014: Introducing 'Cette It Off!
A Noncette Poetry Contest.
In a bit of Noncette news…
We are launching a new poetry competition called ‘Cette It Off - the first ever poetry contest designed to celebrate the noncette, our very own poetry form.
What’s a noncette again? Like, structurally?
A noncette is a poetry structure that we've developed here—sometimes brief, sometimes sprawling, always authentic. It’s poetry that made its own lane. Structurally, you write it like this:
A noncette™ is six lines of poetic prose.
The first line has 7 words.
The second line holds 7 words.
The third has 3 words.
The fourth line holds 4 words.
The fifth is a deep breath.
The sixth brings us home with 7 words.
Something like this…
We welcome you to Noncette, dear friend
To read all of our whimsical words
And see us
For who we are
On scripts. In scribbles. In journals. Writing.
You may have seen us typing all down your feed.
And you can read this to learn more about what makes the structure unique.
But, now — let’s get into the contest details.
2025 Contest Dates
We will announce the first ‘Cette If Off winners on September 28! And don’t worry, the competition will happen every month, giving opportunities to new writers to join on a monthly basis.
Submissions are due two weeks before the competition announcement. So, here’s what the rest of 2025 looks like:
How To Enter
Entry is simple and free. Just email noncette to hello@noncette.com!
To be considered, you need to be a free or paid subscriber and your noncette needs to:
adhere to noncette structure. No exceptions here. If we can’t see our breath space (that fifth line), your entry will not be considered.
follow the monthly theme (whatever it is that month!)
be 100% human (no AI-generated entries, please.)
We don't accept work that targets or demeans people based on race, gender, sexuality, religion, or other aspects of identity. Writing can (and should!) explore difficult topics, but submissions shouldn't be written with intent to harm.
Prizes + Paid Subscriber Perks
All entrants are eligible to compete for our third-place prize of $25. But paid subscribers unlock the full contest experience:
Additional Prize Tiers: Paid subscribers compete for all prize tiers—$100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place.
Multiple Submissions: While free entrants can submit one noncette, paid subscribers may enter up to three noncettes.
Community Voice: Paid subscribers will vote on three community choice winners in our exclusive chat. These three noncettes will be explored a little deeper (at the writer’s discretion) in a Noncette bonus post we’re calling Guest ‘Cettes.
This isn't about creating barriers—it's about building something sustainable. Every subscription helps us continue growing a space where experimental writing and poetry can flourish.
Free entrants are genuinely welcomed and celebrated. Paid subscribers simply help us do more of what we love: supporting writers and pushing the boundaries of what the noncette form can be. We are committed to reading every submission.1
We see ‘Cette It Off as more than a contest. It's our invitation to writers everywhere to explore what happens when poetry sheds its formal constraints and follows its own instincts.
Whether you've been reading Noncette since we started or discovering the form for the first time, we're excited to see what you create.
In love and language,
Q + Sh’Kia
pssst. If you’ve read this far- we thought we would let you in on a little secret. The September theme for ‘Cette It Off is: learning + curiosity. Think childhood memories, discipline, curiosity, intellectual growth, new skills. The theme is loose, we want to see where your mind goes. Email it to hello@noncette.com! xo