Declaration: I Am Tennessee

What do you love about Tennessee? Music, food, lush hills and valleys? The volunteer/ independent spirit? Are you a native or new transplant? How has Tennessee shaped you? Do you have a bone to pick with Tennessee?

To celebrate being a Tennessean in 2026, the United States’ 250th birthday, the Knoxville Writers Guild is partnering with Knoxville Poet Laureate Linda Parsons and the East Tennessee Historical Society for the writing project Declaration: I Am Tennessee. The City of Knoxville and the Arts & Culture Alliance are also partners.

Linda Parsons will lead this project. She will select 30 writers from submissions and, with a UT intern, create paper and digital documents. No entry fee and no writing experience necessary.

Submissions open February 1.

Guidelines:

· Must be a Knox County resident aged 18 and over.

· Email a Word file of one poem 30 lines or fewer or prose 400 words or fewer on the subject “I Am Tennessee” to Linda Parsons at poet@knoxalliance.com. Subject line: Declaration.

· Include a third-person bio of no more than 50 words and contact info (name, address, email, phone number) on the submission.

· Submissions may be published or unpublished. If published, include publication credit.

· Work selected will be edited for clarity and correctness.

· Submission indicates agreement that 1) the work may appear on websites, in newsletters, and other promotional materials and 2) the writer may be chosen to present their work at readings and events throughout the year.

Selected writers will read at the launch/reception on July 16, 6:30-8:30 pm, East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay St, Knoxville. Other readings will be held during the year at KWG and ETHS events.

Deadline March 10, 2026