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We are gathered here today…

Got confetti? Yeah write has something to celebrate.

Our very own social media goddess, Arden R., got married yesterday! We couldn’t be happier for her happiness. Even if it means we have to manage without her for a week or two…

Arden has been a constant source of energy and good cheer ever since she first poked her nose into the grids. She’s not just a barrel of fun; she’s also meticulous, reliable and absolutely untiring. We love her to pieces, and hope you do too. Leave her your best wishes in the comments or at the coffeehouse. (And Arden, if you’re reading this, GO BE MARRIED ALREADY. And tell your husband we think he’s a really lucky guy.)[/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. This month we’re encouraging you to try it out in your own writing – but it’s completely optional. Need a little more detail? 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 nonfiction winning essay is Shailaja’s Faded photographs tell stories too, with its realization of the importance of having printed photographs. This week’s Prompt Up is: You can run your finger over the creases, hoping to iron them out.

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: where is the ring?

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

Our question this week was chosen in Arden’s honor! A good answer will include a ring and its current location. Be creative–just because we’ve got weddings on our minds doesn’t mean it has to be a diamond solitaire or a gold band. A boxing ring in the wrong part of town; a ring of toadstools in the middle of the forest; that nasty ring around the clawfoot tub. Tell us about it, and make it a good story.

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]