a PHC Arts COuncil Event
The Eugene Gulish
Writing Competition
A literary competition for anyone located around Paris-Henry County and beyond. Entries are submitted online, with prize money distributed to honor award winners.
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Our 2025 Event
The Eugene Gulish Writing Competition
Theme: “Voices of Tennessee: A Historical Journey” — explore Tennessee's history through storytelling, essays, or fiction, focusing on key events, figures, or cultural changes. Stories must not exceed 1,500 words
Submission Deadline: Friday, February 21st
In-Person Reception: at ARTS Round the Square 2025, details of when and where TBD
Awards: winners announced with prize money for various awards described below
Categories: Adult Division (18+) and Youth Division (14-17 years old)
Average # of Entries: 30+
Sign Up Deadline: February 21st, 2024
Writers Enter Here
Show off your creative writing skills and earn big! Prize money will be awarded in both the Adult and Youth Divisions. This is an online event with an in-person reception. All stories will be published on our website for your viewing pleasure.
Official Entry Rules
THEME: “Voices of Tennessee: A Historical Journey” — explore Tennessee's history through storytelling, essays, or fiction, focusing on key events, figures, or cultural changes. Stories must not exceed 1,500 words
SUBMISSIONS: Authors may submit up to three stories, but the prize money will only be awarded to one story. Stories with course obscenities or erotica will be disqualified.
PRIZE MONEY: This will be given to the top three entries:
Adult Division (18 years old and above):
First place: $100
Second place: $75
Third place: $50
Judges’ Choice for the best overall story: $150
Youth Division (14-17 years old):
First place: $75
Second place: $50
Third place: $25
QUALIFICATIONS: Judges will consider the plot, story structure, character development, setting, grammar, and sentence structure during judging.
LOCATIONS: In addition to Henry County, manuscripts from these counties will be accepted: Benton, Carroll, Weakley, Gibson, Dyer, Obion, Stewart, Montgomery, and Houston counties in Tennessee, along with Calloway and Marshall counties in Kentucky
DEADLINE: Your complete entry must be received no later than 11:59 pm, February 21st, 2024.
Submit your manuscript here.
You must include the title of the manuscript you are submitting.
You must include your name, permanent address, phone number, and e-mail. Include parents’ or guardians’ names for youth authors.
The contact info provided will be used to contact winners.
introducing
Our 2025 Judges
Alex Cox
Alex Cox is a dedicated English and creative writing teacher at E.W. Grove School in Paris, TN. With a deep love for reading and writing, she strives to inspire students to think critically, express themselves creatively, and develop a lifelong appreciation for literature. Passionate about fostering a dynamic and engaging classroom, she encourages students to explore the power of words and storytelling. She is also an avid reader and writer herself, having published a poem titled “What They Don’t Tell You About Becoming a Teacher.”
Zachary Aaron
Zachary Aaron resides in Florence, Alabama and has been a historic consultant with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area since 2021. He has collaborated on a historic road series, which was designed to highlight the significance of various roadways within the heritage area and authored numerous non-fiction essays associated with these projects. Most recently, his perspective on Pond Spring, the homesite of General Joe Wheeler, was paired with site photography to blend antique textile documentation with modern observation. In his consulting role, he has also managed the Hidden Spaces social media accounts and worked diligently to grow their following.
Zach is the creator and curator of the @alabamahouses Instagram account, which features notable houses in the state of Alabama. His documentarian work has been recognized by AL.com and Travel + Leisure magazine. He studied professional writing at the University of North Alabama, and he is currently working on his MA in technical writing there as well. In his free time, he enjoys exploring (generally off the beaten path), sharing meals with friends, and respectfully trespassing for the sake of research.
“This is my second year as a judge for the Eugene Gulish Writing Competition, and I enjoy it so much because of the talent I’ve seen coming through this program. I want to sincerely encourage everyone who submitted work this year, and in the past, to keep writing and editing—you’re doing great, and all these stories are important. Tell them!”
The Writing Competition
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