It was an abbreviated week here at yeah write

So many of us were affected one way or another by superstorm Sandy. This week, we have a little more than half of our usual number of participants on the grid and half the number of editors, readers and writers scoring the spreadsheets.

Thanks thanks and more thanks to those who made it through

Thanks to the 17 writers who found their way to the challenge grid this week. Out of those entries, we will be awarding a guest editor pick and the jury prize.

$100 Amazon gift card challenge final week postponed

Rain or shine, torrential downpour or earthquake, we will go forward with who we have for yeah write #82 as the final week of the challenge for the $100 Amazon gift card. Thanks for understanding about our being down a judge this week, but next week, we have an emergency plan in place. As long as nothing hits southeast Texas.

Guest editor pick by Louise Ducote

“Belated Birthday” by Courtenay at Soup

The opening of Courtenay’s post is a showing-not-telling classic: “The officer’s hands were so very small compared to his height and weight; I hadn’t noticed that when he wrote me the ticket two months earlier.” This hardworking image almost carries the post; Courtenay’s notice of the hands captures the startled way in which we see details when stressed, the small hands foreshadow that the officer will turn out to be less scary than the terrified young Courtenay thought, and they’re adeptly reprised when he pats the shaking young woman in the post’s resolution. The story brings a compelling narrative arc, a likable main character and interesting minor characters. I love seeing nonfiction written with the style and care more often applied to fiction; Courtenay does that beautifully here.

Jury prize winner

Well, look at that: it’s Courtenay again. Here are the liner notes on her entry from the three vote trackers submitted by readers and writers this week:

Reader 1: Decent story

Reader 2: I can always count on Courtenay for a strong opening, and I love this one. When stressed we notice details in a startled way, and she shows that beautifully without telling a thing. I think this could have been a tad shorter but since there’s no markdown for length-within-the-submission-guidelines, I’m giving it a perfect score. Nonfiction that reads like good fiction is always a treat.

Reader 3: Well written, well-told. Engaging & emotional

Congratulations on the double-win, Courtenay!

Thanks, Louise!

The yeah write editors want to thank our friend and guest editor Louise Ducote for stepping in for the past few weeks behind the scenes and, now, center stage with this week’s sole editor pick. She is a wonderful writer who has encouraged all of us to bring our best stuff to the grid. Please stop by her new space as she’s leaving Blogger for self-hosted WordPress at Hair of the Dogs. Leave some comments, help her test the joint. Thanks again, Louise. You’re the best.

Win-Win

The thumbnails are now sorted in the grid from most editor points awarded 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; just getting on the grid is an accomplishment these days. 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 accepting the weekly challenge. And for making yeah write the most welcoming spot on the Interwebs for writers who blog and bloggers who write.

Back at full strength, yeah write #82 opens Tuesday, the final week of the Amazon gift card challenge. Bring your best stuff. Bring your best friend. Until then, please stop by Flood’s speakeasy for even more posts to read and enjoy.

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