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Love, love me, do
I make no apologies: I’m a romantic. And February is a great month to be one, all full of valentines, budding flowers and chilly weather. (Which is totally romantic, you guys, because what’s the best way to get warm? I mean, really.)
You know I love you
I’m not kidding; I do. I love our writers; I love our editors; I love the family and friends who support our crazy passion for the written word. And because I’m all full of hearts and rainbows, I’m giving you a chance to share the love a little this month. Check out our nonfiction theme of the month – introspection – or try your hand at a sonnet for the one you love best. Show us your heart, yeah writers!
We’re number 1!
Well, okay, technically we’re in the top 100. But we’re pleased to be included as one of The Write Life’s top 100 websites for writers – and one of their top eight writing communities. Check out their other recommendations, and while you’re at it, drop a comment on their article to say thanks.[/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: introspection
Sometimes the biggest changes in our lives are sparked by the smallest things. It’s natural to want to share your moment of epiphany, but how do you fit a thousand words into two seconds without becoming pedantic and repetitive? Rowan will tell you on Monday!
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, change it, or float down it to other territories.
Donna-Louise’s crowd-fave winning essay on voice brings you this Prompt Up: It’s such an odd thing to lose.
February poetry slam: Spenserian sonnets
When we think of sonnets, Shakespeare usually comes to mind. But The Bard isn’t the only one to play with the form. This month we’re revisiting sonnets, but with a twist. We’ll be writing our 14 lines Edmund Spenser-style. Look for Rowan’s post on Monday for more details.
This week’s ultimate question: who stole the cheddar?
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 two things to make it to the voting grid: cheddar (literal or colloquial) and the identity of the person who stole it. Note that we don’t mean “borrow” or “was given.” Someone took it without permission or authority. By the way, if you go with colloquial or metaphorical cheddar, make sure you give us enough information to understand what the cheddar is.
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 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]
