Since 2024, the SFPA has coordinated a series of virtual poetry readings with a Valentines Day theme by current SFPA members.
Curated by a volunteer editor during the months of January and February each year, recordings of accepted poems are then hosted on the SFPA website, along with art and poet biographies, if desired.
Submission Guidelines
Submissions to the Valentines Day Readings page are currently closed. The guidelines below will be updated to include a submissions email address in early January of each year.
- SFPA's Valentines Day Poetry Reading shares our enjoyment of speculative poetry with a broader audience, increases awareness of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Poetry Association, and promotes the individual poets who take part.
- All SFPA members are welcome to submit up to four audio files of themselves reading a thematically appropriate speculative poem.
- Please note that images and poetry generated wholly or in part by generative AI will not be accepted, per the SFPA's statement on generative AI.
- Reprints are allowed. Please provide the name of the publication and date of first appearance (If your work is available online, please include the link).
- No payment. SFPA acquires one-time electronic rights for audio and images. (Please note that for the purposes of Rhysling Award nominations, posting on the SFPA poetry page counts as publication.)
- Please send all material by February 14. Accepted work will be added throughout the months of January and February.
- If you are uncomfortable reading aloud or are unable to make the audio recording yourself, contact the editor or ask someone else to read your poem for you and provide the name of the reader.
- QUESTIONS? Email editor regarding submissions or the Valentines Day page with the subject line "SFPA Valentines Day."