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Still waters
There’s a lot that goes on under the surface around here. Some things are easy enough to spot, and others sink deep down into the silt.
You see the posts go up every week, and the grids and the coffeehouse discussions, the tweets and other shout-outs. What you might not realize is that the yeah write staff discusses each and every submission as it comes in. We discuss the prompts–especially the microstory prompt, which often requires fine-tuning to determine what, exactly, constitutes a solid answer–but also the nonfiction, fiction and poetry prompts. We talk about other resources we can provide, services we could offer, swag we would love to hand out. We know each other’s cell phone numbers and work schedules. We practically live in each other’s pockets – and we love it.
We know, though, that just because we live and breathe yeah write doesn’t mean you do too. Every time you–yes, you–take a moment to submit, read, comment or vote, we get excited. It’s not just a validation of all our hard work, it’s a recognition of yours too. After all, we’d have no reason to be here without our writers. Thanks, everyone, for diving in week after week.[/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 EST. 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: narrative hook
The narrative hook is exactly what it sounds like – the thing that grabs the reader’s attention and keeps them wanting more. This month–with Rowan’s help–we’re going to help you play around with the concept. It’s a great complement to the oh-so-important “so what.”
Is fiction more your thing?
The fiction|poetry grid opens on Tuesday. Grab a mic and join our monthly poetry slam or check out our weekly prompt up!
Prompt up!
Prompt up is our 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 kickoff. 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.
Jan’s essay about the true gifts we receive from our siblings, Tiny Things Last, was last week’s winner. This week’s Prompt Up is: He had created a tiny time of enchantment.
January poetry slam: aubade
It’s the dawn of a new year, and so this month’s poetry slam is particularly fitting. An aubade is a love poem or song – in any form – welcoming or lamenting the arrival of the dawn. It’s the poem that you write for your lover after you slip out the window at sunrise, or the song, full of joy or sorrow, that you sing for the arrival of the dawn. Need more to get started? Rowan has all the details for you.
This week’s ultimate question: how deep was the water?
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
This week’s question requires: water (not some other liquid–step away from your Diet Coke) and a measurement of depth. Please note: we are asking about literal water in this case. No drowning in your lover’s eyes or any such thing. Also remember, I asked how deep was the water, so your answer ought to be in past tense.
Remember: do not include the question in your title or your answer. Do not include extra words – no footnotes (except for photo credits), 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 our submission guidelines 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.
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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]
