What happens after I submit my fluxwork?
We’ll be in touch by email after the deadline (August 31) to let all entrants know about our timeline and next steps.

When will you announce the Circuit 08 finalists?
Finalist producers will be notified by mid-September, announced shortly after, then shared publicly at Transom 25 (Sept 17-19), the XMTR Audio Arts Festival (Sept 25-27) and at RESONATE (Oct 15-17).

When will you announce the Circuit Selects?
Six Circuit Select producers will be notified by November 1, announced publicly shortly after, and showcased November 14 in Portland, ME, at an event hosted by Maine Public.

How strict is this 3-minute prompt?
We encourage you to embrace the challenge of landing right at 3:00! But can also be a little bit (dare we say) fluxible. That said, we recommend not pushing it with submissions that are shorter than 2:55 or longer than 3:05. But c’mon. You can do it. 3:00.

How did you end up with Ragged Coast Chocolates as your creative partner?
Purely through serendipity! Audio Flux co-founder Julie Shapiro’s husband sweetly presented her with a box of Ragged Coast chocolates for Valentines’s Day, and she was smitten with both their taste and story. Julie reached out to the company, met Kate Shaffer, and pitched the idea of partnering to encourage short audio stories inspired by chocolate and other sweet treats. Kate is also a writer, and told us that she found her way into chocolate-making because she realized there’s an abundance of narratives in the process of making chocolate, in giving and receiving chocolate, and — of course — in eating chocolate. So yeh, Kate / Ragged Coast is a perfect partner for Audio Flux!

If I’m not around my home in August, is it ok to interview someone within one mile / kilometer of wherever I happen to be?
We would never want to penalize anyone for traveling or vacationing during our open call! If you find yourself away from home during this time, you are welcome to interpret the prompt according to wherever you are. The point is simply to meet someone in your vicinity, who you might not, otherwise, and who somehow fits into a story you’ve discovered and want to share in a fluxwork.

What if no one else is within one mile / kilometer of me?
If you can’t find anyone within 1 mile / kilometer, then widen the boundary to, say, 2.5 miles / kilometers, or whatever makes sense for where you are. The point is to meet someone you don’t know in your vicinity, and the exact size of “vicinity” may look different for someone in a city and someone in the country.

What do you mean by “Incorporate an audible sonic fluctuation (inspired by the repeated heating and cooling of the chocolate-tempering process)”?
In our initial conversation with Kate, we asked her to describe the process of making chocolate. When she started talking about tempering we all leaned in, and realized we could map a very cool production prompt onto the idea of ‘fluctuatating temperatures.’ We ask you to think about ways your audio may fluctuate across your fluxwork, whether it’s in levels, via panning, in overall energy or temperament, or something else entirely. Any part of your production that vacillates audibly will count as a ‘sonic fluctuation.’ We’ll ask you to describe your sonic fluctuation in the submission form.

Can I use music from the public domain or royalty-free music? What about a paid music library?
It's absolutely fine to use materials from a paid music library and the public domain. In the case of royalty-free options, you should check the attribution stipulations which are usually laid out clearly. Don’t forget to add needed attributions to our form when you submit your fluxwork.

How did you end up working with Transom The Listeners for Circuit 08?
We’re big fans of Transom, and when they announced The Listeners we were immediately inspired and intrigued by the project. When Transom ED Sophie Crane reached out to see if there might be a The Listeners / Audio Flux collaboration in the stars, we immediately said yes, and knew we’d figure something out for Circuit 08. After meeting Kate, and realizing how integral the idea of local food production is for Ragged Coast, the overlapping theme of local stories was obvious.

I’ve submitted to previous circuits. Is it ok to submit again?
100% yes! You are welcome to submit to any and every circuit, even if your fluxwork is selected as a finalist or Circuit Select.

Can I work with a partner or team on my fluxwork?
You’re very welcome to partner up. However, should your fluxwork be chosen as a Circuit Select, you’ll only receive 1x the honorarium of $750.

Can I submit a fluxwork from outside the US?
Yes yes yes! We hope to hear fluxworks from all over the world.

Can I submit a non-English fluxwork?
Oui, si, ja, da… and so on. If you do, we’ll ask that you also send us a subtitled video and English transcript.

Do I have to commit to being present for the live premiere in Portland, in November?
No, if your fluxwork is chosen as a Circuit Select you will not be obligated to attend the premiere of Circuit 08 in November. But we hope you can make it, and if possible will offer a small travel stipend to help you get there.

Can I adapt a previously-produced story for Audio Flux?
Not if this previously-produced story has been published anywhere. Your fluxwork should by and large be an original piece, crafted in response to the Circuit prompts. (With all due respect, this is pretty much the point of Audio Flux.)

Will Audio Flux offer any editorial support?
Given the expected volume of submissions, we’re not able to offer editorial support. But we always encourage people to share their work with colleagues or peers for feedback, before submitting.

How do you pick your Circuit Selects?
The Audio Flux team will listen to every submission and decide on a list of twelve Finalists, which will then be shared with a selection committee. Every person on the committee will vote for four submissions based on originality, story choice, use of prompts, use of sound, and overall impression. The Circuit 08 selection committee will include the AF team, fluxmakers from Circuit 06, representatives from our partners (Ragged Coast Chocolates, Transom and Maine Public) and votes cast by audiences at Transom 25, XMTR, and RESONATE, who will listen to all Finalists and choose their favorites.

Can I post my fluxwork on my website or another podcast?
If your submission is chosen as a Circuit Select it will be shared widely and featured on this website and in the Audio Flux Podcast. You’re also welcome to share your fluxwork elsewhere – we just ask that you keep us informed about other public opportunities, and credit Audio Flux in those instances, à la "This piece was originally produced for Audio Flux."

Do I have to pay or sign anything to submit a fluxwork?
No, it’s absolutely free to submit your work! We do ask that you read and acknowledge having read our official rules, along with your submission, which include terms relevant to if/when your fluxwork is chosen as a Circuit Select, and which give Audio Flux permission to feature your fluxwork on our website, at AF events and related opportunities, and in our podcast. Please note that we have done our best to tailor our agreement to be creator-friendly!

Will I own my fluxwork after submitting it?
Yes, you retain ownership of your fluxwork whether or not it’s chosen as a Circuit Select. Terms outlining permission and usage can be found in our Circuit 08 official rules.

Can I develop a longer piece, series or show from my fluxwork?
Yes! We hope that your fluxwork inspires you toward more production. If it’s chosen as a Circuit Select,  we’ll ask you to agree to some parameters around timing and crediting, and will loudly cheer you on from the sidelines.

Why should I submit a fluxwork?
Respectfully… why not?! The stakes are low and the reward it shigh. It’s a great way to explore a new storytelling or productiontechnique, or to dive in for the first time. You can team up with a friend or someone you’ve always wanted to collaborate with. We bet you’ll learn something about working with audio, and are certain you’ll learn more about yourself as a creator. You may win some money, and a splash of audio glory, to boot! And you’ll be participating in an international community of audio souls.