Old whores, little dogs and the yeah write way

The other day I read an old short story by Gabriel García Márquez, one I had somehow missed in a collection I’ve owned a long time and have read from at random. It’s called “Maria Dos Prazeres” and is about an old whore and her little dog and I could not figure out the ending. Thought about it. Googled analyses of it, didn’t find much and rejected what I did find. Thought about it some more while folding laundry and washing dishes, because literary problems are best deciphered while performing mindless work. I still don’t understand it, but I’ve decided to be grateful to Señor García Márquez for mystifying and delighting me. I’d rather be a little confused than have things spelled out.

Whether your style is flashing-billboard or more subtle, we’re looking forward to reading your excellent nonfiction this week. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the truth, though; go ahead and change your taxi driver’s eye color if it makes a better story. Just make sure you have a so what, a central conflict, and keep your submission under 600 words.

Our weekly friendly competition and our weekend relaxation

The challenge grid is where we want to see your personal essays and traditional blog anecdotes. Choose moments and stories that will show off your writer’s voice, and come back to vote for your favorites on Thursday. If the challenge grid hits thirty submissions, the editors will add the best posts to an invitational grid and award a jury prize to the best of the best. The speakeasy is on summer vacation so no distinct grid for fiction or poetry right now but. . .in the mood for anything goes? On Friday, the moonshine grid has just what you need.

Is this your first time here? Welcome!

Welcome, virgins! Please read our beautiful new “how yeah write works” page and you’ll soon be cranking out yeah write posts like a veteran. The word count for a challenge grid post is 500 words and we’ll forgive an extra 100 if you must. If you need help navigating our site and our quirky submission guidelines, please email us with any questions.

What are you doing this summer? Please join us for our yeah write summer series

All throughout July, we’ll be following ProBlogger’s 31 days to build a better blog workbook.

Some sample topics:

• develop a plan to boost your blog’s profile and readership online
• develop an editorial calendar for your blog
• write an elevator pitch for your blog
• make your blog mobile browser friendly
• write a review post

We’ll guide our readers through each daily exercise, giving tips based on our combined experience as writers and bloggers. A good, productive time will be had by all. More details are on our yeah write 31dbbb page. If you’ll be joining us, be sure to add your blog to the list of participants.

Grab your badges

The badge for the challenge grid contains the HTML code you need for the Inlinkz app to accept your submission. It’s available in the sidebar, right underneath the “be the first to know” yeah write email blast subscription box and list of quick links. Be sure to paste the code into the html-view of your post before publishing. Your post cannot be dated earlier than June 9th.

Odds, ends, reminders

• Your post can be no longer than 600 words
• Your post can be dated no earlier than June 9th, the day the yeah write #113 badges were officially posted
• The grid is open from Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. to Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
• It is limited to 50 bloggers
• Voting will take place Thursday from midnight to 10:00 p.m. US eastern
• The winners’ post will be published at noon on Friday
• The weekend moonshine grid will open Friday around 6 p.m. and close Monday by 12:01 a.m.
• No self-promotional posts are allowed on the yeah write grid, including those containing links to other blog events and Internet contests
• Combining your yeah write post with other blog events meant to maximize your exposure and minimize your effort is a no-no

Bring us your best stuff. Bring your friends to read, write and vote. Yeah write #113 is open. . .