Now Open: 2026 Eugene Gulish Writing Competition
The Paris-Henry County Arts Council is excited to announce the return of the Eugene Gulish Writing Competition, an annual opportunity for writers in our region to share their creativity and imagination.
This year’s prompt invites writers to explore a mysterious discovery in the most familiar place imaginable.
Theme: A Door That Was Never There
You’ve lived in the same house for years. You know every room, every corner, every hallway. Yet one day, you notice something impossible, a door that has never been there before. It’s in a room you walk through every day, but you’re certain you’ve never seen it until now.
When you open it, what do you find?
Maybe it leads to another world. Maybe it opens into the past or the future. Maybe it reveals something hidden within your own home, or even within yourself. However you interpret it, the story is yours to tell.
Competition Details
Writers may submit an original story up to 1,500 words inspired by the prompt.
Submission Deadline:
Friday, February 27
Categories
Adult Division (18+)
Youth Division (14–17)
Each year the competition brings together writers from Paris-Henry County and neighboring communities in Tennessee and Kentucky, with an average of 30 or more entries exploring a wide variety of genres and ideas.
Selected winners will receive cash prizes and recognition, including:
Judges’ Choice Award for Best Overall Story
First, Second, and Third Place in the Adult Division
First, Second, and Third Place in the Youth Division
Entries will be evaluated for creativity, storytelling, structure, and overall writing quality.
Whether you enjoy writing fantasy, mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, or heartfelt personal stories, this competition is a chance to share your voice and imagination with the community.
Ready to enter?
Visit www.phcarts.com/writing-competition for full submission guidelines and entry details.
We look forward to discovering what lies behind the door in your story.