Getting over the fear of the unknown

When I first joined the challenge grid, it was very intimidating. Not only was the grid filled with people who had been blogging and writing longer than I had, they knew their way around the challenge. Let’s not even get into how amazing some of the writing was. Eventually I jumped in and learned the ropes, but it wasn’t without reservation and a whole lot of nervousness. Looking back, I realized it was like anything else: New stuff is hard. It only gets easier with practice.

It’s funny to me that this is a lesson I need to learn over and over again. The trepidation I feel whenever I embark on a new journey always seems to take me by surprise and, to my own dismay, causes me to not seek out opportunities as readily as I should. I’m going through it again on a newer endeavor and even though I’m giving myself the pep-talks and fellow writers have confidence in me that I haven’t yet found in myself, I still have my reservations.

Are you new here? Are you feeling those same reservations?

Have you been around here a while and maybe still feeling a lack of confidence or a bit overwhelmed?

Are you a more seasoned writer but feeling unsure about the grid or the voting or the challenge?

It’s all okay. Most of us have been in one of these boats at one point or another and, since we’re all human, we’ll probably be back in all of them again. No matter where you are, the community at yeah write is ready to cheer you on, learn with you, and grow.

You made it! The last week of family-free posts

Did you feel like the four-week ban on family related posts would never end? Well, this is the last one. Or, hopefully, you accepted the challenge and stretched your writing muscles in search of new topics. We were blown away by the wide range of posts. Next week you’ll be free to write about your families once again, but will you need to?

The great thing about trying new things and getting past the fear of the unknown is that once you’ve done it, you often forget what you were afraid of in the first place. It’s easy to stay in our comfort zones, but that rarely means that we should. And once you are outside that safe space, don’t climb back in. Keeping showing us different sides of you and keep trying new things. It’s the only way to grow.

Wondering how you got here?

Hey there, you! Yes, you. Did you find your way here after someone let you know your post was a part of our challenge? Welcome!

Sometimes, a member of our community sees a post out in the blogosphere and thinks it’s pretty terrific.  Then they come back here and let us know how great you are. We hope you’ll stick around and see what we’re all about. We want you to make yourself at home.

Take some time, if you please, to poke around a bit. If you like what you see, please consider joining us again next week. We’d love to have you.

Kevin, Bob, and the invitational

Everyone knows Kevin by now! He’s that stylish kiwi with the scarf and hat, rooting around for an exceptional post on the grid. Each week we’re under 30 posts entries in the challenge, a randomly selected editor will choose her favorite post and award that post the week’s kiwi badge.

If we hit 30 entries, the invitational grid, which is exactly what it sounds like, will be unlocked. Editors will select the posts they feel most represent the yeah write way and move them to a special grid where they will compete for the jury prize. This honor has its own badge, too, so there’s always a chance for bling.

What’s the one word you hear around here all the time? Community! We love the community spirit here at yeah write and to foster that, we like to offer up a badge to someone who personifies community. Comment Bob, our spirit mascot, loves it when you comment on or share the other entries on the grid. Support your fellow writers and share the yeah write love, and you may just end up with a Bob badge of your very own!

More entries means more votes

Regardless of the number of entries, we will host a popular vote where you’ll be able to select your favorites from the grid. The number of votes allotted is determined by the number of submissions on the grid:

• 01-10 submissions: one vote
• 11-20 submissions: two votes
• 21-30 submissions: three votes
• 31-40 submissions: four votes
• 41-50 submissions: five votes

The more submissions, the more votes. Write a blurb beside your yeah write challenge button inviting your friends to join us. Send a personal email. Talk us up in your writing circles. Stumble over a blog post you think would be perfect for the challenge grid? Email us the link, and if it’s a good fit, we’ll add it ourselves.

Odds, ends, reminders

• The badge you will need to add to your planned submission is over in the sidebar
• This immediate past Sunday is the earliest your submission can be dated
• Your post can be no longer than 600 words
• Personal essays or traditional blog anecdotes only
• There are no weekly prompts; the topic is yours. Be compelling
• The grid is open from Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. to Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.
• There is voting. Voting will take place Thursday from midnight to 10:00 p.m. US eastern
• The challenge grid is limited to 50 bloggers
• The winners’ post will be published by noon on Friday
• No self-promotional posts are allowed on the yeah write grid, including those containing links to other blog events and Internet contests

Voting is open at the gargleblaster! If you have a chance, stop by, read all the 42-word entries, then vote on the best three of the gargleblaster grid. It’s yeah write’s newest challenge, and we’re quite proud of it.

Yeah write #161 traditional challenge grid is open right here…

[hr]