Witold Krull & Edgar Allan Poe Writing Contest

THE KEY TO ONE’S DEATH, OR RATHER AN ABSURD EXPLORATION OF A WRITER’S LIFE

A Resolute Literary Contest on the Unearthed Connection Between Two Desperate Writers: Edgar Allan Poe and Witold Krull  

“October 7th, 1849, Edgar Allan Poe found dead, wearing another’s clothes with only a key found in his pocket. The cause of his death is yet to be determined” 

On October 1939, almost 90 years after the death of the American poet and writer Edgar A. Poe, a rare, unnamed manuscript of Poe’s was discovered in room 208 of the Hotel Greene. This discovery was made just days after the death of fellow writer Witold Krull. It is unclear how Krull came into the possession of this manuscript (in the last year of Poe’s life whilst living in Richmond, he sold several papers to Brodski and Lange) however, the significance of this parchment now connects these two desolate writers, out of time and out of space. 

Now it is time to honor these two gone but not forgotten writers whose mysterious deaths haunt us today. The parameters are as follows… 

i) Your work should embody the voice of a struggling writer 

ii) Should attempt to unlock the key to death’s mysteries  

iii) Must mention the wonderful city of Richmond and include details related to the locations of Hotel Greene and the Poe Museum (the more unique the better!)

iv) Should be no longer than a page  

We encourage all our littérateurs to visit the grand buildings of Hotel Greene (508 East Franklin Street) and The Poe Museum (1914 E Main St) to draw inspiration for your masterpieces. During you visit, snap a photo and tag us @poemuseum and @hotelgreene.

SUBMISSION DUE DATE: October 31st 2025 at 11:59pm.

CRITERIA & SUBMISSION: 

• This contest is open to 18+ writers
• Submissions must follow the prompt and must be an original work. No plagiarism. No AI. 
• Judging will be done by Poe Museum and Hotel Greene staff.
• Contest winners will be announced by November 15th via email.

PRIZE: 

• $100 Hotel Greene gift card
• Two tickets to a 2026 Poe Museum UnHappy Hour
• Publication of winning work on The Poe Museum’s website
• A reception (with cake)!

QUESTIONS: Please contact programs@poemuseum.org for questions regarding this contest.