Two Andover residents are lending their talents to help a New London-based literary group stimulate and reward creative writing in the local area.

The two will be figurative “bookends” in a writing contest to be sponsored by the Literary Arts Guild, an arm of the Center for the Arts, Lake Sunapee region. The contest will run from Monday, August 11, to Saturday, September 12, and is open to all with no entry fee.

Andover’s Larry Chase and Laurie Zimmerman will figure prominently at the contest’s beginning and ending, respectively.

At the outset, entrants will be asked to peruse an online collection of Larry’s photographs with the common theme of “Circles and Spheres.” They will then be invited to write, in poetry or prose, a page or less about an inspiration drawn from one or more of the photos. The photos can be viewed online at CenterForTheArtsNH.org beginning on August 11.

At the conclusion of the contest, entries will be judged by Laurie, a Proctor Academy English teacher whose poetry collection, Bright Exit, has just been published by the Quercus Review Press. Winners chosen by her will join Literary Arts Guild members and others at a public awards ceremony and late afternoon reception hosted by Lake Sunapee Bank at its branch office at 321 Main Street, New London, on Friday, October 3. Laurie will also read selections from her new book at the reception.

Twelve of Larry’s photos will also be on public display at the bank during the months of September and October. After the October 3 reception, winning contest entries will also be on display.

Lake Sunapee Bank and the Tatewell Gallery of New London are active supporters and co-sponsors of the contest and longtime supporters of local arts and artists.

For the complete contest rules, go to CenterForTheArtsNH.org or contact Joan Doran, Arts Guild chair, at ttdjtd@nulltds.net.