- This event has passed.
WAG—Matheson Collaboration to Celebrate Earth Day
April 22
The Matheson History Museum and the Writers Alliance of Gainesville (WAG) are joining forces — with postcards and pieces of writing — to celebrate Alachua County’s 200-year anniversary and impact the future.
The Matheson has selected 70 postcards from their archives that represent a time capsule of events, places, and people of Alachua County over the last 200 years. WAG members are invited to write pieces inspired by these postcards.
WAG Members: Which postcard will you write about? Access the postcards through this link: https://bit.ly/WAG-postcards.
The future of Alachua County and the future of the world are bound up in the same climate crisis. The United Nations has set 17 Sustainable Development Goals to ensure that we will be here for another 200 years and more. Please take a look at these goals. Which goal might your postcard address?
Note: These goals are easier to read on the United Nations website.
WAG members, here is how to participate:
* Pick 3 postcards that inspire you.
* Email president@writersalliance.org with your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices by Friday, March 15. WAG President Jenny Dearinger will email you back to let you know which one of your three choices is being assigned to you.
* When you receive confirmation of your choice, write a fictionalized story or poem inspired by the postcard or about what you think might have happened in Alachua County at that time. Your document should be 500 words or less, in Times New Roman or Calibri font, size 12-point type, and double-spaced.
* Mention/incorporate (or use as a theme) one of the United Nations 17 Climate goals within your story.
* Submission Deadline: Friday, April 5, 2024.
* Submit your writing to: president@writersalliance.org.
* Please remember that your story will be made public, so keep it G-rated.
* This is not a contest. All submissions that meet the criteria will be accepted.
When/Where will your story be published? By Earth Day, April 22nd, 2024, your story will be published on the Climate Collaboratory website. You will be able to read it and all other WAG authors’ stories and poetry at climatecollaboratory.org.
In addition, the Matheson History Museum will have a juried collection of the stories and other cultural pieces on a virtual exhibit on the museum website in December 2024. Your story may be picked to represent Alachua County’s 200th Birthday and become part of its history!
President Jenny Dearinger will inform participants when the Matheson History Museum makes the choices.
Thank you for your participation! And have fun!