Official Terms & Conditions

(Version 1.0 — 2025)

Administered by Quibble Lit

 

1. General Overview

The Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award (“the Award”, “the Awards”) is an audio-first poetry contest administered by Quibble Lit (“the Organizer”). By submitting work to the Awards, entrants (“the Poet,” “Entrant,” or “Submitter”) agree to abide by the following Terms & Conditions, Rights & Permissions, Privacy Policies, and eligibility rules.

The Organizer reserves the right to update this policy as needed; any updates will apply only to future submission cycles.

 

2. Eligibility Rules

To enter the Ps&Qs Audio Poem Awards, Entrants must meet the following requirements:

  1. Age: Entrants must be 18 years or older, OR have explicit guardian consent if younger.

  2. Original Work: Submitted poems must be the Entrant’s own creative work.

  3. Publication Status:

    • Audio must be unpublished (no public release on streaming platforms, social media, or podcasts).

    • Print versions may be previously published only if the audio recording is new.

  4. Language: Poems for the 2026 Ps & Qs Awards must be in English, as we’re limited in our shared language set between our judges. All accents and dialects are welcome.

  5. AI-Generated Work:

    • Poems or performances created by AI tools are not eligible.

    1. Reasonable audio cleanup tools (noise reduction, leveling) are acceptable.

  6. Geography: The contest is open internationally unless prohibited by local law.

  7. Number of Entries: Multiple entries are permitted; each requires a separate entry fee and submission

  8. Hate speech, threats, offensive language, or harmful content targeting individuals or groups will be disqualified and reported appropriately.

 

3. Submission Requirements

To be considered, Entrants must submit:

  1. One audio file (MP3, WAV, or M4A), up to 2 minutes maximum

  2. A written transcript (Word or PDF) for accessibility

  3. An entry fee of $8 per submission

  4. No identifying information in the recording or filename

Failure to meet these requirements may result in disqualification.

 

4. Blind Judging Procedure

To ensure fairness and skill-based assessment:

  • All submissions are anonymized.

  • Metadata is removed from audio files.

  • Judges receive audio only, with no transcript or identifying details.

  • Judges independently select their top five pieces from the finalist playlist.

  • The Organizer compiles scores for final ranking.

The Organizer may not override the panel’s decisions except in cases of ineligibility or rule violation.

 

5. Prizes

The Award offers:

  • 1st Prize: $250 + publication + performance showcase

  • 2nd Prize: $125 + publication

  • 3rd Prize: $75 + publication

  • Finalist publication + optional video performance

Prizes are paid via PayPal, Venmo, or equivalent secure platform.

Winners are responsible for reporting prize income in accordance with local laws.

No 1099 tax forms are required unless a winner receives $600+ from Quibble in a calendar year.

 

6. Rights & Permissions Agreement

By submitting to the Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award, Entrants retain full copyright to their work.

Entrants grant Quibble Lit the following non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free rights:

A. If the work is a Finalist or Winner

The Organizer may:

  1. Publish the audio recording on Quibble’s website.

  2. Publish the written transcript.

  3. Publish an Entrant-provided video performance (optional).

  4. Share promotional excerpts (up to 30 seconds) on social media.

  5. Include the work in future Ps&Qs showcase materials (anthology, recap reel, year-end highlight).

  6. Archive the work indefinitely on the Award’s landing page.

B. What Quibble DOES NOT receive

The Organizer does not:

  • Claim copyright

  • Restrict future publication

  • Require exclusivity

  • Require transfer of rights

  • Control how poets publish, perform, or adapt their work

Entrants may publish their work elsewhere at any time.

C. Withdrawal of rights

Entrants may request removal of audio/video from Quibble’s site after publication; the Organizer will comply within 30 days.

 

7. Privacy Statement

Quibble Lit is committed to protecting Entrants' privacy and data.

Data Collected

  • Name, email, and submission files

  • Optional demographic information (if Entrant chooses to provide)

How Data Is Used

  • Contest administration

  • Winner notifications

  • Publication communication

  • Optional newsletter (only if Entrant opts in)

Data Sharing

Quibble does not sell, rent, trade, or share Entrants’ personal information with third parties.

Storage

Submission materials may be stored securely on Submittable, Google Drive, or encrypted internal systems.

Judges receive only anonymized audio.

 

8. Refund & Withdrawal Policy

Refunds

Entry fees are non-refundable, including but not limited to cases of:

  • Withdrawal

  • Disqualification

  • Non-selection

  • Technical issues outside the Organizer’s control

  • Late or incomplete entries

This is standard practice across literary contests and ensures prizes and costs remain stable.

Withdrawals

Entrants may withdraw their submission at any time before judging begins by contacting the Organizer or withdrawing via Submittable.

If the poem is accepted elsewhere before finalist notifications, Entrants must withdraw the piece immediately.

 

9. Disqualification Criteria

The Organizer reserves the right to disqualify submissions for:

  • Identifying information in the audio

  • Over 2-minute time limit

  • Use of AI text or AI voice generation

  • Hate speech, threats, or harmful content targeting individuals or groups

  • Plagiarism

  • Failure to follow submission instructions

  • Abusive communication with staff or judges

Disqualification does not entitle Entrants to a refund.

 

10. Organizer’s Rights

Quibble reserves the right to:

  • Adjust timelines due to high volume or unforeseen circumstances

  • Replace judges if necessary

  • Withhold awards if insufficient eligible entries are received

  • Correct minor clerical or formatting errors in submitted materials

  • Remove submissions that violate Terms & Conditions

Quibble will never alter the artistic content of an entrant’s poem.

 

11. Limitations of Liability

By submitting, Entrants agree that Quibble Lit, its staff, judges, and affiliates are not liable for:

  • Technical issues

  • File corruption

  • Data loss

  • Website outages

  • Judge availability

  • Email delivery errors

  • Delays due to emergencies

  • Unauthorized reposting by third-party users online

Entrants participate at their own risk and are responsible for retaining backup copies of their work.

 

12. Agreement to Terms

By submitting to the Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award, Entrants acknowledge that:

  • They have read and agree to all rules

  • They are the sole author of the submitted work

  • They grant Quibble the rights listed

  • Their entry fee is non-refundable

  • They may be contacted for updates, results, and publication details

  • All judging decisions are final