WRITING CONTESTS— PLURAL!
Collaboration with the Poe Museum— Fall of 2025
New this Fall, entries due October 31, 2025— 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. For details and to enter by the deadline, visit the Poe Museum’s site here.
Witold Krull Literary Award
In honor of the birthday of Witold Krull, Hotel Greene conducts an annual literary prize in his name— every Summer, entries accepted Memorial Day through early-September and the winner announced in October.
Krull was a young writer of great promise who resided in Room 208. He was beloved by staff and other long-term residents and impressed everyone with his kindness and work ethic. His few writings were widely circulated among friends and, a month before his passing, Krull sold his first novel “Ashes” to the famed publishing house of Brodski and Lange. The editors labeled his ability to convey deep feeling with few words “Knappstil.” On September 1, 1939, in protest of the German invasion, Krull took the elevator to the roof of Hotel Greene and jumped to his death. He left a cigarette burning in Room 208 with a handsome tip for hotel staff and a note to the maid Zosia apologizing for leaving them behind and an instruction to destroy all of his manuscripts.
We at Hotel Greene hold the conviction that everyone has both a heartfelt apology to give and to demand. To that end, we make it easy by offering postcards at check out with highfalutin’ words of pain, regret and righteous anger. Just stamp and address it to the deserving one…
Now it is your turn. Write an apology or apology-demand in the spirit of Hotel Greene and Witold Krull. The rules are simple, but challenging— your entry must (i) fit on the back of a postcard, (ii) actually offer or demand an apology, and (iii) mention our fine hotel. May Knappstil live on! Fame and riches await.
the prize
Your very own Leslie Herman postcard for guests to be awestruck by and forward into the world. His art will ensure that your words live on for months, nay, years!, on dressing table mirrors and refrigerators.
A fun reception (with cake!) for the finalists
And, oh yea, 500 bucks…that’s right, 500 bucks!
New 2025! Two passes to the Poe Museum in Richmond (https://poemuseum.org/)
For 2026, it is never too early to get ready and get feeling. The contest will open again Memorial Day and run through early September.
