What is the SFPA?
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association (SFPA) was founded in 1978 to bring together poets and readers interested in speculative poetry. Today, the SFPA is a registered non-profit with an ongoing mission to connect readers and writers of imaginative verse.
The organization publishes two magazines and multiple annual anthologies, coordinates an annual poetry contest alongside prestigious annual awards for poets worldwide, and strives to keep its members informed about all things speculative poetry.
(image credit: JPL/NASA/ESA/STScI)
What is Speculative Poetry?
Everybody has a unique definition for "speculative poetry." To be sure, it is poetry (we'll leave that definition to you), but it’s poetry with some element of speculation in the narrow sense—usually science fiction, fantasy, or horror, though some include straight science or unclassifiable strangeness.
SFPA’s founder, Suzette Haden Elgin, shared her thoughts on sf poetry in an essay from 1999 titled “About Science Fiction Poetry.”
Latest News and Updates
- 2025 SFPA Poetry Contest Winners
- SFPA September 2025 Round-Up
- 2025 Elgin and Rhysling Winners Announced
- 2025 Dwarf Stars Winners Announced
Publications and Awards
SFPA publishes two magazines and two annual online celebrations of poetry (one at Halloween and one on Valentine's Day). The organization also runs an annual contest and several awards for speculative poetry and poets.
Star*Line
Star*Line features interviews, articles, reviews, news and letters, association business, and poetry by members and nonmembers.
Annual Contest
SFPA runs an annual, fee-based contest to celebrate the best new poetry each year. There are three categories, organized by the length of the entries.
Halloween Reading
Each October, SFPA hosts a virtual reading, featuring SFPA members reading their new and reprinted poetry about the spooky season.
Valentine's Day Reading
Every February, SFPA hosts a virtual reading, featuring SFPA members reading their new and reprinted poetry about love.
Speculative Poetry Resources
Need to know where to submit a poem? Wondering what new books about speculative poetry have been published this year—or what new poems have been published this month? SFPA's speculative poetry resources have you covered!
Monthly Roundup
Our monthly roundup feature shares the latest poems from SFPA members. This long-running resource is updated each month by member Michael Payne.
Market List
Need to know where to send a speculative poem? The SFPA's market list is a living document that collects active poetry publications, sorted by pay rate.
And More...
Our market list and member round-ups aren't all we have to offer!
SFPA maintains a number of other resources, which you can find at the link below.
Join Us!
Members receive an annual subscription to Star*Line, as well as annual anthologies of the poems nominated for our awards. Members can also nominate and vote for the Rhysling and Elgin awards, as well as in SFPA elections. Most importantly, your membership helps support SFPA's mission of promoting great speculative poetry!