Quibble, an online & print lit mag for prose, poetry, and art, is excited to open submissions for PASTEL: Volume VI of Quibble Lit!
Check out the website to get a sense of the publication.
Selected submissions will be published online at Quibblelit.com and promoted across our platforms. They will also appear in print in PASTEL – Volume VI of Quibble Lit, to be published in late November/December 2025. Contributing authors will receive a complimentary copy.
By submitting, you consent to publication online and in print. You retain all rights to your work—Quibble only wishes to share your writing, not own or profit from it.
Theme: Pastel
This volume’s theme is Pastel. We selected this word for its evocations of color, delicacy, softness, and subtlety—but also its layered meanings: the sketch beneath the final painting, the muted voice, the gentle mood. We invite you to interpret it widely—personally, creatively, literally, and metaphorically.
As always, our themes are a creative challenge, not a hard requirement—but our guidelines are required.
Submission Guidelines
- Prose: Submit a single work of no more than 2,000 words.
- Poetry & Art: Submit up to 3 pieces.
- Include a short personal bio (third person).
Document Specifications
- File type: .doc or .docx only
- Format: single-spaced, 12pt, standard readable typeface (Times New Roman, Georgia, etc.)
Simultaneous submissions are welcome—please notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Compensation
At the moment, we can only afford to offer complimentary copies to our authors for agreement to share their work online and in print.
While we wish the compensation were greater, we will take whatever measure we can to help share your story and promote you or your brand on social media, email, and any other channels.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Ps&Qs Audio Poem Awards celebrate poetry that rises beyond the page and comes fully alive through voice, breath, cadence, and performance. This a blind, audio-only prize contest. We’re looking for poems that thrive in their spoken form—pieces where sound and presence are the craft.
- Submission Window: December 1 – March 1 (11:59 PM EST)
- Entry Fee: $8 per poem
- Prizes: $250 / $125 / $75 + 6 Superlatives ($25 each) + publication + showcase
WHAT TO SUBMIT
We accept one audio poem per entry.
Audio Requirements
- Length: Poem recording up to 2:00
- You may include up to 15 seconds extra for title only (no other spoken info)
- Total file length must not exceed 2:15
- File formats accepted: MP3, WAV, M4A
- No background music, sound effects, or multitrack mixing
- Light noise reduction / leveling is fine
Transcript (Required) Please upload a written transcript of your poem (PDF or Word). Transcripts are not shared with judges — they are used only for accessibility and captioning. Multiple Entries You may submit multiple poems; each requires its own entry and fee. ELIGIBILITY Open to all poets, all backgrounds, all regions.
Eligible Work
- New, unpublished audio recordings
- For 2026, we're able to review English poetry only
- Print-published poems are allowed only if the audio is newly recorded (shared consent is important too!)
Not Eligible
- AI-generated text or AI voice performance
- Audio previously published anywhere public (podcasts, YouTube, social media, etc.)
- Poems containing identifying information spoken aloud
- Work created or edited with multitrack audio production or added soundbeds
JUDGING PROCESS
Judging is blind and based entirely on the audio experience.
The Top 3 Awards will be selected by a five-judge panel representing performance poetry, editorial craft, indie publishing, and contemporary poetics:
- Jeff Bogle — Stanchion
- Derrick Brown — Write Bloody Publishing
- Leah Browning — Apple Valley Review
- Maria Giesbrecht — Gather
- Timothy Green — The Poetry Space_
- Zuri McWhorter — Juste Milieu Zine
All audio files are anonymized and scrubbed of metadata before judges receive them.
Evaluation Criteria
Judges consider:
- Sonic quality: breath, rhythm, pacing, clarity
- Voice & presence
- Craft: language, structure, originality
- Emotional or atmospheric impact
- Performance & embodiment
- How strongly the poem succeeds as audio-first
PRIZES Finalist Awards
- 1st Place — $250 + publication + feature showcase
- 2nd Place — $125 + publication
- 3rd Place — $75 + publication
Six Superlative Category Awards Each Superlative Winner receives:
- $25
- Publication
- Digital certificate
- Feature in Showcase
Superlative Categories:
- Most Humorful
- Most Heartbreaking
- Most Phonetic
- Most Haunting
- Best Sonic Experimentation
- Best Use of Silence
Finalist Showcase Finalists - once notified - may optionally submit:
- A video performance
- A cleaned-up re-recording (if desired)
RIGHTS
Poets retain full copyright to their work.
By submitting, you grant Quibble Lit non-exclusive rights to:
- Publish the audio
- Publish the transcript
- Publish an optional finalist video
- Share brief promotional excerpts
- Archive the work on the Ps&Qs landing page
You may publish your poem elsewhere at any time.
CONFIDENTIALITY & BLINDNESS
- Judges receive audio only
- No names or transcripts are provided
- Metadata is stripped
- If another judge recognizes a voice, they notify the coordinator and recuse from that selection
GENERAL TERMS
- Entry fees are non-refundable
- You may withdraw before judging begins
- If accepted elsewhere, please withdraw immediately
- Disqualification may occur for rule violations, identifying information, or audio over time limit
- Quibble Lit reserves the right to adjust timelines if necessary
TIMELINE
- Dec 1 — Submissions open
- Mar 1 — Submissions close
- Mar 8 — Finalist playlist released to judges
- Mar 27 — Judge selections due
- April 1 — Winners announced + honoraria distributed
HOW TO PREPARE A STRONG ENTRY (Optional but recommended for Submittable)
- Find a quiet room; minimize background noise
- Speak clearly, naturally — no need for performance theatrics unless intentional
- Use your phone or laptop mic — studio equipment not required
- Take a breath before you begin
- Keep pacing mindful: smaller poems often land stronger in audio
- Avoid rushing; silence is part of the craft
QUESTIONS?
Email: Editor@quibblelit.com
Website: quibblelit.com/psandqs
Lift your poem beyond the page — we can’t wait to hear your work.
The Quibble Editorial Review provides constructive, personalized feedback from two editors—one from the Quibble team and one guest editor—to help writers strengthen their work and better understand their craft.
- Fee: $40 flat
- Turnaround: Within 4 weeks
- Scope: Up to 2,000 words of prose (one or two excerpts) or up to 4 poems
- Editors: Garrett Souliere + a rotating second editor from the Quibble Lit team
This service is separate from Quibble's publication cycle. It exists to offer writers honest, encouraging feedback while supporting Quibble's mission to make writing mean more.
What You Receive
Each submission receives:
- TWO distinct perspectives: Feedback from both a Quibble editor and a guest editor—providing complementary insights into your work.
- Individual editorial letters: Each editor writes 200–250 words (roughly one short page) of feedback. Combined, you receive 400–500 words of thoughtful, tailored response.
- Craft-based evaluation: Commentary on structure, tone, clarity, cohesion, and emotional resonance.
- Actionable suggestions: Guidance on next steps for revision, submission, or experimentation.
- Encouragement and direction: Notes focused on your strengths, growth, and writing goals.
- Professional editorial tone: Feedback that is honest, respectful, and supportive.
- Reasonable timeline: Receive all notes within 4 weeks of submission.
Receive professional, affordable insight, while supporting a mission of community-centered artists and their editors.
Quibble, an online & print literary magazine for prose, poetry, and art, is thrilled to open submissions for PEOPLE: Volume VII of Quibble Lit.
Work selected for this volume will be published online at QuibbleLit.com, shared across our platforms, and collected in our print edition—scheduled for release in February/March 2026. Contributing authors receive a complimentary print copy.
At Quibble, you retain all rights to your work. We never ask for exclusivity or ownership—only the chance to celebrate your writing and share it with our readers (and respect other publishers' agreements).
Theme: PEOPLE
This volume’s theme is PEOPLE—a word stretching across countless stories, identities, communities, contradictions, and constellations of connection.
We invite you to explore it broadly or intimately: portraits, crowds, strangers, ancestors, avatars, alter-egos, lovers, enemies, neighbors, selves.
As always, our themes are a creative prompt, not a requirement. The guidelines below are required.
Submission Guidelines
Prose
Submit one piece of fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid prose, up to 2,000 words.
Poetry & Art
Submit up to 3 poems and/or 3 visual art pieces.
Author Bio
Include a short, third-person bio in your document or submission form.
Document Specifications
- File types: .doc or .docx
- Formatting: single-spaced, 12pt, readable standard typeface (Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, etc.)
- File name:
LastName_Title(or similar clear labeling)
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Just notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Quibble, an online & print literary magazine for prose, poetry, and art, is thrilled to open submissions for PEOPLE: Volume VII of Quibble Lit.
Work selected for this volume will be published online at QuibbleLit.com, shared across our platforms, and collected in our print edition—scheduled for release in February/March 2026. Contributing authors receive a complimentary print copy.
At Quibble, you retain all rights to your work. We never ask for exclusivity or ownership—only the chance to celebrate your writing and share it with our readers (and respect other publishers' agreements).
Theme: PEOPLE
This volume’s theme is PEOPLE—a word stretching across countless stories, identities, communities, contradictions, and constellations of connection. We invite you to explore it broadly or intimately: portraits, crowds, strangers, ancestors, avatars, alter-egos, lovers, enemies, neighbors, selves.
As always, our themes are a creative prompt, not a requirement. The guidelines below are required.
Submission Guidelines
Prose
Submit one piece of fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid prose, up to 2,000 words.
Poetry & Art
Submit up to 3 poems and/or 3 visual art pieces.
Author Bio
Include a short, third-person bio in your document or submission form.
Document Specifications
- File types: .doc or .docx
- Formatting: single-spaced, 12pt, readable standard typeface (Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, etc.)
- File name: LastName_Title (or similar clear labeling)
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Just notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.
Quibble, an online & print literary magazine for prose, poetry, and art, is thrilled to open submissions for PEOPLE: Volume VII of Quibble Lit.
Work selected for this volume will be published online at QuibbleLit.com, shared across our platforms, and collected in our print edition—scheduled for release in February/March 2026. Contributing authors receive a complimentary print copy.
At Quibble, you retain all rights to your work. We never ask for exclusivity or ownership—only the chance to celebrate your writing and share it with our readers (and respect other publishers' agreements).
Theme: PEOPLE
This volume’s theme is PEOPLE—a word stretching across countless stories, identities, communities, contradictions, and constellations of connection. We invite you to explore it broadly or intimately: portraits, crowds, strangers, ancestors, avatars, alter-egos, lovers, enemies, neighbors, selves.
As always, our themes are a creative prompt, not a requirement. The guidelines below are required.
Submission Guidelines
Prose
Submit one piece of fiction, nonfiction, or hybrid prose, up to 2,000 words.
Poetry & Art
Submit up to 3 poems and/or 3 visual art pieces.
Author Bio
Include a short, third-person bio in your document or submission form.
Document Specifications
- File types: .doc or .docx
- Formatting: single-spaced, 12pt, readable standard typeface (Times New Roman, Georgia, Garamond, etc.)
- File name: LastName_Title (or similar clear labeling)
Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Just notify us promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere.