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Settling in
Well, I have to admit it. The leaves are gone, the grass is frosty, and even my roses are considering giving up. It’s almost winter.
Some people love this time of year; some people enjoy the crisp blue skies and the crackle of frozen leaves underfoot, not to mention the hint of snow in the air. Of course, those people probably don’t live in this part of the Pacific Northwest, where winter is usually characterized by barely-above-freezing temperatures and steady downpours. Myself, I hate the cold, but if I can hunker down inside with a cup of tea and a good book – or my computer – I manage to tolerate it pretty well. This week I’m looking forward to curling up under a wool blanket and reading what you send our way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
The basics
Yeah write gives you three competitive challenge grids — nonfiction, fiction|poetry and microstories — all of which are moderated. Check them out below. Submissions that meet our guidelines will be moved to the voting grid; those that do not will get a personal love letter from our submissions editor explaining why. Got a question? E-mail us, tweet us, ping us on Facebook, or visit our online community, the yeah write coffeehouse. You can learn more about yeah write in our FAQ.
The rules
Please make sure you are familiar with our submission guidelines before you enter. We don’t have a lot of rules, but we do enforce them across the board. We’d hate to see anyone get disqualified by a technicality.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Bring us your personal essays and creative nonfiction!
The nonfiction challenge grid opens on Monday at midnight EDT. This is the best place on the ‘net to showcase your best writing. Make us laugh, make us cry, make us think, and above all: make us care.
Nonfiction theme of the month: flashbacks
Flashbacks aren’t just a cool special effect or a momentary sense of deja vu; they’re an effective literary technique that can really help set your story in context. Need a little more detail? Come back on Tuesday to read Rowan’s writing help post on flashbacks.
Is fiction more your thing?
The fiction|poetry grid opens on Tuesday. Grab a mic and join our monthly poetry slam, focus on fiction or check out our new prompt up!
Prompt up!
Prompt up is our new optional weekly writing prompt for the fiction|poetry challenge! Here’s how it works: we choose a sentence prompt from last week’s winning nonfiction post and announce it in the kick-off. It’s your job to use that prompt as the first sentence in your poem or story and then run with it. The prompt is just a springboard, though: feel free to keep it as your first sentence, move it somewhere else, change it, or yank it out completely.
This week’s prompt comes from Nancy at The Chef’s Last Diet, who won the nonfiction challenge with her post about family, loss and moving on: Grandmother’s House. The prompt sentence is: I got the call before I reached Philadelphia.
December focus on fiction and poetry slam
Tune in to the fiction|poetry opening post on Tuesday to read all about what’s in store for December. You’ll want to polish up your sword and shield for this month’s focus on fiction–myths! And check it out: we’re revisiting the poetry form that started it all, the tritina.
This week’s ultimate question: why didn’t you go?
Answer this question in exactly 42 words for the microstory challenge, or use it to inspire your submission to the other competitive grids. The microstory challenge opens on Wednesday.
Tips for your microstories
Note that go can mean either leaving a place (real or metaphorical) you are, or traveling to a place or situation you are not in at the time. So a good answer will require the place you could have gone or didn’t leave, and the reason for your action or inaction. Did you overstay your welcome at Gramma’s house this Thanksgiving? Or maybe you opted not to leave home at all. Either way, tell us why.
Remember: do not include the question in your title or your answer. Do not include extra words – no footnotes, no explanations, no shout-outs. Do not rely on your word processor or blog to give you an accurate word count. COUNT YOUR WORDS WITH YOUR EYES. Posts that do not meet these standards will not be moved to the voting grid.
Questions? Want to talk it through? Grab a latte at the coffeehouse and chat with your fellow yeah writers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Winners’ round-up
In case you missed them, you can find last week’s yeah write staff picks and crowd favorites all laid out for you on Friday’s winners’ post. Leave the winners some love in the comments. They will love you right back, we guarantee it.
Weekend writing showcase
The weekend’s not over: the moonshine grid is still open. Have something to add? Old posts and new are welcome. No moderation, no voting. It’s a laid-back relaxed kind of place. Just leave your commercial or sponsored posts at home. Drop by, share your work, and while you’re there, visit your fellow yeah writers.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
