I have the theme for this year's contest...

"Imaginary people, real memories" - Writers will focus on writing about the characters they created in their youth for different media... artwork, audio "theater", films, etc. and discuss them, why and how they created them, as well as memories associated with them.

Cool

I'll start brainstorming.

This confuses me a bit. Like original characters in established properties, or imaginary friends?

do original cartoon characters count?

ThatDudeintheHoodie wrote :

This confuses me a bit. Like original characters in established properties, or imaginary friends? -end quote

Neither. These are characters of your own creation. Example: In my youth, my friends and I would make audio cassette recordings of ourselves performing "radio" programs. During these programs, we would create people to either "visit" the show or call in. One such character was named Donatello Smithe. He was played by me, and he would call in during almost every recording we made over many years. He was a barfly with a bad attitude. His main goal was to call in and make fun of the hosts and the show.

(You could even insert art, audio, or video of these characters in the article)

Ah, well I got nothing that was before 2000, I didn't start writing until I was a pre teen.

i'll take that as a yes.

Hmm, so would like characters from our own attempts at comic books and stories work? 

echidna64 wrote :

Hmm, so would like characters from our own attempts at comic books and stories work?  -end quote

Absolutely!

I've got one thing in mind that might fit. Would a stuffed cat that I owned and once used as the star of a short story I wrote for a school activity count?