Creative Writing Contest 2022 – Fulton County Historical Society

Click here to see last year’s winning submissions!

The Fulton County Historical Society is excited to announce our 2nd Annual Creative Writing Contest! Fulton County has long been home to world-renowned authors and artists who have found inspiration in the beautiful natural landscape and rich history of the area. Authors like Robert W. Chambers, Margaret Widdemer, Grace Sarka, Harriet Mabel Spalding, and Richard Russo have called the county home.

Our county is still a hub of creativity and supports an active arts community. To celebrate our artistic neighbors, the FCHS invites YOU to participate in our annual creative writing contest and find inspiration in our history.

Guidelines

The contest is open to ALL Fulton County residents! Entries should be inspired by county history. This is open to interpretation; for example, your piece may take place in the past or it might be a modern reflection on past people or events. Both poetry and prose are accepted. Please do not include images or photos in your piece.

Age Groups

Submissions are divided into three age groups:
– Grades 3-5
– Grades 6-8
– Grades 9-12
– Adult (18+)

Prizes

We’re excited to announce this year’s contest will feature prizes donated by community businesses!

First Place:

Grades 3-5: $25 Chamber Check; $10 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Grades 6-8: $25 Chamber Check; $10 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Grades 9-12: $25 Chamber Check; $10 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Adult (18+): $25 Chamber Check; $10 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art; $10 gift certificate to Stump City Brewing

Second Place:

Grades 3-5: $5 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Grades 6-8: $5 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Grades 9-12: $5 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Adult (18+): $5 gift certificate to Mysteries on Main St.; $5 gift certificate to North Star Cafe Books Art

Length

Submissions should be no longer than four double-spaced typed pages. This is the maximum length; your piece may be shorter than this if you wish.

Deadline

The submission deadline is March 25, 2022 at midnight EST. Entries received after midnight EST on that day will not be considered.

Important Dates & Deadlines (EXTENDED!)

May 6th, midnight: Last day of submissions
May 6th: Judging begins
May 20th: Winners announced
June 4th: Reception for participants and reading of winning pieces at the museum

How to Enter

All submissions must include author’s name (and parent/guardian name for authors under 18 years of age), age group, phone number, and email. If you choose to use one of the prompts, please include the prompt number.

Submissions should be in either a .doc or PDF format. Entries in a different format may not be able to be opened.

All entries should be sent to contest@fultoncountyhistoricalsociety.org.

Prompts

The following prompts are meant to provide jumping off points and inspiration, but they are not required to be used. All of the prompts are part of the museum’s collection. To view the prompts, click here.

Meet the Judges

Marcia Gillis was born and educated in Gloversville and has lived in the city her entire life, except for four years of college study at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Archaeology. Ms. Gillis has worked in the community since 1983 when she took a position at the former Gloversville Federal Savings and Loan Association, working her way up to Vice President before “retiring” in 1995 to raise her family. After substitute teaching for several years, she obtained her NYS Teachers Certification in Social Studies in 2005 and earned her Masters of Liberal] Arts through Excelsior College in 2012. Her Master’s Thesis, “Education, Self-Perception and Success,” was based on research data that she compiled on Gloversville’s history as an economic powerhouse and its impact on the local educational system. She currently teaches 8 th grade Social Studies at the Gloversville Middle School, where she has been an educator for the last 17 years. History is not just her vocation but a lifelong passion. Her goal as an educator is to illuminate history for her students and share her enthusiasm for it with them. She is also President of the Fulton County Historical Society and Museum.

Jennifer Jurica Sweeney grew up in Johnstown and graduated from Johnstown High School. She graduated with a BA in History from Hartwick College and received her MA in Reading Education from the College of St. Rose. Jennifer began teaching at Knox Jr. High School in 1996 and continues in that position today. She loves the outdoors, including mountain biking, hiking, and cross country skiing. Her favorite historical person is Theodore Roosevelt.

Robert Tomlinson has served as executive director and curator for The San Jose Institute for Contemporary Art, Gallery One Visual Arts Center and the Oregon Arts Alliance. He has curated and installed over 100 exhibitions and created a gallery for the developmentally disabled. A working artist, Tomlinson has conducted his own studio practice for over 35 years. In 2011 he co-founded 13 Hats, a group of artist and writers that collaborated for two years on a wide range of creative projects and exhibitions. His work has been featured in 35 solo shows and over 50 group exhibitions. Prior to moving to Catskill, NY, Tomlinson served on the board for the newly formed, Ash Creek Arts Center, which he helped to start. Tomlinson was co-founder & co-editor for the arts & literary quarterly journal, Picture Sentence. He was the “Artist Vision” curator for the Lake Oswego Arts Festival in 2015 and 2016. Tomlinson has hosted two monthly radio shows: Purple House: A Monthly Forum for the Arts, on WGXC and Remarkable People for WIOX. He is also the co-founder & host of the monthly poetry reading at 394 Main St. in Catskill. Until recently, Tomlinson was the director/curator at the Kaaterskill Gallery for the Catskill Mountain Foundation in Hunter, NY. In Gloversville, he is the co-founder and board member for the Gloversville Merchant’s Association and the Glove Cities Arts Alliance. Tomlinson has recently opened North Star: Cafe, Books, Art on Main St.

Robert Weatherby is the staff librarian at the Johnstown Public Library. He conducts outreach and programming for all ages. In addition to library school he also has a Masters in history. He was born and raised in Upstate New York. His favorite type of fiction is alternative history. He loves board games, culinary adventures, and interesting stories of all kinds.