New to yeah write this week? Welcome!

Well hello there, newbies! Two of you joined us as yeah write virgins this week, and we welcome each of you with a high-five and maybe a strawberry sucker. We hope you’ll come back again and join this amazing community, where we look forward to getting to know you more through your writing and participation. This really is the best place to hone your writing while forming supportive relationships.

Though we had a smaller grid this week, 19 of you joined us with some fantastic pieces. Just shy of unlocking the third vote, the competition was pretty tight this week. 

Now on to this week’s writing and community spirit awards:

Crowd favorite 

“When I Grow Up…” by Karen from Fat Girl in Boxing Gloves

This week’s crowd favorite was a stunning piece about the many ways to tell a story, and how speaking them aloud isn’t one of the author’s preferred methods. She sets the scene in a way that isn’t overly descriptive, but with robust images that make you feel like you’re there in the quirky town with her. It’s casually told, the tone resembling a conversation over a cup of coffee, but layered with amusing ironies and observations on the many differences between people. 

Karen, congratulations! Make sure you pick up your nifty prize badge from the sidebar.

Congratulations also to Genna Claire from writeamuck, who rounded out our top row with another excellent piece. You both deserve a round of applause from all of us!

The kiwi of the week

Look at Kevin the kiwi. He is so earnest, with his stylish scarf and hipster hat. Don’t you just want to pet him? Well, this week the kiwi was selected by moi, editor Natalie D, and goes to Shantelle for This is the Truth. Partly, I was impressed by clarity of philosophy expressed by one so young (heck, I’m still learning the truths in that piece), and partly it’s a manifesto done well, which is a rarity. Her own story is infused throughout, and she does this with a light touch, simple language and potent examples. Shantelle, congratulations, and welcome to yeah write! Go pick up your snazzy badge from the sidebar.

Comment Bob is waving those pom-poms

Bob is a sincere penguin who cheers for you on the sidelines with vigor and pep, and this week he’s rooting especially for Alisa from Ice Scream Mama. Alisa, a regular yeah write participant, reflects the yeah write spirit in her continual support, commenting and reading. Way to go, Alisa! Pick up your badge in the sidebar, and thanks for supporting your fellow bloggers.

Weekend moonshine grid opens today at 6 p.m. eastern time

It’s the weekend, and I will shortly be setting up the moonshine grid and bathtub gin just for you. The moonshine grid is the flip side of our weekly challenges: a no-stress link-up where we accept anything except commercial or sponsored posts. You can even bring your families along; just keep an eye on those little ones. “Family-free” does not apply here. You can catch up with me starting at 6 p.m. eastern time today. Closing time is midnight on Monday. 

Win-win

The thumbnails are now sorted in the grid from most votes to the least. In the case of a tie, the thumbnails are additionally sorted by page views.

Do not be discouraged if your blog has landed near the bottom of the grid; especially if it was a tight race. The fun lies in getting better exposure for your blog and, in the spirit of competition, an incentive to improve your writing and blogging skills. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.

Thanks again, everybody, for submitting, for reading, and for accepting the weekly writing challenge. And for making yeah write the most welcoming spot on the Interwebs for writers who blog and bloggers who write.

Before you go

Remember to congratulate this week’s winners in the comments. Give your favorite posts a little love in the comments and let them know you rooted for their post. We are a community here, and we support one another like good communities do.

Whew! Another week of family-free writing, and you guys handled it beautifully, stretching yourselves and coming up with some diverse, entertaining writing. For two more weeks, all three challenge grids – this one, the speakeasy, and the gargleblaster – will remain off-limits to all relatives – mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, grandparents, spouses, and anyone related to you by blood, marriage, or other legal contract. No. Family. Let’s see where the creativity takes us, and how far we can develop as writers.

Yeah write #160 opens with the kickoff post on Sunday, the gargleblaster on Monday, and the challenge grid and speakeasy fiction jam on Tuesday. Be sure you’ve subscribed to our email list to get notice when prompts are posted, grids open, and voting begins. It’s easy to do! Just sign up right here. And then come back and bring your best writing to the best writing community around!

See you next week.

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