The YWP Journal

Scrolling through Games and Silliness, I was stricken at the amount of threads titled along the lines of “________’s NaNoFic”. To the eye of a newcomer or someone deciding to check out G&S for the first time, that thread would seem pretty confusing. So what are NaNoFics anyways, and why are there so many? (Also yes anyone reading this who’s in my NaNoFic I’m just procrastinating I’ll get the next chapter up soon asdfghjk) Anyways, NaNoFics are basically interactive fan fictions of other users on the YWP. The author starts a NaNoFic by making a thread for it and asking for characters. If a user is interested, they can fill out a character form and the author will use their character in the story. Note: NaNoFics can also be spelled Nanofics, NaNofics, or any variation. DragonWingedBean and several other users have worked together to make 'a fairly comprehensive list of all NaNoFics around', and there is also a FAQ for NaNoFics buried somewhere in G&S. Are you interested i...

"Paradox," Maia announced. Jimmy looked up in surprise. "What?"  "Paradox," Maia said. "Look, promise not to tell anyone about this?"  Jimmy considered this, then nodded. "I promise."  Maia sighed. "I found this book in Lolo's library. I've read all the books there, but I'd never seen it before. It was my mom's journal."  Jimmy nodded, pretending to listen.  "But here's the thing. Mama said that I was a child of paradoxes and possibilities. What would she mean by that?"  Now Jimmy was interested. "Wait, so you think this has anything to do with your missing brothers?"  Maia nodded slowly. "We were all there, but he only took my brothers. Why is that?" she wondered.  "Maybe... He couldn't." Ashley suggested, twirling her cinnamon colored hair. Jimmy nodded and pushed up his glasses. "Interesting theory, Ashley. Why would you think that?" Ashley...

Nanowrimo isn't all  writing-based! There is an art community too, where Nanoers can share their art, participate in collaborations and art fights, trade artworks, and more! Here are some threads and posts that stand out in the artsy part of Nanowrimo. In April of 2019, a thread appeared on the Art Class forum under the name, "Planning a YWP MAP (Multi-Animator-Project". Clicking on this thread lead to a brilliant idea where anyone, regardless of past experience or skill, could contribute a part to Nano's very own Multiple Animator Project, to the song High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco. The project has been going for quite some time, and only a few more parts are needed to complete the MAP. One part in particular stood out to me from the MAP. I thought Rosa's part looked gorgeous and it was clear she'd spent a lot of time and effort on it. Her background went really well with the lyrics in her part, and her OC looked really cute too! Thanks for y...

Hello good friends! Today we will be reviewing The Secret Garden. Published in 1911 by Frances Hodgson Burnett, it's a fantastic book about enjoying the outdoors and how much a good friend can help someone out. The good message and excellent writing make it a beloved classic still read today, over 100 years later. She also wrote "The Little Princess" and "Little Lord Fauntleroy," both books I have read and enjoyed, though I believe this is her best one. With its folksy characters and low-key plot, this book is perfect for readers who want to read at a slower pace. It talks a lot about the benefits of being outside and being kind to animals, but it doesn't feel overly preachy. The main characters are Mary, a sickly Indian girl, Dickon, a boy who can talk to animals, and Colin, the son of the master of the house. Together they bring a secret garden to life, becoming as strong and bright as the roses they grew within the ivy-covered walls. I, personall...

Instructions: Use the prompt to write freely, whether it be in a notepad or on a computer, for five to ten minutes. Don't go back to edit, don't worry about any mistakes, just write! See where your imagination takes you.  Prompt: It's been a long day, and you can't wait to get home. You're walking down a crowded sidewalk beside a loud road, 'excuse me's and car horns filling the air, when you recognize one of the people coming your way. Who are they to you? Do you stop and try to get their attention? Do you duck your head and hope they don't see you? What is your reaction?

Why it's never a good idea to trash your work Have you ever been going through an old notebook, or clearing old files off a computer, and run across an old piece of  trash  sorry, writing? You might start skimming it and question what sort of mental state you were in when you wrote that piece, or you might have a laugh and send it to some friends with a couple lol's and laughing emojis. It's what happens after the initial shock that I want to talk about. That sense of "I hate this and want to watch it burn". Never throw away old work. Never  ever  get rid of old work. Reach deep inside your brain and unlock that primitive hoarder instinct and keep all those awful stories and essays in little piles around your house. The instant you forget how horrible you used to be when it comes to writing is the instant you will no longer recognize your progress. Writing isn't about being good the first time, it's about gradually gett...

    Scrolling through Groups and Clubs, I notice some odd thread titles: 'the cult of birdy', 'The cult Of words' and 'Diz’s nice, spam-free, pleasantly-normal, sandwich not-cult'. What are these threads? Why the sudden obsession with cults? I had the same question, however, I'm too shy to ask anyone about it. So instead, let's trawl through the forums and find out.     The Cult Of Birdy and the Turtle Army were both founded on July 17, 2019, by Nano users free_birdy and blueturtle247, respectively. Some degree of playful animosity exists between the two groups, however, on July 18, the two leaders made a pact. When they took over the world, the Turtles would rule the seas, the Birdies would have the sky, and the earth itself would exist as a middle ground. World domination appears to be a common theme in these cults. This is also seen in the Cult of Words.     The Cult of Words was founded on September 8 by damwords. While they're ...

Click, click, click. Scritch, scratch.  Those are the sounds of imagination pouring onto a page. It might be hard, sometimes, to get the words flowing, but persevere! Your writing doesn't have to be perfect, and it doesn't have to be 200,000 words long if you love what you're doing.  If you are running dry, or completely burnt out, don't be afraid to give yourself a break. A walk, a chat, any task that gives your creative brain a rest can be exactly what you need to get back on your feet. Remember, no one else's story is like yours. Your world, your characters, your plot: all of it is unique. When you begin to doubt your ability to give your thoughts life on a page, know that someone out there wants to read your story and is just waiting for you to find the words. So write your story and form your own world, be it high fantasy, romance, thriller, or flash fiction, because no one else can do it quite like you can. You are the only person in the enti...

By PumpkinToastBean (Alex) On Nanowrimo YWP we have a biweekly songwriter's contest. The winner of this week's contest is Azzie's song: "Be In My Masquerade," and the lyrics are emotionally empowering. "If we dance and Weave a basket of lies When you open your eyes Will you be alright? Would you recognize fake? Embrace it anyway? Would you still hold me? Would you want to stay? Would wanna stay? Be in my masquerade I’ve impersonated rainbows And been the twinkle in your eye But you peel away my mask And I think it makes you cry Would you hold the crumbling pieces Of the girl you thought you knew? Don’t be afraid to be surprised I thought I knew her, too So if we dance And I unveil my eyes Will your skin go pale? Will you still be mine? Will you recognize fake? Embrace it anyway? Will you take off your mask End our masquerade? Please end our masquerade" I, Alex, was the judge of the...

Writing can be difficult sometimes, and the journalists of the YWP understand that fully. Thus, every Sunday, a new writing prompt (and quote) will be uploaded here to provide you with inspiration! Image Source Today's quote: "You can make anything by writing," --C.S. Lewis Today's writing prompt : "The last dandelions of summer danced in the frozen wind." How did you use today's prompt? Leave a comment below and let us know! Have an idea for a prompt? Leave it below and it may be chosen next Sunday!