Star*Line is the official print journal of the SFPA, established in 1978. It is a literary venue for speculative (including science-fiction, fantasy, and horror) poets and poetry enthusiasts, and features interviews, articles, reviews, member news and letters, association business, and poetry—by members and nonmembers.
The journal has been published since the founding of the SFPA in January 1978 by Suzette Haden Elgin, along with the Rhysling Awards. In the beginning, Star*Line was the association's newsletter, but since that time it has become not only an SFPA forum and networking tool, but a literary magazine for poets of the genre persuasion: imaginative poetry from hard science fiction to high fantasy, from the macabre to straight science, and from rigid formalism to experimental and surrealist works.
Currently, Star*Line is published quarterly. Print editions are saddle-stitched, and printed on 5.5" x 8.5" paper with a cardstock cover. PDF editions are also available.
Read more about the history of Star*Line
Current Issue: Star*Line 48.3 (Summer 2025)
Menu
Editorial Staff
Editor
A time traveling arsonist, John Reinhart writes in ashes by candlelight. Winner of the Horror Writers Association Dark Poetry Scholarship, Reinhart writes poetry ranging from heartfelt to heartwrenching to robots in space with no hearts. Former editor at Poetry Nook, he edited the garbage-themed issue of Eye to the Telescope, has chaired the SFPA contest, runs the Inkblot student writing contest in Maine, and also manages the Poetry Across Maine project - an oral history/documentary self-guided tour of Maine through poetry. More at http://home.hampshire.edu/~jcr00/reinhart.html John became the editor of Star*Line starting with issue 48.2.
Layout and Production
F.J. Bergmann
Submission Guidelines
Although Star*Line is the official journal of the SFPA, anyone can submit!
Poetry Guidelines
Please send up to five poems of any length in a single email.
Unless your work has unusual formatting requirements, please paste your poetry in the body of the email. For work which absolutely requires it, you may attach a file in .DOC or .RTF format.
We do not accept reprints for poetry.
When and How Often to Submit
We are always open for submissions, and typically take two weeks to respond. Please submit no more than once a month.
Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Please let us know as soon as possible if a piece you have sent us is accepted somewhere else.
Non-Fiction Guidelines
Star*Line accepts short articles on topics related to science-fiction, fantasy, and horror speculative poetry.
Art Guidelines
Submit artwork as a 300-dpi .jpg or .tif, or send a link to your online portfolio.
Color art for covers will be considered, but print issue interiors are black-and-white.
Chapbook and Book Reviews
If you have a book, chapbook, anthology, or collection containing or related to poetry within the SF/F/H/spec genres, you may send a copy to the Star*Line editor by either snail- or e-mail. Although we are happy to consider all submissions for review, we cannot guarantee we will cover your book.
Authors interested in writing reviews should e-mail the editor. Unsolicited book reviews are also welcome.
Rights
Star*Line requires First North American Serial Rights and First Electronic Rights for poetry, reviews, non-fiction, and essays. For art, we require permission to reproduce your work in electronic and print form.
There is no exclusivity period on content published in Star*Line, and all other rights remain with the author.
Payment for Accepted Submissions
Star*Line pays 5¢ per word for poems, with a minimum of $5 and maximum of $25.
Book (or chapbook) reviews are a flat $5. Reviews are excerpted in Star*Line, but are published in full online.
Articles/essays are 3¢ per word.
We pay $20 plus 5 copies for cover art, and $6 for interior art.
Star*Line pays on publication, and all contributors also receive one print copy of the magazine.
AI Generated Content
Star*Line does not accept AI-generated content of any kind.
Please see the SFPA's Statement on Generative AI for more detail.
How to Submit
Please send all Star*Line submissions to the editor at starlineeditor@gmail.com, with the subject line “S*L sub” followed by your last name. See the guidelines for each type of submission above to determine whether you should send your content as an attachment or in the body of the email.
Postal submissions with SASE accepted only if you do not have access to email. No IRCs; SASE not required for international postal submissions or from those incarcerated.
John Reinhart, Star*Line
20 Cedar St
Brunswick ME 04011
USA
Purchasing or Subscribing to Star*Line
Note that a subscription to Star*Line is included in SFPA membership. If you would like to purchase individual issues or subscribe without becoming a member, please see the rates listed below. Prices are in US dollars.
Annual rates
$10 .pdf (includes Dwarf Stars)
$24 print (USA)
$28 print (Can/Mex)
$30 print (overseas)
10% discount to libraries
For annual subscriptions, the issue with which the subscription will expire is printed on the mailing label.
Single issues
$2.50 .pdf
$5 print (+ $2 U.S./$4 international postage)
How to Order
All payments should be made via PayPal to sfpatreasurer@gmail.com. You do not need to have a PayPal account, as credit card payments are accepted through PayPal.
Please note that we no longer accept check payments (or pay Star*Line contributors via check) except in extenuating or special circumstances—complete lack of regular internet access, restrictive economic and / or life situation, etc. Please email the Treasurer at sfpatreasurer@gmail.com directly if this is the case.
Star*Line Archives
The covers, contributors, and tables of contents for all prior issues of Star*Line, along with selected poems, can be viewed on the Star*Line Archives page.
An archive of book reviews first published in Star*Line can be viewed on the book reviews page.
Advertise in Star*Line
Advertising is available in Star*Line at reasonable rates for items of interest to speculative poets and poetry readers.
For details and costs, please see SFPA's advertising page.