Phillyist Jill (who compiles half of those Week Around The Ists posts for all of us in the Gothamist network) sends along some info about a nationwide memoir contest that they're sponsoring out of Philadelphia -- so those of you frustrated (or successful!) This American Life aspirants, start mining your childhood for poignantly-insightful anecdotes!

This is all part of the autobiographical-supporting First Person Arts' Sixth Annual Memoir-Writing Contest, and this year's theme this year is "Objects of My Affections." You can send in either a Short Memoir (up to 3000 words) or a Short Short Memoir (up to 500 words), and the winner gets published in the Philadelphia City Paper and a free trip to Philly for the First Person Festival in November.

The judges are pretty top-notch too -- the guy who edits "Modern Love," that cringe-inducing overly-personal personal column in the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times, and three book editors from publishing houses that specialize in memoirs.

The rules to enter are here -- good luck! Bring home the prize for the Bay Area!