[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Let’s talk about ponds for a minute.

I mean, it’s summer, it’s hot, it’s miserable, and how nice would it feel to take a cool refreshing dip in a… no, actually, I mean metaphorical ponds. The kind we’re talking about when we say “big fish in a small pond.”

I love winning stuff. But there’s not as much satisfaction in winning if there’s only one other competitor and it’s something I’ve been doing for years and they’re just starting out. You know? It’s the same thing with writing. The bigger and better the grid is, the more meaningful it is when you win. That’s why it’s important to keep bringing us your best. And if you know another writer out there who you think would have fun here, encourage them to join us!  The more and better writers we have, the better it feels when you do well.

In the meantime, let’s take a dip in this week’s pond: I’m going to give you the results on all three of our grids – nonfiction, fiction|poetry, and microfiction – right here!

But it’s not all about the popular vote, folks. We also have our editorial staff picks to hand out. Every week our editors comb through your submissions looking for their favorites. Picks are based on writing quality, how successful the author is in conveying information, and just plain style. If you got a staff pick this week, grab your badge from the sidebar and wear it with pride!

Once you’re done reading through the staff picks (and congratulating the winners in the comments), keep scrolling down to check out who won the popular vote on all three grids. If you earned the highest number of votes in any challenge, you are this week’s crowd favorite! If you came in first, second or third, you get “top three” honors. Grab your badge from our sidebar!

Looking for your badge? The fiction|poetry, nonfiction and microstories challenges all have the same winner, staff pick, and top three badges. It doesn’t clutter up our sidebar, and they’ll still look pretty on yours![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Yeah write #222 weekly writing challenge staff picks: microstories

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while you were away by yeshu

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Yeshu’s microstory is a great example of offering just enough details for the reader to draw their own conclusions. The couple’s silence, she pulling her robe tighter as if in protection, the things he must ignore to maintain the relationship are three clues that something is being avoided. Yeshu skillfully writes around the elephant in the kitchen. She highlights it by tucking it into the spaces between sentences.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”22650″ alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_circle” border_color=”grey” img_link_target=”_self” title=”nate” img_link_large=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_separator color=”grey” align=”align_center”][vc_column_text]

That’s it for our staff picks this week! Remember, we don’t always give out a pick on every grid; if we were impressed by several posts on one grid, we’ll give them all picks, and if nothing really stood out for us on another grid, we’ll hold off.

If you’re lost in the middle of the grid and wondering how you can get a little more feedback on your posts, check out our membership perks!

Everybody: before you go, please take some time to leave your favorites a little love in the comments.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Weekend moonshine grid opens today at 6 p.m. eastern time

I could write something cute and clever here, but everyone skips reading this part. Even the part where I say the grid opens at 6, leave your commercial posts at home, and my unicorn is pink. Want to prove me wrong? Leave a comment.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]

Congratulations to the crowd favorites at yeah write #222

The thumbnails are now sorted in order of most votes to fewest. Ties in the overall number of votes are broken by number of editor votes.

Congratulations if you’re at or near the top! Writing well is hard work, and we’re honored you’ve chosen us this week to showcase your entry.

If you’re at or near the bottom, don’t be discouraged. You’re in the right community for learning and growing as a writer, and we are always available with resources for those who ask nicely.

To our readers and voters: thank you! See you next week.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

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