The Space of Writing — Dreams and Other Sleep Disorders: A Short Story Contest
Events in the night, dangerous thoughts while half asleep, repressed memories. Even visions, daydreams and illnesses. It gets surreal when writing. Because on February 28, 2026, it's that time again. There is a competition taking place. Only the best texts are presented, and the three-person jury has to decide on-the-spot again - Who wins? Who picks up the chest?
Dreams are jealous gods directed by the One. “And when he came to a place and wanted to spend the night there because the sun had set, he took one of the stones that lay there and put it under his head and slept in that place.” — Genesis 28:11
Participation:
Submissions in German with a maximum of 1,700 words by February 6th, 2026 to ortdesschreibens@gmail.com. The selected 6 best texts will be read out by the authors on the evening of the event. The jury, which has never seen them before, will then decide on the winner in the evening. Please bring another copy of your text to the jury table. Participation is free of charge.
Prize:
For first place, there is a box with three items selected by the jurors. And a place on the website ortdesschreibens.de for all appealing stories.Long live literature.
Ruben Maria Granz
Ruben Maria Granz, born in 2001 and depraved by the Internet, is a writer and hot-air merchant. He will moderate the event.
Jury
Alwon Barni, born in Berlin in 1998. Studied library science in Potsdam. Has been a librarian in the parliamentary library of the Brandenburg State Parliament. Despite his deep connection to the big city, he has remained a country child, often vacationing in Franconia. When it comes to working as a juror, he states that he will award that which he liked best, which moved him most deeply or which was most honed stylistically. Let the games begin.
Lorenz Höppner, born in 1991, is a filmmaker and Germanist. He demands the courage to tell tragic stories and for the all-too human to have a voice. The world is absurd, but the gestures it makes are beautiful.
Rebecca Tanner, 20 years old, has written several short films himself, and in them interweaves psychological abysses with our modern everyday life, as well as the call of the fatal. It was precisely this affinity for the hidden depths of every fate that drove her to plunge into studying psychology. She is not easy to inspire. Will your text prevail?
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