Contributor Connect

Hello from Yahoo!'s Sunnyvale headquarters, publishers! In honor of an incredibly inspiring and productive place to spend a few days (seriously, it's just amazing to work next to so many driven and intelligent people! I've gotten so much done...) I thought we'd try something new on the blog today. If you've been feeling like this, you might need a new tool or app to spark your productivity:

So, here are three of my favorite silly writing tools, and two serious ones. I hope you'll find one that helps you get through today's writing to-do list!

Silly (but Useful) Writer Tools:

They may be silly, but these free tools pack a productivity punch. Sometimes a laugh provides just the kick you need to get through a hefty project. My three (and a half) picks always help me work with a smile, even on long, difficult days. Read More »

Happy Memorial Day, contributors, and sincerest thanks to all those who have served in the armed services.

We're delighted to recognize another set of exceptional writers, our April 2013 Spotlight Award Winners! In April, Yahoo! Contributor Network writers lent their voices and unique perspectives to topics ranging from the NFL draft to parenting to funding a startup business and much, much more. April's Contributor Spotlight Award winner took on the first of those topics, covering one of the most-watched NFL drafts in years from the perspective of a dedicated Oakland Raiders follower. (As a Broncos fan, it hurts me to give this award out, but it's well-deserved!) 

 

And the winner is...

  Read More »

A Note from YCN Staff: This post was initially to be published last week, but in light of the tragic events in Boston, we elected to delay making a celebratory announcement. We recognize that the Boston area is still actively dealing with the aftermath of a horrific attack on its citizens and visiting marathoners. Our thoughts are with all those affected. Before continuing to the award announcements, we invite readers to pause for a moment of silence in honor of both the victims and the survivors working to heal Boston. 



This month's Contributor Spotlight Award goes to a strong voice that's been heard on nine different Yahoo! sites. She has a Master's Degree in Education, a background that comes through loud and clear in a library of content that teaches everything from frugal living to crafts and pet care. A Clout 10 and PV millionaire, this winner has been a contributor since 2009, and she just keeps getting better! In March, she published over 30 great pieces of content. She's funny, friendly, and not afraid to share her unvarnished personal experiences. 

And the winner is... Read More »

Now that our Contributors of the Year and Content of the Year for 2012 have had their chance to shine, it's time to get back to celebrating our monthly Spotlight Awards. The first Spotlight Award winners of 2013 published extraordinary content in February, 2013, Let's start with one contributor who deserves an extra-bright spotlight for her work in February, which featured heaping helpings of local knowledge for San Francisco locals; style tips for the fashion-savvy; and even an inside look at the process of becoming a taxi driver in London, UK. 

The winner is...

  Read More »

It's the most prestigious award Yahoo! Contributor Network offers: Contributor of the Year, an elite designation achieved by just three special contributors annually. Contributors of the Year get a $1,500 prize for a year's worth of extraordinary efforts, but even more importantly, they become permanent fixtures in YCN history. Inducted into the Contributor of the Year Hall of Fame this year are three contributors who are very different, but who have a few things in common: An exceptionally strong voice; writing skills flexible enough to suit nearly any subject; an expert-level passion for a specific niche; and the adaptability necessary to thrive in Web publishing. It's truly a privilege to publish these three writers.

 

And the winners are...

 . Read More »

We published hundreds of thousands of pieces of content in 2012 and received thousands of Content of the Year nominations, but only five can be awarded the prestigious "Content of the Year" designation for 2012. and the $1,000 prize it carries. Our expert panel of judges, with many decades of combined editorial experience in both online and traditional media, deliberated intensely enough to put the American Idol panel to shame. In the end, five winners emerged, each one representing a different strength unique to the contributor community.

Each of these five exceptional pieces of content reached the Yahoo! audience in a slightly different way. Some were inspiring, poignant, and touching; others were useful, practical, and timely. Stretching across four different Yahoo! sites, these winning articles reached different segments of Yahoo!'s audience of millions, but shared in the power to transcend the screen and change readers' daily lives.

Without further ado, the winners are....

  Read More »

This November, readers feasted on a cornucopia of fresh content from Yahoo! contributors. We're thankful to our contributors for another month of engaging, unique content, published in front of some of the world's largest audiences. There are no turkeys in this batch of winners--just plum good content!

Our Contributor Spotlight Award for November goes to a contributor whose engaging voice has delighted readers, to the tune of more than three million page views across her library of content. She's always up for a challenge or special project. Her library of content is quirky and imaginative, with plenty of fun reads perfect for afternoon breaktime. And the winner is... Read More »

Nominations are now open for the 2012 Yahoo! Contributor Awards! 

These year-end awards will honor the most exemplary Yahoo! Contributor Network content and contributors of 2012.  

We're offering a total of 8 prizes:

Contributors of the Year - 3 winners

We'll name three Contributors of the Year. These extraordinary contributors will be honored for exemplifying the strengths and spirit of our platform by maintaining libraries full of engaging, expert, authentic content that delights Yahoo! audiences. We're honoring the content creators who publish work so exceptional that every Yahoo! contributor can be proud of it, and who attract dedicated, enthusiastic audiences. Each winning contributor will receive a $1,500 prize, a profile badge, and a lifetime of bragging rights!

Content of the Year - 5 winners

We’re looking for the top five most unique,  inspiring, engaging, informative, profound, and/or illuminating pieces of content published on any site through the Yahoo! Contributor Network platform in 2012. The authors of our five winning pieces will receive a $1,000 prize, a profile badge, and, of course, unlimited bragging rights!  Read More »

October was a busy month at Yahoo! Contributor Network, with contributors and editors scrambling to cover, among other topics, a presidential election in the United States; NFL football; and fall TV premieres. As always, your work stood out and helped numerous Yahoo! sites cover the hot topics of the day. We're delighted to recognize another star contributor and five more pieces of exceptional content.

Our Contributor Spotlight award winner this month is a master of entertaining, useful lifestyle content. Find her on Yahoo! Shine helping readers sort out their love lives, make big decisions, and fix their flooded homes. With over six million total page views, her voice has been heard 'round the world. This versatile star has been published on nearly every Yahoo! site that features contributors' content, including recent addition Yahoo! Homes.

And the winner is... Read More »

Mr. Jeffrey Roy Weeks, a member of the Yahoo! contributor community since 2009, died on November 9, 2012, at the age of 43. His obituary may be viewed here .

Jeffrey was a passionate fisherman whose library of content  showcased his joy in fishing and cooking up his catch for a hungry family, who no doubt appreciated recipes like those Jeffrey shared for Labor Day this year . His last post to his fishing blog was made on November 7th, two days before his untimely passing. Read More »