![By User:Mihael Simonič (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/yeahwrite.me/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/VG_forest.jpeg?resize=1080%2C675&ssl=1)
Greetings, Earthlings!
You people sure take your challenges seriously. You’ve probably noticed that the gargleblaster grid has consistently hit its max of 42 entries by mid-Monday. After some thought, we’ve decided to adjust the schedule a bit.
From here on out, we’ll open the grid as usual at midnight on Monday, and close it at midnight on Tuesday. Yes, that’s only 24 hours to post, but you’ve been doing that anyway! Voting will run from midnight on Tuesday until 10:00 PM, and we’ll announce winners on Wednesday by noon. (All times are US Eastern!)
Want to make sure you don’t miss the prompt? Sign up for the yeah write weekly e-mail blast. The form is in the sidebar.
The ultimate question
This week we’re paying tribute to Gabriel García Márquez, who was (in our humble opinion) one of the greatest writers of the last century. This week’s ultimate question comes to us from One Hundred Years of Solitude:
“Tell me something, old friend: why are you fighting?”
The author continues:
“What other reason could there be?” Colonel Gerineldo Marquez answered. “For the great Liberal party.”
“You’re lucky because you know why,” he answered. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ve come to realize only just now that I’m fighting because of pride.”
Marquez’s response is only 41 words, but then, he wasn’t playing our game. Give us your answer in 42 words. Be creative, be imaginative, never submit your first draft of anything, even if it’s only 42 words long. And remember: it’s family-free week, so no family allowed!
Recipe for a proper gargleblaster
- Entries must be 42 words exactly. We count. (Tip: don’t trust your word processor – use your eyes!)
- Non-fiction, fiction, and poetry are all welcome.
- Let your post speak for itself. If it needs an explanation, it’s not really 42 words, now is it?
- Link to the individual blog post, not your main blog page.
- Include the gargleblaster badge and accompanying backlink. Scroll down to get this week’s badge.
- One post per person, please, and no cross-posting to other link-ups. We want you all to ourselves!
Any submission deemed not to meet the guidelines will be removed from the grid and the author will be notified. Read the gargleblaster FAQ for more information.
Remember: the grid is limited to 42 (of course!) submissions. But if you miss the grid, don’t panic! Leave your link in the comments of the voting post and you may be eligible for the brand-new hitchhiker prize, which may be awarded at the editors’ discretion to someone who missed the grid, but wrote up a particularly excellent response to the prompt. You’ve got to stick around for the whole ride if you want one of these shiny badges, not just hop on, drop your link, and hop back off. After leaving your link, go forth and read, comment and vote on the grid as usual. We might not award one every week, but we’ll have an eye on those hitchhiking posts.
Get your badge here
Please be sure to include the proper gargleblaster badge in your post. It looks like this one right here. Not sure how to add the badge? Here are instructions:
- The gargleblaster badge is in the sidebar there to the left. It’s the one that has #158 on it. Copy the code in the box under the badge.
- Open your blog post in edit mode, click on “Text” or “HTML” to get to the html code, and paste the code there.
- Save, and voila! That should do it.
- Now when you look at the published page, you should be able to click on the image and it will take you back to the gargleblaster grid.
Remember, the grid closes on Tuesday at midnight Eastern or when we hit 42 entries, whichever comes first! If you don’t see an “Add your link” button, then the grid is closed.
Loading InLinkz ...What next?
You’ve posted your gargleblaster. You remembered the badge. You linked it up. Next step? Read, comment, share the love. Voting opens on Tuesday!
ACK! 30 minutes ’til close and only 41 on the grid??? This is killing me! I’d write another one but it’s against the rules! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
I think I might have way too much time on my hands…
How about trying the speakeasy? It’s about to open… (https://yeahwrite.me/speakeasy)
WAIT! Nooooo! I’m far too busy spamming everyone who follows me trying to get them to write gargleblaster #42… THERE’S STILL TIME!
*hahahaha* I love your enthusiasm! I may have to invent an award just for you. 🙂
Well, here’s a consolation: Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s response was only 41 words, so maybe it’s fitting that there are 41 entries. Or is that a stretch? 🙂
I actually thought of that. I tried consoling myself by telling me, “It’s like they left an empty spot for Gabo.”
Nope didn’t work. I actually wrote one last (really bad) gargleblaster after the grid closed.
If you make an award for me, I think it should be the Mrs. Puff Extra Credit Award.
😀
Hi there! I’m not an editor BUT I had the same problem as you UNTIL…
I realized that if you click on the picture associated with each entry (instead of the title), it automatically opens the entry in a new tab AND places a small green check mark in the upper left corner of the picture. Then, no matter how many times you refresh, the check marks remain, and you always know which ones you’ve read.
I hope this helps!
-AZG
um… that was supposed to be in reply to atrm61… I don’t know what happened.
Thank you AZ-I will try your idea next time and hopefully it will help this muddlehead 😉
A request to the editor(s) please.Is it possible to number the entries or at least let the order remain the same?Every time I refresh the page,the entries change places and it becomes confusing as to which ones I have already read-,maybe I am the only one with a fuddled brain? 😛 Well,no harm in asking,eh? 🙂
Hi Atreyee! You make a good point. The original intention was to make sure that late posters weren’t penalized for posting late – most people read from top to bottom, and sometimes the last folks on the grid get missed. However, I myself am running into a similar problem. The grid does show when I’ve read something, but I move from home computer to work computer to phone to tablet, and each time I switch I have to figure out which ones I missed. I’ll think about this, but it’s likely I’ll try sorting the entries by time posted next week. Thanks for the feedback!
Thank you Christine :-)I can see the logic in your point and like it a lot-it is unfair if the person posting last gets read least and shuffling the posts gives everyone a fair chance.I also read AZ Gringa’s response and will try that out-I have seen a few green marks but thought it has something to do with the settings of their blogs-what a dummy I am,lol!Just finished voting-really tough to choose only 3 from such fabulous entries!
Ack! For some reason the badge is NOT showing up on my page. 🙁
At least it let me link up still… I included a link to this page as well since I can’t get the image to work.
The InLinkz is looking for the backlink, which you have – that’s why it accepted your post. As to why the image isn’t working… I’m at a loss! I know you’ve done this before, so I’m inclined to believe it’s some weird technical error. 🙂 Actually, it looks like the img src is missing from your code. Hang on, I’ll e-mail you. 🙂
Thank you!! I’m so confused. lol
I figured it out! Yikes.. i didn’t scroll through the entire link when I copied it. I’m having a total case of the mondays over here. Thanks for your help!
I figured it was something like this! I’ll delete my e-mail draft. 🙂 I’m having a Monday too. I don’t think I’ll even make it on the grid myself. Maybe I’ll hitchhike…
ha! Well I appreciate the help… and nothing wrong with a little hitchhike. Thumbs up!
“You people sure take your challenges seriously.”
Three entries in less than 15 minutes… awww yeah! It’s on. 😀
Ha! If I remember correctly, Marcy at (Don’t Be) Too Timid and Squeamish had hers up within seconds of the grid opening!
She sure did. I will *never* be first because I have one of the world’s s l o w e s t connections, but I try like hell. 🙂
I couldn’t get sleepy (last night of my vacation), so I was just waiting for it to open :). I’m sleepy now, though!