Speculative Poetry Panel Ideas for 2018

This is a list that will be updated as more inspiration hits, but I know that many of our members are asking what kind of events they can propose in support of the SFPA Ruby Anniversary throughout 2018.

There’s no “Official” SFPA curriculum on speculative poetry as it stands, but our officers, ad hoc historians and others will certainly be happy to work with individual members to fine-tune various panel proposals or connect them with other members in the state or city for readings and events on these or similar subjects! 

Speculative Poetry Workshop (60 Minutes) It's the SFPA ruby anniversary and this year we’d like to see plenty of speculative poetry workshops filled with creative prompts and exercises in both short forms and longer forms to bring out your imaginative verse.

SFF Poetry Slam/Open Mic (60 to 120 Minutes)
Help getting the weekend off to an exciting start with a poetry slam, open mic for the convention. In some regions, members may prefer to do a round-robin approach, or both, if there’s particular support at the event for poetry readings. If you’re really daring, you can propose the Stately Thunderdome approach to SFF poetry readings. Themed readings are certainly encouraged. Do you want to do a reading of vampire or Godzilla-inspired poetry? Hard SFF poems? The sky’s the limit.

40 Years of the SFPA (60 Minutes)
A look at the origins of the SFPA, Suzette Haden Elgin, prior presidents, current membership and highlights and an introduction to the state of speculative poetry around the world today.

Rhysling Awards Retrospective (60 Minutes) The 40th anniversary Rhysling Awards will be revealed at Diversicon 26, but we encourage a look at Rhysling winners and nominees from previous years, including more thorough discussions of what trends we could see over the years among what the members preferred and didn’t. Alternate panel idea: Going Vogon: A challenge to make truly awful SFF Poems for consideration.

Grandmasters of Speculative Poetry (60 Minutes)
A look at the work of the SFPA Grand Masters. A discussion of the poetry work of David C. Kopaska Merkel, Marge Simon, Steve Sneyd, Jane Yolen, Ray Bradbury, Robert Frazier, and Bruce Boston and their contributions to the field of SFF Poetry.

Lady Poetesses From Hell and Other Midwestern Entities (60 Minutes)
A look at the Minnesota Speculative Poetry collective Lady Poetesses from Hell and other regional speculative poetry collectives and workshops of the Midwest.

SFPA Poetry Clinic (60+ Minutes or as time permits)
Volunteer poets, editors will meet with poets one on one or in small groups, depending on demand to look at 2-3 poems and provide feedback and critique on how to improve the poems for publication or performance.

Elgin Awards In Review (60 Minutes)
A look at the 2017 Elgin Award nominees and previous winners of the Elgin Awards and nominees of note that have been selected by our members from around the world.

Star*Lines, Dwarf Stars and Eyes to the Telescope, Oh My! (60 Minutes)
Past and present editors and contributors of the SFPA publications discuss the publications, editorial approach and what we're looking for in the years ahead.

Art of the SFPA (60 Minutes)
A look at the Star*Line, Rhysling and Dwarf Stars covers and interiors of the last 40 years, as well as other special projects of the organization over the decades.

SFPA Book-Off! (60 Minutes)
Shameless self-promotion time! SFPA members in town get 2 minutes to pitch us your newest or favorite book/anthology they've written that's available in the SFPA bookstore/table at the convention this year. No sample-reading, save it for the open-mics...

New Voices, New Verses (60 Minutes)
A look at the work of new first-time members of the SFPA from 2017-2018.

Speculative Verse, Pulitzer Prizes and Poet Laureates (60 Minutes)
A look at the work of Tracy K. Smith, US Poet Laureate, Pulitzer-prize winning author of the poetry collection Life On Mars.

Updating The ‘Verse (60 Minutes)
A Speculative Poetry News panel, with a special and a look at new and defunct Speculative Poetry Markets around the world

Among The Stars/In Memoriam (60 Minutes)
Memorial remarks on speculative poets who passed away in 2017 and 2018

Speculative Poetry Magnetic Poetry Board
Throughout the weekend, members and participants can have fun playing with a magnetic poetry board.

It's A Cookbook! It's A Cookbook!
Poems of recipes or cocktails inspired by or involving SFF or horror themes set up at the hospitality suites.