HWA Poetry Showcase Volume XII Now Open for Submissions

The HWA is proud to announce that it will call for submissions from its members for the HWA Poetry Showcase Volume XII beginning April 1, 2025. Maxwell I. Gold will be the editor for the volume.

This year’s judges, along with Maxwell, will include Jewelle Gomez, Jonathan Maberry, Cynthia Pelayo, and Bryan Thao Worra.

Maxwell I. Gold has agreed to take over as the editor for the next two volumes to follow HWA Poetry Showcase volumes XIII and XIV.

The cover for Showcase Volume XII will be designed and illustrated by Dan V. Sauer.

Only HWA members (of any status) may submit. Non-members may also submit, but if their poem is accepted, they must become members of the HWA (of any status) prior to publication. The reason for this can be found in the word “Showcase.” The HWA is very proud of the tradition of poetry in the horror genre and of the HWA’s support for poetry. This volume is limited to members of the HWA in order to showcase their talents in dark poetry. We will verify membership and if a non-member submits, they must obtain some level of membership prior to the final cut for the volume to be considered.

The rules for this year’s volume will be similar to previous years:

1. No more than 35 lines. Each author or group of collaborators on a single poem may only submit one (1) poem. Speculative and dark verse is welcome, but it should have a “horror” slant.
2. No fancy formatting, dual columns, lining of poems in the center of the page, poems that require strange configurations to look like an image and similar formatting. This is difficult to translate to a single page for publishing. Poems should be submitted in .RTF, .TXT, or Word formats.
3. Any form—free verse, metered, rhyming, haiku, Tanka etc.—is acceptable. Works within dark speculative, gothic, folk horror, and other traditional forms and structures are acceptable; however, if poets choose more well-known and traditional formats, please avoid cliché if at all possible. We want to read work written in your voice.
4. English only, please.
5. No previously published works or simultaneous submissions.
6. Rights will revert on publication with the HWA retaining the right to use the poem in relation to promote the volume.
7. PAYMENT: The HWA will pay contributors a flat rate of $35 (thirty-five USD). Contributors will also receive a paperback copy of the volume.
8. HWA will also provide accepted authors with an e-copy of the volume.

Submissions open April 1 to celebrate National Poetry Month. Submit HERE.

Submissions will close May 1 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

This is a great opportunity to help the HWA celebrate and promote the contribution of poetry to the genre. We look forward to reading your work.