It’s that time of year again! Time for the 2026 Eugene Gulish Writing Competition, hosted by our great friends over at the Paris-Henry County Arts Council! Started in 2021 as an informal contest between local authors, it quickly gained widespread recognition across the West Tennessee area due to the love and support of one local author, Dr. Eugene Gulish. A well-respected orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Gulish had a deep love for literary arts and often attended classes to continuously improve his wordsmith abilities. However, after winning both the 2021 and the 2022 contest, he sadly passed away from long-standing illness. In honor of his passion and commitment, the contest was formally renamed to “The Eugene Gulish Writing Competition” and now accepts submissions from over a dozen counties across West Tennessee and South-Western Kentucky!

This year’s writing prompt was one of the simplest and hardest yet, “After spending years living in the same house, you find a door that didn’t exist before. What happens?” Thanks again to the Paris-Henry County Arts Council for hosting this amazing event, and best of luck to all who participate!

Want to read what I submitted? Check it out here! But be warned, the King in Yellow is always watching…