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Can you believe it?
Yeah write turns five this week!
Five years ago Erica M set out to create a space where writers could settle in and learn from each other; where we could share examples of the best writing on the ‘net; where we could raise our game and our fists and cast our so what’s out into the wider world. Her vision has sustained and guided us every step of the way. Five years is a long time on the internet. We’re pretty proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, and it’s only going to keep getting better.
Birthdays are for everyone
Why should we get all the presents? We’ve got some giveaways for you, too! Come drop your virtual business card in the bowl at the the yeah write coffeehouse, and you might walk away with a prize. More on that later…
News about news
You may have noticed already: we’ve discontinued our weekly email reminders. Never fear, though, we have a better use for your inboxes. Instead of the kickoff email, we’ll use the space to share resources, tips, contests, and other announcements from time to time.[/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 know-how: inspiration and the 5-minute essay
Time flies whether you’re having fun or not, and there’s an essay hiding in even the smallest increments. You don’t need to encompass your whole life in 1000 words; what if you just focused on five minutes? Rowan gives us some tips on finding your story in among the ordinary moments of your day.
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.
Ruby Bastille took us back to the days of coaches and jerseys with her post, Chasing It Down. This week’s Prompt Up is: On the really cold days, we couldn’t feel our feet.
April poetry slam: the bop
Not all poetry forms were invented hundreds of years ago. This month, we’re taking a look at something new. Created by contemporary poet Afaa M. Weaver, the bop is a cross between a sonnet, a song and an essay, and we think you’re going to love it.
This week’s ultimate question: how many candles?
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
Requires, well, candles (literal or metaphorical, but they need to be recognizable as candles) and an accounting of them, whether it be an actual number, “an abundance,” or “too few.”
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]
