @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the next Challenge of 2021, April’s Freedom Morning. Sign up and Post April 21-23rd! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/03/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html  #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

Write with @DeniseCCovey @YolandaRenee, @LGKeltner, @OlgaGodim  for the April challenge Freedom Morning! Sign up and post on April 21-23rd! https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/03/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html  #WEPFF #amwriting #flashfiction #poetry #nonfiction

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We are looking forward to seeing where this month's prompt takes you!

Your host for Freedom Morning

Laura, for the WEP team.