#WEPFF - 2016 CHALLENGES & ROMANCE

Happy New Year!

As everyone gets the New Year off to a great start, your hosts have been working on the details for WEP 2016 challenges. Here's the new menu and a link to the 2016 Challenges Page which is still under construction, but the dates and prompts for each challenge are listed. We hope you'll put WEP on your calendar and get your muse flowing with the possibilities.

Our first challenge is all about that elusive or not-so-elusive icon of love, the Valentine.

• Does it hold special meaning, or is it just another day? 
• Do you have not-so-fond memories such as the angst of young love waiting for a Valentine's card from a schoolyard crush? 
• Were you the one who missed out while all your friends got loads of cards? 
• Or were you filled with glee that your Valentine' Day cache was overflowing while your friends looked on, filled with jealousy?
• Did you have a nasty boyfriend or girlfriend who texted on Valentine's Day to break up?
• Alternatively, did you have a husband or wife, the romantic at heart, who surprised you with a secret Valentine's Day trip to the place of your dreams?

These are just a few examples to get your creative juices going. None of the above needs to have happened to you...they are just possible scenarios for those unsure how to proceed.

Of course, you don't have to write a fictional story at all! Plenty of other options.

Poetry – Valentine's Day is all about the poetry – I doubt our poets need any prompting here.

For a visual piece, do you have a Valentine's tale that goes along with a saved Valentine, or one you created on your own – share it and tell us the story behind it? A Valentine's Card used as a post, created or real, would be a stand out.

Alternatively, post a picture of love or something that signifies what the holiday means to you or someone close to you or someone completely imagined.

We also know there are anti-valentine folks out there, and that's fine too. Tell us why and how you celebrate love or lack thereof, without the need for a holiday.

For a non-fiction piece or that tale of fiction, 1000 words or less is the suggested limit. 

Can't get enough of Valentine writing challenges???

THEN THERE'S THIS!!!!!


We'll post the Linky for sign-ups to our very own WEP challenge on the 1st February. Don't forget to sign on, and remember it's the same day as posts go live for the Lost & Found Blogfest being held by Guilie and Arlee.


You can learn more about the Lost & Found and sign up  HERE.

We can't pass up a blogfest about romance so we're helping by being co-hosts.

Help us Celebrate Loves Lost & Found!

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

Celebrate Loves Lost & Found with @Guilie73 @ArleeBird  @AlexJCavanaugh  @eseckman @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/2016/01/lost-found-valentines-edition-blog-hop.html

Share your story of love lost  @Guilie73 @ArleeBird @AlexJCavanaugh  @eseckman @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/2016/01/lost-found-valentines-edition-blog-hop.html

Share your story of first love  @Guilie73 @ArleeBird @AlexJCavanaugh  @eseckman @YolandaRenee & @DeniseCCovey http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/2016/01/lost-found-valentines-edition-blog-hop.html

PLEASE JOIN US FOR NOT ONE, BUT TWO, 
VERY SPECIAL BLOGFESTS 
TO KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR!


REMEMBER: The Lost & Found blogfest posts on February 1st
The WEP Valentine blogfest posts between February 17th- 19th

#WEPFF- HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS that are out of this world!

December is the month of celebrations worldwide, below is a list of just a few. For this challenge, we want you to give your favorite celebration a Science Fiction twist. This month's judge is Alex J. Cavanaugh, author of the Cassa Series and Dragon of the Stars.

Winter Holidays Around the World

Diwali - Recently celebrated, Diwali is also known as the festival of light is celebrated at the start of winter in India, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Fiji.

Hanukkah - Also known as Channukkah is a 'Festival of Lights'. One of the most important Jewish holidays.

Boxing Day - Also known as St. Stephen's Day, is celebrated the day after Christmas. On this day it is common to give gifts to the poor and needy.

Las Posadas - This is a traditional winter holiday celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala and Southern parts of United States of America.

St. Nicholas Day - This day is especially celebrated in Northern Europe on December 6. St. Nicholas was a protector of the weak against the rich and the strong.

St. Lucias Day - This is a winter holiday celebrated on December 13 in Sweden in honor of St. Lucia, who lived in the third century and is regarded as the patron of light.

Eid-al-Adha - This is a feast that is celebrated by Muslims, to commemorate Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, Ishmael, at the behest of God.

Kwanzaa - Literally meaning 'First Fruits', this has its basis on an ancient harvest festival of Africa which celebrates ideals like collective responsibility and work; self-determination; co-operation; purpose; creativity; faith; and unity.

Hogmanay - This is a Scottish word which means the last day of the year and is basically celebrating the New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar, in the Scottish way.

Japanese New Year - New Year celebration is one of the most major events in Japan. New Year's Eve is known as Omisoka in Japan. The Japanese spend a lot of time shopping and cleaning their houses in preparation for the new year. This symbolizes getting rid of the past and starting afresh.

For this month, we want you to take us out of this world, whether in a flash fiction piece, a non-fiction piece, a poetic interlude, maybe a photograph or an artwork with an otherworldly flavor and explanation for how it relates to the challenge. This time the sky's not the limit! Think on some of the holidays above and if you need more prompting, remember these are merely suggestions and in no way have to turn up in your entry.

Further prompts:

What if space travel was necessary?

- The world is succumbing to the abuse of its population, and flights to other planets occur regularly...or

- It's simply an opportunity to travel to other planets, say for vacation, a job opportunity, or because it's always been a dream, but you depart or arrive during the Holidays.

- How would you write a farewell scene that takes place on that special Holiday? It could be lovers, families, or friends that are departing.

- What if your job is the Entertainment Director of a new settlement? You have a diverse population, what would you do to celebrate the 'holidays' of the crowd or would you imagine an entire new celebration?

So, scriveners, use your experience, memories, or your out-of-control imagination to write a Holiday Celebration that is out of this World! Or a farewell that is of this world!

December 16 – 19

1000 words or less

Don't forget to share the Challenge!

Tweet one of these:

Do you have an idea for a Holiday celebration that's out of this world @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee join us http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/12/wepff-holiday-celebrations-that-are-out.html #WEPFF

Flash Fiction a Holiday that's out of this world What planet would you visit?@DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/12/wepff-holiday-celebrations-that-are-out.html #WEPFF

How would you celebrate the New Year in Space? Holiday Flash Fiction Challenge @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/12/wepff-holiday-celebrations-that-are-out.html #WEPFF

The Inlinkz code – if you want to add to your blog!

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<script type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=585845"></script>

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#WEPFF - HALLOWEEN WINNERS - Wrap-up post!

This was a truly awesome blog hop. A successful challenge with amazing examples of childhood scares, thoughtful conversations regarding fear and the true monsters that haunt us, with plenty of excellent horror stories perfect for Halloween. The visiting of other's blogs was much better this time, but in case you missed any, let's do a quick recap.

Starting with my partner, Denise Covey's thrilling Beauty and the Beast tale, to L. G. Keltner's scary stranger on the porch, tap, tap, tapping, or LauraClipson's ghost story that teaches us not to ever say aloud that we don't believe in ghosts, lest we become haunted!

Then there's Sally Stackhouse's heartfelt tale of Sean and his grandma discussing the possibility of ghosts, goblins, and witches and Michelle Wallace's drabble about the descent into madness, or Nilanjana Bose's unique take on the sale of mother's milk. What a scary proposition.

Remember the Druid Princess's revenge in Deborah Drucker's tale, or Robyn Campbell's poem inspired by her years of spending Halloween staring in a window, and D G Hudson's sleepwalking, cemetery-seeking child, a mother's worst nightmare.

Who could have guessed that a body shop could be so frightening? Madilyn Quinn did, and then Olga Odim brought us the humor of a naked mermaid costume, and J Lenni Dorner taught us the reason for counting to ten, a very scary reason.

Feather Stone gave us an excerpt with a woman willing to fight for her life, and Roland Yeoman's made us all shiver with the vengeful ghosts of Lakota lore, and then there's Arpan Ghosh's tale that warns not only the children, but adults too--do not talk to strangers!

C. Lee McKenzie reminded us how it feels when we forget to buy that bag of candy before the monsters arrive, and Kate McManus reminded us what a great storyteller Charles Dickens was, while Toi Thomas showed us a monster beyond evil.

In addition, the amazing Samantha Redstreake Geary gave us a feast for the ears, eyes, and heart with a new version of Hansel & Gretel, and Raelene Purtill reminded us how smothering it can feel to be in a crowd, while Bish Denham gave us a moving gravesite.

Jeff Whichello introduced us to the man-eating skunk monster alleged to exist today, and Patrick Coholan reminded us the terror a ticking clock can inspire, or that coveting the grocer could lead to a werewolf attack. Gah!

Hart Johnson created a discussion about fear, and Nancy Williams told us a true ghost story, and Donna Hole (dolorah) reminded us that the true monsters are real--very, very real, and could be our neighbor.

Ellis Moore (desk49) gave us a frightening tale of a murderous twin connection, and Queensheena introduced us to the Rotten Family's dysfunction. Each tale a delightful horror, at times funny reminder that nightmares do come true. From this amazing collection, maybe we can find a ghost story or two to be shared around that next campfire. Excellent work all!

And over to Denise...let's start and finish with your hosts!

Thanks Yolanda for the wrap up. Now how about Yolanda Renee's story, folks? Starts off with a delicious soak in lavender bubbles and ends with an ax(e) murderer coming at ya! Gah! What a chilling expose of the beast in the basement childhood fear. 

Thank you, all of you for your amazing posts.

This is one Halloween Challenge 

for the record books - such amazing stories! 

Are you getting ready for the month of NaNoWriMo?

We are and then we're back for the December Challenge 

Holiday Celebrations that are out of this world! 

But before that look for

the winners announcement.

 on Wednesday!

Happy Halloween!

WEP First Challenge -- SPECTACULAR SETTINGS -- sign up here!

August 19 - SPECTACULAR SETTINGS.

This first challenge has two parts. You may do both parts or just one. Your choice.

For this challenge you will:

1.    Firstly share a paragraph from a novel, or an extract from a poem, or a photograph that stopped your heart with a spectacular setting etc. 

2.    Describe how your chosen 'setting' spoke to you. Why did you like it?

3.    Then you have the option to:

     a)     write your own 'setting' piece in any genre, or share a ‘setting’ from your WIP, or…

     b)     write your own poem which highlights 'setting', or 

     c)     share a photograph that blows you away every time you look at it and tell us why.

     d)     share an artwork that shows a 'setting' you love and tell us why you love it.

     e)     write a small playscript which highlights 'setting'.

Here is the InLinkz code if you want to paste onto your blog:

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<script type="text/javascript" src="//www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=549556"></script>

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Don't forget to share the Challenge

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

Spectacular Settings Flash Fiction Challenge Link is up Join us! @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee join the fun  http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/08/wep-first-challenge-spectacular.html #WEPFF

 Time to get serious about the Spectacular Settings Challenge Sign up now!  @DeniseCCovey and @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/08/wep-first-challenge-spectacular.html #WEPFF

Link to Spectacular Settings Flash Fiction Challenge August 19 - Prizes awarded @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/08/wep-first-challenge-spectacular.html #WEPFF

WEP challenges for 2015. Why we believe in WEP.

Hello there!

Denise here. It's taken awhile to get to our second post, but Yolanda has had edits of her third novel, and I've been travelling up and down New Caledonia. You can check out my trip here. Now Yolanda's edits are all but done and I'm back, so let's get down to the fun part of WEP.

We present to you our Challenge Badge for what remains of 2015. As you see there are only three. We don't want to wear you out, so we'll go slow. This way there's plenty of time for you to participate in other challenges you may be involved in, and of course, November is NaNoWriMo for most of us.

OUR CHALLENGE BADGE:

We'd love it if you would copy this badge and post it onto your blog .

You are most welcome to post it in a blog post to help promote WEP.

For this we would be very grateful. Just send us a link so we can visit your blog!

So on August 19, we have our first challenge, Spectacular Settings. Very soon I will publish a post on settings as a prelude to our challenge. Meanwhile, think about some aspect of setting that comes to you. As you know, you are welcome to post flash fiction, non fiction, poetry, photographs, artwork...go for it, but try to keep under the 1,000 word limit. 

Our Halloween challenge, Youthful Frights Vs Adult Fears, will be posted early, so you can participate in other Halloween challenges if you wish. Yolanda is the horror Queen, so she has taken charge of this one! As well as a winner's badge, there will be an Amazon $10 gift card to the entry that catches our eye and disturbs our dreams!

The December challenge, Holiday Celebrations that are out of this world, will have a definite sci-fi flavour, so that will be an excellent way for those of us who don't write in this genre to think outside the square. It will be fun!

For further information on all three challenges, click on the page above. 

Now as mentioned in our previous post, there will be judges for each challenge, and we will return to the RFW (RomanticFridayWriters) idea of choosing a WINNER,  a RUNNER UP, and an ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD for each challenge. A guest judge will read through our 3 choices, then decide on the winning order. There will also be a wrap up of each entry.

HERE ARE THE WINNER'S BADGES:

Can't you just see your name and a link to your story on one of these?

WHY WE BELIEVE IN WEP:

So in case you're wondering, why do we feel so passionately about running an online writing challenge group? Let's try to put our passion into words...

Writing prompts are designed to help us start writing. And I don't just mean fiction. You may be a poet, a creative non fiction writer, an essayist. It doesn't matter. Sure, most who accept the WEP challenge write either flash fiction or poetry, but all writing is creative. Many creative writers use prompts every day to get into the writing groove. Some call these exercises free writing. Once they've jump-started their writing, they often move on to their WIP, energised and refreshed. 

Not that anyone here suffers from writer's block, but just say you did, a writing prompt can hasten the return of your muse. Sometimes when nothing else works, a writing exercise will! 

The best part of writing challenges such as we host here at WEP, is that your entry could be edited, rewritten, transformed into a longer piece, a short story, or even a novel. Many of us have had this experience. And it all started with a writing challenge, a very powerful tool.

Often someone leaves a comment about how we have improved as a writer with each challenge. It's true. We learn our craft by writing to prompts and editing for clarity and a word limit. Sentence structure, paragraphing, punctuation, grammar, dialogue...all can be improved in this little writer's laboratory. 

Hi folks, Yolanda here. Are those badges awesome or what? Kudos to Denise. She out-did herself with those! As a collector of old typewriters, that Winner's badge is way too cool!

Just popping in to say Hi! and let you and Denise know that first edits are done, so my attention is back on WEP. And to reiterate Denise--I know first hand that participating in Flash Fiction challenges are an excellent way of honing our writing skills. When you have to write a story with a beginning, middle and ending in only 1,000 words, well, it's called a challenge for a reason. Cutting, tightening, and rewriting until only the meat of the story remains, is a skill your editors will appreciate.

Please join us. We promise to make the journey informative, rewarding and fun!

Don't forget to share the Challenge!

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

#WEPFF 2015 Challenges and dates are now up join the WEP Flash Fiction Challenge http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we-believe.html  @DeniseCCovey &@YolandaRenee  

#WEPFF The first Challenge is Spectacular Settings – join the fun on August 19  http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we believe.html  @DeniseCCovey &  @YolandaRenee

#WEPFF Winners badges designed by Denise are Perfection! Join the WEP to win at http://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2015/07/wep-challenges-for-2015-why-we-believe.html  @DeniseCCovey & @YolandaRenee