Call for Poets! Queer crip spec poetry
I'm editing a round-robin poetry-in-conversation anthology of queer/trans disabled speculative poetry!!
For more detailed information on the process, eligibility, about me, or to apply, see the call for submissions at Interstellar Flight Press. Note that all our terms - queer/trans, disabled, speculative - are being defined as broadly as possible, so please don’t self-reject! We want you here!
(Not a poet, or not queer or disabled? Consider sharing this with someone who is! You can also share my post on Instagram.)
How it works
This is different from a standard anthology: it’s a conversational, round-robin format.
I’ll be selecting poets, but I am not selecting the individual poems. Poems received in the submissions process are to give us a sense of each poet, and aren’t binding to the anthology.
Instead: poets will be split into small groups. In each group, someone will kick things off with a poem (reprint, or unpublished). The next poet in line will choose one of their own poems in response to the first. Then the next poet in response to the second, etc, until we finish the group. Poets will also be asked to submit a short statement about their choice and reasons (with access support to create this as needed). At the end of the group, we’ll gather virtually for a facilitated discussion of the pieces and experience, which will be transcribed for publication alongside the poems.
Everything will be released sequentially through IFP’s website, and ultimately collected in an anthology.
Where it came from
This idea was first hatched in 2022 while preparing for a disability poetry conversation with Eli Clare, Judith Chalmer, and the late Deborah Lisi-Baker. It struck me how different it felt to discuss our work on our terms in our shared (but never identical) context and I realized how hungry I was for more chances to do that. I wrote about it in the second-ever issue of this newsletter.
In 2023 I participated in a (majority queer-disabled) poetry reading with Interstellar Flight and talked about this idea, and managing editor Holly jumped on it. It took us a year to be ready to open but now we are! I am so excited this is happening and I can’t wait to see what emerges.
What we’re looking for
We are looking for poets who are: queer and/or trans (broadly defined), and disabled (broadly defined, including but not limited to sensory, mobility, developmental disabilities, chronic illness, mental health/Mad folk, neurodivergence, etcetcetc), and whose work is at least sometimes speculative (not just sci-fi or fantasy, but any non-realism).
For more details, see the call!
Other details
Call is open until: December 1
Reprints and unpublished work both welcome
Payment: $50 honorarium
If you have questions, or run into any difficulties, please be in touch.
I hope to see you in my submissions folder soon, poet friends! :)
-toby
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