We know, we promised to include the most recent challenge winner’s entry in this kickoff post, but there’s so much going on we just ran out of room! If you haven’t already, please go read this week’s challenge winner: Memoir of a Gay Date by Bill Dameron at The Authentic Life. While you’re at it, check out the jury prize winner, Tough – Abridged by Snails Tell Tales, as well.

We’d like to give a hearty welcome to those of you who may have wandered over here from the Trifecta Writing Challenge. We know it’s hard to lose a great community, and we hope we can help fill the void. Hit up our editors if you have any questions: getsocial@yeahwrite.me.

yeah write is celebrating!

Next week (challenge #156) will mark yeah write’s third year on the ‘net, and we thought we’d throw all of you a little party – long-timers and newcomers alike. For the next two weeks, the yeah write challenge will be an open grid – no moderated submissions. Now, this doesn’t mean you’re off the hook entirely. We still want a cohesive narrative, good grammar, proper punctuation, and of course, the “so what.” It’s our birthday – let’s see what kind of gifts you can give us!

For this celebration, we would love for folks to try something a new: maybe you usually write fiction – post a personal essay to the yeah write challenge grid. Maybe you usually blog about your kids or your world travels – try posting a poem to the speakeasy.

And speaking of trying new things…

Hold onto your towels: the gargleblaster is here!

Here’s a new challenge that should provide some brain-smashing, lemon-infused-gold-brick fun! The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is not only the Best Drink in Existence, it’s also a high-intensity 42-word micro challenge. Here’s how it works: we give you a question, you give us your answer in 42 words. No more, no less. It’s pretty simple. 

This week’s gargleblaster prompt was chosen in the spirit of adventure:

What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?

Give us your best answer in exactly 42 words. Fact, fiction, poetry, prose – whatever tickles your fancy.

A few tips:

• Choose your words intentionally. Writing good micro-fiction or micro-blog posts is not about slapping the first 42 words that come to mind up on your blog. It’s about finding exactly the right words and putting them in exactly the right place.

• Similarly, eliminate words intentionally. Cutting out articles and conjunctions seems easy, but it usually results in stilted prose. You may need to give up a favorite phrase to come more quickly to the point. Read it out loud and see how it feels.

• Don’t trust your word processor to count for you. Use your eyes, or a friend’s eyes if the gargleblaster has gone to your head. (It happens, we know.)

• One entry per person, please.

Start writing now and come back on Monday to link up. Voting will open on Wednesday, and winners will be posted on Thursday. We’ll remind you on Facebook and Twitter, so make sure to connect with us there! In the meantime, head over to the gargleblaster FAQ for all the details.

Photo Credit: Kristina Ackerman at Knuckle Salad – thanks for daring to recreate the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster in liquid form for all of us to enjoy! If anyone is brave enough to try one, we hope you will blog about it.

Get your badges!

The badge for yeah write #155 is over in the sidebar, as is the badge for the gargleblaster. Copy the code from the box beneath the badge, paste it into the text or HTML view of your post draft window, then the badge should appear in your post once published. If this is your first time here, this page will get you started on your way to the best community on the web for writers who blog and bloggers who write.

New to yeah write?

Welcome! This is a special kind of place, and we hope you will dive right in. If this is one of your first visits to yeah write, please take a look at our page detailing how yeah write works. If you’re having trouble figuring it all out, feel free to e-mail us, and we’ll help get you started along your way. Look for us on Facebook and Twitter, too — that way you’ll stay up on all the latest news and updates.