Madison Magazine and I  have teamed up to offer one lucky reader the chance to see your life story become a book. All you have to do to enter is write a 500-word autobiographical sketch about a special memory from your life. You could write a scene from your childhood, or describe a memorable event from later in your life concerning jobs, family, personal interests or travels.

The competition is open to people who live or work in Madison, or who grew up in or around the city. Open now for submissions, the final deadline is October 15, 2012.

Go here for details.

The winner will turn something like this…

…into something like this.

“Wow,” you say, “How did this come about?”

I’m eager to connect with more people who want to work with me 1:1 as a writing partner. I love leading my memoir-writing classes, and the small-group environment is great for helping new writers build confidence and start producing work. But when it comes to seeing an idea through to a completed book, working with a writing partner–someone who can be your coach, editor, secretary, friend (and occasional dominatrix)– is the key to getting the job done, I’ve found.

One thing I’ve learned from my work as a personal historian is that whatever samples of your work you  get out there, that’s the kind of work you’ll attract. My first community history, Madison Women Remember, led to referrals for other community-history work that kept me busy for five years.

The contest idea came from my colleague Mike Oke of Bound Biographies in Oxfordshire, UK. He offers a writing-partner service, as I do. The idea seemed just right for getting a new work sample that shows the kind of work I want to do now. And, I’ll get to know the story behind some fascinating Madison-area man or woman.

I pitched the idea to Madison Magazine, the editor loved it, and the deal was done.

If you’re in the Madison area, sharpen your pencil and start on that 500-word sketch. It could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship!

-Sarah White