2026 Poetry Showcase Submissions

Call for Submissions for Poetry Showcase Volume XIII 

The HWA is proud to announce that it will call for submissions from its members for the HWA Poetry Showcase Volume XIII.

Colleen Anderson has agreed to take over as the editor for the next two volumes to follow, HWA Poetry Showcase volumes XIII and XIV. This year’s judges, along with Colleen Anderson, will include Kyla Lee Ward, Erik Hofstatter and Jamal Hodge. 

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 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. But, if you do use a more traditional form, please remember that poor writing, overly heavy reliance on cliché and imitation will significantly reduce any chances of acceptance. We need good poetry. For example: George (Lord Byron) Gordon already owns the phrase “She walks in beauty, like the night.” Evangeline Walton and many others have overused the phrase “She Walks in Darkness.” Stay away from these type of archetypal clichés.
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 promoting the volume.
7. PAYMENT: The HWA will pay contributors a flat rate of $35.00 (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 will close May 1 at 11:59PM PST.

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.