Hello, hello, hello, wow, what a wacky week! Let’s get to it…

Virgins!

There were six on the challenge grid and four, so far, on the hangout grid. The hangout grid is still open and will be until Sunday morning. If you know someone who’d like to get his or her feet wet, please show the way. It’s over there.

Editor’s choice by Erica M

I’ve really enjoyed how Stephanie at People Doing Things with Their Lives starts her posts with a personal story, then segues into spotlighting a good cause. This week, she highlighted certain injustices that were righted or are currently being righted by ordinary people who needed their voices heard. It was a wonderful piece of writing that touched me right away and stayed with me throughout the week. Congrats, Stephanie, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Flood G

“Pish Posh’s submission about not one, but three difficult work interviews is a slow, comedic journey that had me wincing in sympathy when I wasn’t giggling in empathy. Showing a wonderful balance of personality, from potential Nobel laureate to socially awkward penguin, the last committee to sit with her had to be dazzled; isn’t that what the world of Academia is all about? I’m watching for an update that the call came with an offer of employment. I’m convinced her tramp stamp had to seal the deal. Kidding aside, I wish you the best of luck, Pish Posh. The waiting is the worst part.”

Congrats, PP, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Emma T

“So, what if I have a favorite child? I’m glad Hot Mess Mom and I have something in common. It makes me feel good to know that I’m not the only momma out there to have a favorite. I love both of my kids with everything I have, but one of the two strikes a fancy in me. Our oldest is everyone’s favorite…Dad, grandparents, friends…EVERYONE. The youngest; however, is no one’s “favorite”. They’re both precious children, but the youngest is a giver and a lover—my lover. He has my heart wrapped so tightly and whatever he wants, I’m there to give it to him.”

Congrats, Hot Mess Mom, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Jennifer W

“My pick this week is Polhkotte Press’ Birthing Warrioress. Pure poetry and heart, Tara’s writing blows the page wide open with descriptions of her daughter: ‘She is the holy reverence of natives dancing with their shadows around open flames.’ The photos work perfectly with this piece as well: all breathtaking. What a gorgeous celebration of birth and the immensity of a mother’s love. I can’t wait to read more about this little girl’s path and all of the things she’s going to teach her mama.”

Congrats, Tara, on the win.

Lurker’s favorite by Jordan H

Bonus pick! Testing out my safety net in case one of our lurking judges is ever caught in traffic, falls into a chocolate-induced coma, or is no longer speaking to me, I asked my teenager to choose her favorite from the challenge grid. Grace and acquiescence under pressure, Jordan chose Just Jennifer’s Hospital Hour post. Instead of reading the grid in order, she chose by most inviting avatar and, out of her top ten, she was struck most by Jennifer’s tone and pace as Jennifer recounted being at her husband Mark’s side pre-surgery. Jordan’s feeling was that Jennifer wrote with empathy for Mark and seemed like a good mom, a good person, and she’d feel safe with her in a scary situation.

Congrats, Jen, on the bonus win.

Popular vote by the entire Internet if the entire Internet is about 250 people

Kristin at Mondays with Mac won the popular vote with a post about how fast her son Mac has grown in nine months and, yet, how time moves slowly enough for her enjoy this time with him. Congrats, Kristin, on the win.

Random drawing for a week-long ad square on yeah write

Random.org chose #28 which, post-voting and at the time of this writing, is Jackie at Not Wifezilla. Jackie, if you’d like to spotlight your blog, small business or pet project, please send me the link and a 125×125 banner and it will remain in the sidebar for yeah write #57. Congrats!

Win-win

The thumbnails are now sorted in the grid from most yellow star votes to the least. In the case of a tie, like if four blogs all got seven votes each, the thumbnails are additionally sorted by page views. Do not be discouraged if your blog has landed near the bottom of the grid; it is always a tight race. The fun lies in getting better exposure for your blog and in the spirit of competition as incentive to improve your writing and blogging skills. It’s a win-win for everybody involved.

Thanks again, everybody, for linking up, for reading, for voting. And for making yeah write the most welcoming spot on the Interwebs for writers who blog and bloggers who write.

Yeah write #57 opens Tuesday.