Are you settled back in?

Who here planned to hit the ground running in 2015, had an amazing Monday and then by the end of the day was a complete pile of mush with virtually nothing to show for it? Show of hands? This is me hoping I’m not alone.

I had so many big goals for last week. I made lists and more lists. My eyes got a little bigger than my stomach, so to speak, though. In making all my grandiose plans, I ended up overwhelming myself. Just a week earlier, I had discussions with people about how to tackle a large project (and what is a resolution but a large project, right?). My advice was the same to everyone: break it down into smaller, more achievable goals so that you don’t get discouraged. Then I promptly did the exact opposite.

Was your goal for the new year to get an editor’s pick or crowd favorite? Did you get so caught up in trying to write the absolute perfect essay that you didn’t even submit? We say we want to see your best work, but that’s going to take time to cultivate. For many of us here at yeah write, we worked our way up from love letters and the bottom of the grid. But there’s no way to break through those obstacles if you don’t make the first step of submitting.

And I’m not just talking to the new folks. Did you tank last week? The week before? Keep submitting. Keep working at it so that you can improve. This is another time when there just is no other way.

First time here?

Yesterday’s kickoff post tells you everything you need to know about all of yeah write. We tell you about the schedule, upcoming events and get you ready for the week ahead.

Have questions you can’t find the answer to by poking around the site? Email us or find us on Facebook or Twitter and we’ll happily help you out.

Just the basics

If you thought skipping down to this section was going to get you out of reading yesterday’s kickoff post, boy, were you mistaken! Honestly, it’s the best way to get all the info about what’s happening here at yeah write, what’s going on with our other challenges (fiction|poetry; microstories), and anything else noteworthy. We find it’s a great way to start the week, so please do have a look-see, won’t you?

Today the grid opens for our nonfiction writing challenge. There is a limit of 500 words plus 100 words grace. The nonfiction challenge closes Wednesday at 9:59 p.m. US Eastern. Voting opens one hour later for both our readers and our editorial staff. On Friday, we will publish editorial picks and announce the popular vote winner.

The ultimate question: what do you hear in these sounds?

Our microstory challenge opens each Wednesday and in it we ask that you answer the ultimate question in exactly 42 words. But our questions are also available to you as an optional prompt in this nonfiction challenge and in our fiction|poetry challenge which opens each Tuesday.

As an optional prompt, you can choose to let it inspire your nonfiction entry or not. It’s all up to you.

The yeah write #196 weekly writing challenge is open for nonfiction: personal essays, creative opinion, mostly true stories based on actual events. You can check out the submission guidelines and join us with your essay using the link below.