During the third quarter of 2020, several paying journals and anthologies are open to submissions of sci-fi, fantasy, and/or horror poems that engage with set topics.
Here are a few opportunities available this July, August, and September to contribute themed SFF poetry to upcoming publications, listed in order of nearness of submission deadline:
Bracken (Issue VII) Theme: Corona Hopelings Deadline: unlisted (submissions open now!) What they want: Poems about hope and resilience written in response to the pandemic. Pieces can be of any form and genre, though the magazine regularly leans toward the fantastic.
Apparition Lit (Issue #11) Theme: Satisfaction Deadline: 31 Aug. 2020 (submissions open 15 Aug.) What they want: Previously unpublished poems with “obvious fantasy or sci-fi elements” that tackle the theme of satisfaction.
Eye to the Telescope (Issue #38) Theme: Cat People Deadline: 15 Sept. 2020 (submissions open now!) What they want: Science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror poetry of any form that deals with were-cats: humans who become housecats (or, presumably, lions, tigers, jaguars, lynxes, pumas, or any other creatures of a feline persuasion).
Wasatch Witches: A Collection of Utah Horror Theme: Utah Witches Deadline: 31 Oct. 2020 (submissions open now!) What they want: Horror poems about witchcraft and/or practitioners of witchcraft. NB: “A connection to Utah is required, either on the part of the author or the work itself.”
Timeless Tales (Issue #12) Theme: Tales of the Arabian Nights Deadline: April 2021 (submissions open now!) What they want: Poems retelling stories from the One Thousand and One Nights or relating original tales “featuring the creatures of Arabian/Islamic folklore.” NB: “Think twice before you send us an Aladdin retelling. […] Well-researched retellings will be considered, but if you're basing it off the Disney version, we aren't interested.”
I hope that even in the thick of what are for many very uncertain, stress-inducing times, poetry remains a joy and the words you most want to share with the world find their way onto the page and into people's lives. Keep well, everyone, and--if you can--keep writing!