It’s about community and it’s about the challenge
When I first started lurking at yeah write in early 2012, what struck me most about it was the sense of community. People followed each other on Twitter, comments on each post were plentiful, and there was an undeniable electricity among the writers. I wanted in. Mainly because this didn’t seem to be the kind of place where you just dump your post on the grid then run away. At the time, the editors encouraged and expected the writers to visit each and every post on the grid.
Nothing has changed since then.
How can you vote responsibly if you haven’t read all the posts?
The bottom line is it is just not possible to vote responsibly if you haven’t read every post. You can’t pick your top five if you haven’t dropped in on every entry. It simply isn’t fair to the writers you skip. If you’re going to enter a submission, we ask that you be prepared to read every post in time to vote by 10pm EST on Thursday.
Yes, I know there can be up to 50 posts. Yes, I know you have a job/family/ice sculpture hobby. Yes, I know that you might think not everyone reads yours, so you might be a little resentful over having to read everyone else’s.
I know some hit the grid late, the time zones make a difference, insert your additional excuse here. I get it. We all have our hurdles. But, reading the entries is part of the challenge.
You don’t have to comment on every one, though, We get it. It’s fair to say everyone loves comments, but we don’t always have something to say. Comment when you can leave something thoughtful, relevant, provocative.
Open submissions this week, then going back to our moderated queue next week
There are three types of submissions we use here at yeah write; special event submissions where, as long as the blog is participating in that particular event we’re hosting, it’s published on the special event grid no questions asked. The next type is open submissions: the post is published to that week’s grid and can possibly be removed from the grid if it doesn’t meet our submission guidelines.
The third type is our fully moderated queue, meaning the submissions go directly into moderation and do not appear on the grid until our submissions editor releases them one by one. This will be the final week of open submissions as we move back to our moderated queue format under the direction of our brand new submissions editor. You will meet our new submissions editor this week if your post happens to fall outside our guidelines. He’ll introduce himself in your love letter. The rest of you will meet him next week as we introduce him in our Sunday kickoff for yeah write #147.
Why are we going back to the moderated queue? The integrity of the grid will be maintained as we encourage everyone to bring his or her best stuff. Beginning writers will get a better idea of what we mean by “so what” and “central conflict.” Emerging writers can only get better as our submissions editor helps them focus on their narratives. Our experienced writers will have stronger competition. Either way, it’s a win-win.
Become a yeah write supporting subscriber
We need your help. Yeah write is nothing without the community. I’ve mentioned it before, in this post even! And bringing your best work is the best way to the grid such a happening place. But there’s one other thing that keeps the community alive and the grid hopping, and that is money.
It’s reality that yeah write requires funding to keep going. All of the editors volunteer their time and most of us are supporting subscribers, which means we kick in some cash. But, it’s not enough. If you haven’t read Sunday’s post about becoming a supporting subscriber, please click through and see how you can help. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you for your support: financially, by your wonderful writing, and by telling your friends about what we do here.
Who’s on fourth? Yeah write on yeah write interview series
Did you happen to see we have a new feature here? We do! On the fourth Monday of every month, we’ll feature an interview of a yeah write superstar by a yeah write superstar! The first writer in the spotlight is Christie of The Outlaw Mama interviewed by Arden Ratliff of Musings of a Dancing Wino. If you’ve been on the grid in the last 100 weeks, you’ve probably read Christie 100 times since she’s been on 99 of those last 100 grids. Please stop by to show Christie and Arden some yeah write love.
Odds, ends, reminders
- The badge you will need to add to your planned submission is over in the sidebar
- This immediate past Sunday is the earliest your submission can be dated
- Your post can be no longer than 600 words
- Personal essays or traditional blog anecdotes only
- There are no weekly prompts; the topic is yours. Be compelling
- The grid is open from Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. to Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
- There is voting. Voting will take place Thursday from midnight to 10:00 p.m. US eastern
- The challenge grid is limited to 50 bloggers
- The winners’ post will be published by noon on Friday
- No self-promotional posts are allowed on the yeah write grid, including those containing links to other blog events and Internet contests
Yeah write #146 is open…
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