Point Arena Lighthouse celebrates ‘150+1 with writing contest
POINT ARENA >> The Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc. invites coastal denizens to participate in a very special “150th + 1 Anniversary” writing contest.
The Point Arena Light Station No. 496 was officially established on September 30, 1869. Construction of the first Tower was completed in April 1870 and the light was first lit May 1, 1870. Because the COVID-19 pandemic caused the light station to cancel its planned 150th Anniversary celebratory events, the Lighthouse Keepers are planning a special celebration that will include the publication of winning and favorite entries into the Independent Coast Observer.
“(Point Arena Lighthouse Keepers, Inc)invites authors to submit their writings for consideration to be published,” stated a press release. “The submissions must have elements or features of the light station as their underlying theme. There are four categories, including poetry, short story, flash fiction and a “Dear Lighthouse” essay.
Writers can submit as many different works in as many categories as they wish. Submissions can be made either by mail or email. To submit by email, send your submissions to pal150writers.palight@gmail.com, no later than April 2, 2021.
Any form of poetry is welcome in this category and there is no word limit. The “Dear Lighthouse….” essay is a free-form essay, with a 300-word maximum. It must begin with the phrase, “Dear Lighthouse,” but there are no other limitations. Short stories may be of any literary genre (fiction, memoir, nonfiction, etc.) and there is no word limit. Flash fiction is an entire story in 150 words or less.
The hallmarks of great Flash Fiction are brevity, a complete plot, a surprise and an unexpected final line. The aim is to prompt the reader to think deeply about the true meaning of the story
Submitted works will be given anonymous numbers and will not contain the name of the author when they are sent to the board for review.
Winning works selected by the board will be published in the April 30 special section of the Observer. Depending on the length of the selected pieces and the available pages in the special section, there may be one or more favorites from each category published.
The authors of the selected favorites will receive an Annual Family Membership of $75 value, $50 in “Mina Money” to spend in the Light Station Store and recognition plaques in the exhibit.
All entries will be printed and displayed as part of a special exhibit in the Whale Watch Room of the historic 1896 Fog Signal Building on the Light Station. Selected entries will also be published in the Summer/Fall edition of the Light Station Journal, the members’ newsletter.
All submissions will receive a Point Arena Lighthouse 150th Anniversary cloisonné pin.
For more information, visit pointarenalighthouse.com/150th-1-anniversarywriters-invitation.