for writers who blog and bloggers who write
Gratitude
If you had told me back in 2012, back when I was thinking about submitting something to yeah write, that someday I’d be the editor in chief here, I’d have never believed you. And if you’d told me that the people I’d meet would become some of the most influential people and dearest friends and best colleagues I’d ever have, I extra wouldn’t have believed you. Yet, here we are. Nearly 5 years from my first submission and I’m overwhelmed by how much I love these people.
I’ve hinted at big things to come in 2017. We’re not quite ready for a full unveiling, but I think you’ll like them. What’s most important that you understand is that the people who work here are amazing, selfless people who give so much so we can build this space and keep building it bigger and better, month after month. Not only are they all talented writers, but they bring so many skills and insights and points of view to the table, and it makes this a great place to work.
Some nights, my vision for yeah write won’t let me sleep. I’m so excited about what’s to come and that I get to work with these people. I don’t know what I’d do without them both here, in this space, and out in the world. I owe them all so much. I wanted you to know that. I wanted them to know that, too.
So here’s to a new year. Thanks for being a part of this community (because we’re still nothing without you). I can’t wait for what’s to come.
Yeah write super challenge
The yeah write super challenge #2 may be over and done with, but stay tuned for news for the next one coming in early 2017! Make sure you sign up for our email blast so you don’t miss out on any announcements regarding super challenge #3.
The basics
Yeah write gives you two competitive challenge grids — nonfiction and fiction|poetry — both of which are unmoderated. Everyone gets to the voting round on Thursday. (Remember, your post must be dated appropriately, not be offensive to our audience, and cannot be over word count.) Got a question? E-mail us, tweet us, ping us on Facebook, or visit our online community, the yeah write coffeehouse. You can learn more about yeah write in our FAQ. Please make sure you are familiar with our submission guidelines before you enter. We don’t have a lot of rules, but we do enforce them across the board. We’d hate to see anyone get disqualified by a technicality.
Bring us your personal essays and creative nonfiction!
The nonfiction challenge grid opens on Monday at midnight EST. This is the best place on the ‘net to showcase your best writing. Make us laugh, make us cry, make us think, and above all: make us care.
Nonfiction know-how: connections
This month’s nonfiction know-how is learning the difference between navelgazing and reaching outward. That is, as storytellers we’re at our finest when it’s not about us, it’s about the reader. So when you write an introspective post, think about saying instead of “am I the only one who feels like this,” you should be saying “I feel like this too, you are not alone.” Learn more from Rowan here.
Is fiction more your thing?
The fiction|poetry grid opens on Tuesday. Grab a mic and join our monthly poetry slam or check out our weekly prompt up!
Prompt up!
Prompt up is our optional weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here’s how it works: we announce a sentence prompt from last week’s winning nonfiction Post. It’s your job to use that prompt in your story or poem in some way. Feel free to use it as your first sentence, move it somewhere else, change it, or float down it to other territories.
Christine told us about a childhood friend in her essay Rebel Alliances. The prompt up taken from her work is: “We shrank down into the puckered green vinyl of the seats.”
January poetry slam: the couplet
A good couplet acts almost like a microstory. Are you able to set up a scene and an interaction all in the space of two lines? For this month’s slam, you’ll be trying to do just that. Learn more from Rowan here.
Winners’ round-up
In case you missed them, you can find last week’s yeah write staff picks and crowd favorites all laid out for you on Friday’s winners’ post. Leave the winners some love in the comments. They will love you right back, we guarantee it.
Weekend writing showcase
The weekend’s not over: the weekend writing showcase is still open. Have something to add? Old posts and new are welcome. No moderation, no voting. It’s a laid-back relaxed kind of place. Just leave your commercial or sponsored posts at home. Drop by, share your work, and while you’re there, visit your fellow yeah writers.