Tennessee Williams Museum Recognizes the Winners of its Annual Poetry and Short Story Contests

The Tennessee Williams Museum recognizes the winners of its annual short story and poetry writing contests, a component of the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival. Winning submissions are published on the festival’s website www.twfest.org/contests. (Photo Credit: Key West Art & Historical Society)

April 18, 2024 – (KEY WEST, FL).  The Tennessee Williams Museum is pleased to announce the results from its annual Short Story and Poetry contests held during the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival.  Randall Silvis of Mercer, Pennsylvania won the $300 first place prize for his short story titled, “On Bluebird Lane” while Dean Ellis of New Orleans, Louisiana won the $150 prize for his work, “The Distance Between Echoes”.  In the poetry contest, Terri Kirby Erickson of Pfafftown, North Carolina received top honors for “Rainy Day, New Orleans” while Vicki Wilson of Clinton, New York took second place for “Birthdays”.

“While there was no specific theme for this year’s Tennessee Williams Festival, all entrants were required to reference the playwright, his family, or characters from his works in their submissions,” says Dennis Beaver, curator of the museum.  “The judges were impressed by the caliber of entries and by the imaginative ways that each incorporated Williams into their work.  We are thrilled to see the number of entrants increase each year – a testament to Williams’ enduring legacy.”

The museum received nearly 80 total original works this year, nearly double of what was submitted in 2023.  Contest winners were announced at the Tennessee Williams Birthday Party held on March 26 with excerpts of their works read aloud.  Celebrated local authors Joanna Schmida, Jessica Argyle, and Rosalind Brackenbury judged the short story competition while Dr. Emily Schulten Weekley, Key West’s Poet Laureate and English Professor at the College of the Florida Keys, judged the poetry submissions.

In addition to receiving monetary awards, winners had their complete works published on the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival website along with the winners of the student writing contests.  To read the winning poems and short stories, visit www.twfest.org/contests.

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