What do we call this part?
What do you call that awkward period between Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer, and the start of all the fall things like the new TV season and actual fall (school and pumpkin spice anything don’t count as fall things anymore)? No, seriously, I’m asking. What do you call it? Because that’s where we are. We have just under two weeks until the unveiling of the fall kickoff here at yeah write. In the meantime, the challenge grid is open with no moderation queue and all of the editors are waiting for your very best writing.
Basic expectations
If you’re new here, please familiarize yourself with the submission guidelines. Please proofread for spelling and grammar*. Your post must be 600 words or fewer and must be published no earlier than Sunday, August 31. Here we are looking for personal essays or traditional blog anecdotes. If you’re looking for fiction and poetry, head over to the speakeasy. Over there they use prompts, here we don’t.
But, since it’s a holiday week here in the United States, we are giving you an optional prompt. The Labor Day optional prompt will mirror the gargleblaster’s ultimate question since I didn’t want to labor (ahem) over the prompt too much. The optional prompt is…
What came in through the bedroom window?
Remember, it’s optional. Use it. Don’t. We don’t really care. When we offer you a prompt here at the challenge grid, we do so with the expectation that you’ll use it to get your mind going. Start with the idea the prompt presents, but then see where your mind takes you. We don’t want a grid filled with stories about windows.
*A brief note about fall: moderation will be back. Your post will not make it on the grid if it’s full of structural, punctuation and grammar errors. Fair warning.
Great expectations
Beyond the word count and the publication date and the proofreading, we expect wonderful things from you. Because we have no mandatory prompts to write to, you can start your draft weeks in advance and polish it up before you submit to the grid. Our desire is for the grid to be a showcase of exceptional work, but it’s also a challenge. Sure, you have to be in it to win it, but you also have to submit your best work.
I’m not trying to scare you off. I don’t want to intimidate you. I want to encourage you to give it your all. I want you to read the stiff competition from your peers and then say to yourself, “I can do that!” And then I want you to do it. You write because you want to. You write because you love it.
There are plenty of blog hops and link ups out there — yeah write is something more. Bring us something more.
Prizes!
For those writers who accept the challenge this week, along with those who joined us last week, we are offering prizes. This is not a random drawing. The editors will get together and select the best of the best for this prize package. Prizes for the ultimate winner:
- a random penguin mug good for all of your drinking needs designed by friend of yeah write ML Philpott;
- NYT bestselling title Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Redemption and Resilience by Laura Hillenbrand; and
- A $20 Shutterfly Gift Card.
Is this your first time here? Welcome!
Did you follow the link from the badge on a friend’s blog? Welcome! Please check out our submission guidelines, then jump right in. We’d love to have you.
Did you land here out of curiosity because you saw a whole bunch of hits from yeah write in your wordpress.com stats? Welcome! That means somebody at yeah write stumbled over your post, thought it was a good fit for us, and submitted your post for consideration. We hope you don’t mind!
If you like, please grab the challenge badge from our sidebar, install it using the HTML view of your post, then visit the other entries on the grid. Did we mention there will be a vote for the best submissions on Thursday? That’s the fun part. Please stick around.
The invitational grid and editor picks will be unlocked at 30+ entries on the challenge grid
In weeks where we receive at least 30 submissions, the special invitational grid opens. The editors will select the cream of the crop, who will go on to compete for the coveted jury prize. Spread the word because your word of mouth can get those submissions up! Just make sure to tell your friends to bring their best work.
Kevin the kiwi and Comment Bob: yeah write community spirit awards
Do you remember Kevin? He’s that stylish kiwi with the scarf and hat, rooting around for an exceptional post on the grid. When we have fewer than 30 posts in the challenge grid, Rowan G, our submissions editor, will send Kevin home with her favorite post. If we open the invitational with 30 or more entries, Kevin will gladly sit this one out. Comment Bob flies through open windows at night and leaves pom-poms under the pillows of the readers leaving the most thoughtful comments on each entry on the challenge grid. Just kidding. Penguins can’t fly. He has a jetpack. The part about the pom-poms, though, is completely true, so please make it a point to participate in our community as a writer, reader, voter and commenter. We call it a challenge for a reason, and making the rounds to all the other blogs is a very large part of it. Remember, a good comment is more than “great work,” it’s a thoughtful response to the post you just read.
Voting on the challenge grid opens Thursday: more entries means more votes
The crowd favorite is determined by a moderated popular vote. That means it’s never a clicking contest. We expect our readers to vote for the best on the challenge grid based on technical and artistic merit. here’s the scale:
- 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: it’s 500 words plus 100 words grace
- Personal essays or traditional blog anecdotes only
- There are no mandatory 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 commercial, sponsored or 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 #177 traditional challenge grid is open right here…
[hr]
Loading InLinkz ...
