UPDATE: Entries are being judged. Stay tuned!
Do you have a keepsake with a great story behind it? If so, take a few minutes and enter my 2014 Project Keepsake Story Contest. All you need is a keepsake, a photograph, a great story to share, and about 10 minutes to complete the entry form. For examples of keepsake stories, see the fifty-five stories featured in the book or read a few story excerpts posted on my blog. The first place winner wins a copy of Project Keepsake, a $25 MasterCard gift card, and special recognition on my blog during December. The second place winner wins a writer's journal.
1. Who is eligible to enter the contest? —You must be 18 years or older to enter. You must reside in the United States with a US mailing address. Project Keepsake story contributors (with stories in the book) are NOT eligible to compete. Family members and spouses of the judges are NOT eligible to compete. One entry per person, please.
2. What is the deadline to enter? —Midnight on Friday, November 21, 2014.
3. When will the winners be announced? —Monday, December 1, 2014.
4. What are the prizes? —First Place wins a $25 MasterCard Gift Card + a copy of Project Keepsake + special recognition on the Project Keepsake blog. Second Place wins a writer's journal + special recognition on the Project Keepsake blog. Other entries may be featured on the Project Keepsake blog and social media as well.
5. Who will judge the entries? —Four Project Keepsake story contributors and one Project Keepsake fan (a person who has read the book and attends keepsake events). I will reveal the judges after the contest is over.
6. What is required to enter the contest? —You must fill out the entry form completely (name, address, email address, age range, keepsake story, photograph, and short bio). You must upload a nice photograph of your keepsake, along with a short nonfiction story (at least 300 words, but not over 1,800 words) about the keepsake (where it came from, why it's special, what memories the keepsake holds, etc.). By entering, you are certifying that the keepsake belongs to you and that the story is true.
7. What qualifies as a keepsake? —Keepsakes, mementoes, souvenirs, and heirlooms are very similar. A keepsake is something with sentimental value. A memento is a reminder of a past event. A souvenir is a thing kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event. An heirloom is an object that belonged to a family member. So by definition—and from my perspective—mementoes, souvenirs, and heirlooms are all keepsakes. See the book for examples of keepsakes (a ring, a hat, a quilt, a vase, a baseball card, a fishing rod, a locket, etc.) and keepsake stories.
8. What can you do to help the project?
- Buy a copy (or several copies) of Project Keepsake—a great gift item, especially when paired with a keepsake.
- Tell a friend about Project Keepsake.
- Invite me to come and speak at a club meeting, school function, library, church, or civic group meeting.
- Share my posts on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
- Become a Facebook fan (Project Keepsake) or Twitter follower (@AmberLNagle).
- Write a story about a keepsake and share with your family and friends.
- Write a positive book review on Amazon or GoodReads.
9. By entering the contest, you are agreeing to to allow me to publicize your story (along with your name and the photo you provide) on my blog, via social media, and in other media streams. You are not giving up rights to your story. You are just allowing me to present your story and photograph as part of Project Keepsake.
10. Here's the link to enter—http://fs30.formsite.com/ProjectKeepsake/form1/index.html Once you submit your entry form, you cannot go back and make changes to the form, so try to get it right the first time. If you have a problem, please contact me via my Contact page.