The 2026 Ps & Qs Full Terms and Conditions

1. Eligibility

Entrants must meet all of the following:

  1. Age: 18+, or under 18 with documented guardian consent.

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

  3. Publication Status:

    • Audio must be unpublished (not released on social media, podcasts, streaming platforms, or personal websites).

    • Text versions may be previously published, but the audio recording must be new.

  4. Language: Submissions must be in English. Any accent or dialect is welcome.

  5. AI Use:

    • AI-generated text or AI voice generation is not permitted.

    • Standard audio-cleanup tools (noise reduction, leveling) are allowed.

  6. Geography: Open internationally where local laws permit.

  7. Multiple Entries: Allowed; each requires its own entry fee.

  8. Content Restrictions: Hate speech, harassment, threats, or harmful content targeting individuals or groups will be disqualified and may be reported.

2. Submission Requirements

To be considered, Entrants must submit via the official submissions portal:

  1. One audio file (MP3, WAV, or M4A; max 2 minutes)

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

  3. Entry fee of $8 per poem

  4. No identifying information in:

    • the audio

    • the filename

    • the transcript
      Failure to comply may result in disqualification to preserve blind judging.

3. Blind Judging Process

To maintain fairness:

  • All submissions are anonymized by the Organizer before judges receive them.

  • Judges receive audio only.

  • Metadata is stripped from files.

  • Judges independently select their top pieces from a finalist playlist.

  • The Organizer compiles scores for final ranking.

  • The Organizer may intervene only in cases of rule violation or ineligibility.

Judging decisions are final.

4. Prizes

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

  • 2nd Prize: $125 + publication

  • 3rd Prize: $75 + publication

  • Superlatives: $25 + publication

  • All Finalists: publication + optional video performance feature

Payments are made via PayPal, Venmo, or similar secure platform. Entrants are responsible for reporting any prize income under applicable law. A 1099 is required only if a poet receives $600+ from Quibble in a calendar year.

5. Rights & Permissions

Entrants retain full copyright to their work.

By submitting, Entrants grant Quibble Lit the following non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free rights only if they are selected as a Finalist, Superlative Winner, or Prize Winner:

A. Quibble May:

  1. Publish the audio on Quibble’s website

  2. Publish the transcript

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

  4. Use up to 30 seconds of audio for promotional purposes

  5. Include the poem in showcase materials (anthology, recap video, year-end highlights)

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

B. Quibble Will NOT:

  • Claim copyright

  • Restrict future publication

  • Require exclusivity

  • Prevent Entrants from performing, publishing, or adapting their work elsewhere

C. Rights Withdrawal

Entrants may request removal of their published work (audio/video/text) from Quibble’s website. Removal will occur within 30 days.

6. Privacy & Data Use

Quibble Lit is committed to secure and respectful data handling.

Data Collected:

  • Name, email address, audio file, transcript

  • Optional demographic information (if the Entrant chooses to provide it)

How Data Is Used:

  • Contest administration

  • Notifications and communications

  • Publication coordination

  • Optional newsletters (only if Entrant opts in)

Data Is Not Shared:
Quibble does not sell or share personal data with third parties.

Storage:
Submissions may be stored in Submittable, Google Drive, or secure internal systems. Judges receive only anonymized audio.

7. Refund & Withdrawal Policy

Entry fees are non-refundable.
This includes withdrawals, disqualifications, incomplete entries, or technical issues outside the Organizer’s control.

Entrants may withdraw their submission before judging begins.
If a poem is accepted elsewhere, Entrants must withdraw it immediately.

8. Disqualification

The Organizer may disqualify any submission for:

  • Identifying information in audio/transcript

  • Exceeding the 2-minute limit

  • AI-generated text or voice

  • Hate speech or targeted harmful content

  • Plagiarism

  • Failure to follow submission rules

  • Abusive communication toward staff or judges

Disqualification does not entitle Entrants to a refund.

9. Organizer’s Rights

Quibble reserves the right to:

  • Adjust timelines (e.g., for volume or emergencies)

  • Replace judges if necessary

  • Withhold awards if insufficient eligible entries are received

  • Correct minor formatting or metadata errors

  • Remove submissions that violate these Terms

Quibble will never alter a poet’s artistic content.

10. Limitations of Liability

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

  • Technical issues, outages, or corruption

  • Delayed or lost communications

  • Judge availability

  • Unauthorized third-party reposting

  • Any damages or losses arising from participation

Entrants are responsible for maintaining backup copies of their work.

11. Agreement

By submitting, Entrants confirm:

  • They have read and agree to these Terms

  • They are the sole author of the submitted work

  • They grant Quibble the listed non-exclusive rights upon selection

  • Their entry fee is non-refundable

  • All judging decisions are final