Summer Writing Contest With

An Antiques Twist

With shows like American Pickers and Pawn Stars proving that the hunt for rare and special objects appeals to every generation, several leaders in the art and antiques trade have joined together to sponsor a national writing contest for writers of all ages.

 “Biography of an Object Writing Contest” is now open for entries through August 15 in three divisions: Child, for writers ages 12 and under; Teen, ages 13–19; and Adult, ages 20 and over. Contestants in each age group will vie for a first prize package valued at more than $1,000, including a Nook Color e-reader, a Barnes & Noble gift card, and subscriptions to the top antiques and art newspapers and database. Among the contest sponsors is Antiques and The Arts Weekly (A&A), sister publication of The Newtown Bee.

Originally conceived as a middle school research assignment by Stacy Nockowitz, a teacher from Columbus, Ohio, the idea grabbed the attention of Jeff and Amelia Jeffers, the owners of the antiques and art auction firm Garth’s Auctions.

“I remember entering writing contests as a kid and really enjoying it,” explains Mrs Jeffers. “And, our company is always looking for ways to interest younger generations in the history of material culture. We believe collectors are cultivated, and we are committed to being a part of an effort to cultivate as much interest as possible.”

Garth’s staff modified the project into contest form with emphasis not only on the history and research of the objects, but a creative spirit, embracing an interest in historical objects and story-telling. With a wealth of information related to material culture available on the Internet and in libraries, the contest is a chance to emphasize the importance of heritage, reading/research, as well as the great fun of doing a summer writing project as a family (or solo).

Entrants may choose one of the following objects (or, request a 30-day trial membership from prices4antiques.com using the code contest30day to browse the archive and choose an object within their personal field of interest):

*A Chippendale period side chair made in Philadelphia;

*A 19th Century folk art doll, made from a bedpost and thought to have Midwest origin;

*An early 20th Century painting of cowboys and Indians by Frank Tenney Johnson;

*A bronze Buddha statue, inset with precious stones, made in 17th Century Tibet and found in a basement in Ohio in 2008;

*A mummified bird from ancient Egypt;

*A vampire killing kit from the early 20th Century (a novelty item popularly considered to have been created by entrepreneurs in response to the publishing of Dracula by Bram Stoker in 1897); or

*Civil War General Benjamin Brice’s cased pair of pinfire revolvers.

Once an object is chosen, contestants should create a brief fictional biography (prose or poetry) or a more studied, nonfictional account. In either case, the author will want to address similar questions to those one would ask if writing a biography of a person: Where are you from? What was your life like? What was your purpose?

Entries will be judged based on the accuracy of information related to the object of focus, idea development and storytelling, organization and writing mechanics. Entries in the Child division are limited to a maximum of 500 words, Teens stories are limited to a maximum of 1,000 words, and Adults are limited to a maximum of 1,500 words.

In addition to A&A, contest sponsors also include trade newspapers AntiqueWeek and Maine Antique Digest, as well as the popular online database Prices4Antiques.com. Each paper will include entry forms and information related to the contest in upcoming issues; Prices4Antiques will engage its vast network of public libraries to spread the word.

Each division will have first, second and third place prizes.

The first place prizes package will include one Nook Color e-reader, a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift card, and a one-year gift subscription to Garth’s Auctions catalogs, Antiques & the Arts Weekly, AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and Prices4Antiques.com. The winning story in each division may be published in the sponsor publications and websites.

Second place will consist of a Nook Simple Touch e-reader, a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift card, and a six-month gift subscription to Garth’s Auctions catalogs, Antiques & the Arts Weekly, AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and Prices4Antiques.com.

Third place will consist of a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift card, and a six-month gift subscription to Garth’s Auctions catalogs, Antiques & the Arts Weekly, AntiqueWeek, Maine Antique Digest, and Prices4Antiques.com.

 For more information, including full contest guidelines, prizes, and a registration form (which must be submitted with each entry, and signed by a parent for those ages), visit www.garths.com/contest or call 740-362-4771.