For more information about the South Dakota State Poetry Society (SDSPS) and our other publications and contests, please visit our website at sdpoetry.org.
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Please note: We do not accept previously published work. We do accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you inform us immediately if your work is accepted somewhere else.
Send up to FIVE poems in a SINGLE document, with each poem on a separate page. Include your name, phone number, and email address in the document. Please also add a brief bio (50 words or less) in the space for Cover Letter, highlighting any connection you have to South Dakota.
Members receive a copy of Pasque Petals as one of their membership benefits.
Deadline: February 1, 2027
Please note: We do not accept previously published work. We do accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you inform us immediately if your work is accepted somewhere else.
Send ONE document with up to five poems, with each poem on a separate page. Use your contact information, including phone number and email address, as the header for each page. Please also add a brief bio (50 words or less) in the space for Cover Letter, highlighting any connection you have to South Dakota.
We welcome poetry from all poets. There is a submission fee of $3.00 for non-SDSPS members. We are unable to offer a complimentary copy to non-members, but copies are available for sale on our website. SDSPS members receive a copy as a benefit of membership. For information on how to join SDSPS, please visit sdpoetry.org.
Guidelines, 2026 Contest, Landscape Category:
Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Poems should focus on the geography, places, and/or features that make South Dakota unique.
- Submit up to three (3) poems in ONE document, with each poem on a separate page.
- There is no restriction on length or style of poem.
- Please include "Landscape Poems" in the title line of the submission form.
- Documents must be uploaded as .doc or .docx
- There is a fee of $5.00 per entry, per category.
- Do NOT write your name anywhere on the poem(s).
- Please include a brief third-person bio and your physical mailing address as your cover letter when you submit.
- Submissions that fail to follow the instructions will not be considered.
Guidelines, 2026 Contest, Portrait Category:
Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Poems should focus on PEOPLE from South Dakota: you, someone you know, or other people and characters unique to South Dakota
- Submit up to three (3) poems in ONE document, with each poem on a separate page.
- There is no restriction on length or style of poem.
- Please include "Portrait Poems" in the title line of the submission form.
- Documents must be uploaded as .doc or .docx
- There is a fee of $5.00 per entry, per category.
- Do NOT write your name anywhere on the poem(s).
- Please include a brief third-person bio and your physical mailing address as your cover letter when you submit.
- Submissions that fail to follow the instructions will not be considered.
Guidelines, 2026 Contest, Landscape Category:
Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Poems should focus on the geography, places, and/or features that make South Dakota unique.
- Submit up to three (3) poems in ONE document, with each poem on a separate page.
- There is no restriction on length or style of poem.
- Please include "Landscape Poems" in the title line of the submission form.
- Documents must be uploaded as .doc or .docx
- There is a fee of $10.00 per entry, per category.
- Do NOT write your name anywhere on the poem(s).
- Please include a brief third-person bio and your physical mailing address as your cover letter when you submit.
- Submissions that fail to follow the instructions will not be considered.
Guidelines, 2026 Contest, Portrait Category:
Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Poems should focus on PEOPLE from South Dakota: you, someone you know, or other people and characters unique to South Dakota
- Submit up to three (3) poems in ONE document, with each poem on a separate page.
- There is no restriction on length or style of poem.
- Please include "Portrait Poems" in the title line of the submission form.
- Documents must be uploaded as .doc or .docx
- There is a fee of $10.00 per entry, per category.
- Do NOT write your name anywhere on the poem(s).
- Please include a brief third-person bio and your physical mailing address as your cover letter when you submit.
- Submissions that fail to follow the instructions will not be considered.