curated by Miguel O. Mitchell
Miguel O. Mitchell, PhD, is a retired research chemist and professor, an award-winning visual artist in the metro DC area, an SFF author, and a speculative poet. Two of Miguel‘s poems were nominated for the 2022 Rhysling Award for Long Poem.
SFPA's Halloween 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 one audio file per person of themselves reading one of their spooky, haunting, ghoulish, or humorous Halloween or horror poems. See the 2021 Halloween Poetry Reading or earlier years for examples.
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.
We also want Halloween-themed artwork! See guidelines below. Please feel free to include a brief explanation of your poems or images if desired (not a requirement).
Previous Halloween Readings
2021 |
2020 2019 2018 |
2017 2016 2015 |
2014 2013 2012 |
2011 2010 2009 |
2008 2007 2006 |
All publication rights revert to poet.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
- Submissions are open to current SFPA members only. (Not a member? It's quick, easy, and inexpensive to join).
- Send up to 5 audio poems in mp3 format and/or 5 images in 300-pixel-wide .jpeg or .png format, with a 100-word-max bio, to the editor at miguelmitchell@comcast.net with the subject line: "SFPA 2021 Halloween: [Creator's name]." No more than one poem per poet will be accepted. Preference will be given to artwork submitted by poets to complement their poems.
- 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.)
- DEADLINE: Submissions open September 1. Please send all material by October 26. Accepted work will be added throughout the month of October.
- Please keep in mind when selecting a poem to record that Halloween is a popular children's holiday. If we feel that there is a problem with using a specific piece, either because of the content of the poem or the quality of the recording, the editor will contact the poet about it directly.
- QUESTIONS? Email editor regarding submissions or the Halloween page at miguelmitchell@comcast.net with the subject line "SFPA Halloween."
