Defenestrationism !Short Story Contest! | How to Submit (up to $105)
Defenestrationism.net !Short Story Contest! 2025
Defenestrationism.net has launched the 2025 edition of its !Short Story Contest!, following the explosive success of The Art of Throwing People Out Windows. This is not a competition for passive prose or quiet resolutions. Writers must deliver narratives driven by sudden, dramatic transformation—tales that defy gravity and fling characters into unexpected outcomes.
Submit to the Defenestrationism.net !Short Story Contest!
Writers can submit their stories between May 1 and May 25, 2025. The contest offers a $75 prize for the winner and $30 for two runner-ups. Defenestrationism.net encourages bold storytelling, so long as submissions follow a few clear instructions:
- Send to: pnrenterprizes@gmail.com
- Subject line:
!Short Story Contest! - Format: Word document (no PDFs)
- File name: Include the title of your story in the document and file name
- Include: A phone number for contact (kept private)
What Makes a Story a Defenestrationism.net !Short Story Contest! Entry?
The editorial team defines Defenestrationism as “a sudden, immediate—perhaps violent—shift, change, or seismical event between the beginning and the end.” Literal defenestrations are welcome, but metaphorical upheavals—emotional, psychological, or ideological—count just as much.
Defenestrationism.net looks for stories that erupt with movement, meaning, and originality. Political satire, dystopian outrage, and unexpected twists all fit the bill—especially if writers deliver them with bite and flair. That said, please avoid overused premises like fictional tech moguls flying out high-rise windows. They’ve seen that one before.
How the Defenestrationism.net !Short Story Contest! Selects Winners
Editors Paul-Newell Reaves and Chantelle Tibbs will choose the finalists, who will then be published weekly on Defenestrationism.net. A panel of three judges selects the winners, with fan voting counting as a fourth judge’s vote.
Follow These Guidelines to Stand Out
The editors don’t just want good stories—they want stories that have been edited, refined, and reshaped. Writers should complete at least ten read-throughs before submitting.
Core Requirements:
- Use grammar and punctuation artistically, not rigidly
- Make incomplete sentences purposeful (for tone, character, or rhythm)
- Avoid zombie fiction entirely
- Submit original, inventive Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and surreal fiction
- Avoid bloated stories; brevity and clarity matter
- Make sure any violence serves the story’s transformation, not just shock value
Want to go above and beyond?
- Use color as a unifying narrative device
- Try writing a story where defenestration is emotional rather than physical
To strengthen submissions, writers can consult these helpful resources:
- 5 Tips for Becoming a More Eloquent Writer
- How Long Should a Cover Letter Be?
- 5 Benefits of Writing Internships
A Note on A.I. Submissions
Defenestrationism.net permits A.I.-generated entries, but strongly recommends human creativity. The editors advise writers to build original concepts, revise extensively, and study their favorite authors. They warn that A.I. outputs lack the unique spark that great fiction demands. If writers use A.I., they must guide it with clarity and overhaul the results with their own insight and voice.
Ethics, Rights, and Eligibility
- The contest follows the CLMP Contest Code of Ethics
- Writers with any connection to the judges may not submit
- The site requests Electronic and Archival Rights only
- Authors keep all other future rights
Enter Today
Defenestrationism.net invites writers to unleash their most compelling, jarring, and transformative work. Whether it’s satire, surrealism, political drama, or quiet heartbreak, the story must pivot on a moment of powerful defenestration.
The submission period runs May 1 to May 25, 2025. Winners receive publication, prize money, and the honor of joining a tradition of literary provocation.
For full guidelines, past winners, and more information, visit Defenestrationism.net.
