How the Farnham Audiobook Competition works

 

Entry & eligibility

• Who can enter: Anyone, anywhere. Entries must be in English.

• What to submit: The first three chapters of your audiobook (or up to 30 minutes of audio if chapters are long).

• Format: ACX Promo code for United Kingdom

• Entry fee: £25. Where required, we also offer a no-purchase route so everyone remains eligible.

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How judging works

We score audiobook submissions against clear categories using a published rubric. Each longlisted entry is anonymized and heard by multiple independent judges.

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Rubric & weights

• Characterization — 20%
  We’re listening for vivid, believable characters and engaging performances.

• Setting — 20%
  How well does the audio bring the world alive? Atmosphere, place, and time matter here.

• Voice & Narration — 20%
  Distinctive, confident narration counts. We especially celebrate Anglo-Saxon and Celtic voices, but all unique and compelling narrators are welcome.

• Production Quality — 35%
  Clear diction, balanced sound, and immersive choices—such as music, sound effects, pacing, or vocal layering—that help build the audio world.

• Spelling / Grammar  /Repetition— 5%
  Yes, even in audio: clean scripts, smooth phrasing, and error-free text support a polished performance.

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Process

• Bronze Awards and above: Roughly 20% of entries based on scores, capped at 20–25 submissions.

• Independent judging: At least three qualified judges evaluate every longlisted, anonymised entry. All judges sign conflict-of-interest declarations.

• Scoring & winners: Judges assign numeric scores; rankings are based on the average. Ties use skill-based tie-breakers (e.g., higher originality score, then adherence to brief).

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Fairness, originality & transparency

• Anonymity: Files are anonymized during judging to reduce bias.

• Originality: Submissions must be your own work. We check for plagiarism and disqualify copied material.

• Records: We keep time-stamped score sheets to demonstrate a skill-based outcome and for transparency.

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Intellectual property

• You retain copyright unless you’ve agreed otherwise. By entering, you grant us a non-exclusive right to publish excerpts for promotional purposes (see our Terms & Conditions for details).

• Longlisted entries may be included in a curated listening collection as part of the Farnham Audiobook Competition winners series. Authors may request removal by emailing sally@flashfiction500.com.

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Notifications & prizes

• Winners are notified by email within 14 days. Prizes are awarded as described on the competition page.

• Unclaimed prizes will be held for two years.

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Awards

• 1 x Platinum Farnham Audio Book 2026

• 3 x Gold Farnham Audio Book 2026

• 10 x Silver Farnham Audio Book 2026

• 10 x Bronze Farnham Audio Book 2026​

• All Winning entries will receive a minimum 4/5 star review on ACX noting Farnham Award with commentary and be listed for 12 months on the AudioBooksUK.com website.

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Why this is a skill contest

Our published rubric, multiple independent judges, anonymized scoring, and recorded score sheets ensure results depend on demonstrated audiobook craft—not luck.

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Free entry places

Five free entry places are available each round. These are reserved for creators from low-income or underrepresented backgrounds for whom the fee would be a genuine barrier.

How to apply

• Email sally@flashfiction500.com with subject line “Free Entry Application.” Include your name, location, and audiobook title. No documents needed—applications are accepted on trust.

• Applications are considered in order of receipt. Once all five places are allocated, later applicants will be notified and invited to apply for the next round.

• Free entries are anonymised and judged exactly the same way as paid entries.

• Deadline for free-entry applications is 14 days before the main deadline (e.g., if the competition closes on 15 Feb, free-entry applications close on 1 Feb) to allow for processing.

Got questions? We’re friendly—just ask!