I’m committing to a personal challenge this season related to Semester 2 in the MFA-Creative Nonfiction program I’m pursuing: get some pieces published! It’s time to build what they call my author’s platform.

Troll pony from England, 1967

Hippocampus Magazine has a contest on the theme “Keepsakes”, deadline March 15, 2018. Now that’s right up my alley, as a memoir writer who has recently been most drawn to what’s called “object writing”–essays built around concrete images. (Here’s a post I wrote about this a few years back.) Keepsakes are just the sort of tangible objects that give rise to compelling true stories. Here’s one of mine.

Here’s the contest call:

Hippocampus Magazine is looking for submissions of up to 4,000 words for its annual theme issue; this year, it’s Keepsakes.

In a day where we look at photos online, scan in concert or play “tickets” at the door, send texts to thank someone, post happy birthday wishes to Facebook, and other intangible memories or shows of affection and appreciation, we’re starting to mourn personal keepsakes and mementos.

Share your piece of creative nonfiction (up to 4,000 words) about an item that means something to you. Maybe it lives in your attic, a shoebox, or a storage locker. Or maybe it’s displayed on a shelf or around your neck…. Maybe you no longer have it, and long to have it back. Whatever it is, wherever it is, we want to know about it, the story behind it, the meaning it brings.

Or maybe the idea of “keepsakes” has another interpretation for you – and we’d like to see those stories too, as long as the connection to the theme is clear.

We invite you to send your best creative nonfiction piece – and your best interpretation of the theme—to us for consideration for our July 2018 issue.

Please see full guidelines at our website before submitting.

Deadline: March 15, 2018.

Hippocampus Magazine is an online publication with a mission to entertain, educate and engage writers and readers of creative nonfiction (that’s us, True Stories Well Told writers!).

So let’s start writing our “Keepsakes” stories. I want to hear yours!

• Sarah White