Fifth Stanza Press About Founded in 2026, Fifth Stanza Press is dedicated to publishing debut and second collections of poetry by writers in midlife or later. We believe in the power of mining creativity from life experience, and our name, Fifth Stanza, alludes to the insights that poets can access and express through the writing process after the first four decades of life.Writing and publishing poems later in life may come without conventional literary credentials, but for Fifth Stanza, the only credential is the poetry itself. Poetry is why we’re here. Our purpose is to help give voice to older writers who haven't yet found their place.The richness of your experience—and how this is reflected in your poems—matters to us and the community of readers we’re building.We admire and are open to a diverse range of poetic styles, schools and movements. We operate on an open reading period model and do not run contests. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions. (Note: About 14% of publishers always charge fees.) The fee is USD $15 (average for publishers that charge). Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to people in midlife or later who are seeking to publish a debut or second collection of poems. Country of Publication & Year Established United States Established in 2026 Publication Medium Print Publication Print Publication AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Regular Speed Fifth Stanza Press's overall average response time is within a normal range for publishers. More ApproachableFifth Stanza Press's overall acceptance rate is higher than most publishers. More ResponsiveFifth Stanza Press's overall rate of non-response is lower than most publishers. Poetry Temp Closed Dates:Opens to submissions on 01 May 2027 12:00 AM EDT (in 170 days).2Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: GeneralLengths: Poetry Collection: 48 - 100 pages.Poetry Forms:Open to all/most Forms.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Payment:Semi-pro advance (US$200-1999) + Unknown royalties Provides free copy/copies Semi-pro advance. Unknown royalties. Provides free copy/copies. Details: USD $1,500.Submissions:Method: Duosuma submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to publisher's website Report: Submission/Query Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:Facebook FacebookInstagram @fifth_stanza_pressLinkedIn LinkedIn For the Editor(s): Request Interview Link to Duotrope Fifth Stanza Press Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Accuracy We have received 144 reports from 143 different members within the past 12 months. The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 0 min | 113.5 mean avg | 109.0 median | 176 max days (34.1 std dev) Responses 92.36 % Acceptances: 29.17 % of submissions accepted (111.5 avg. days per acceptance) | 29.37 % of submitters accepted Rejections are often underreported, which skews the statistics in favor of acceptances. Most publishers have a lower acceptance rate than indicated here. Rejections: 63.19 % (117.2 avg. days per rejection) | 2.2 % personal, 97.8 % form, 0.0 % unspecified Non-Responses 0.00 % Lost/Returned: - Never Responded: - Withdrawals 7.64 % (56.2 avg. days per withdrawal) Other Information The most common submission fee paid: USD $15.00. Most submissions are acknowledged on the same day. Most recent response reported was received on 24 Oct 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 31 Jul 2026. Date compiled: 11 Nov 2026 10:44 UTC (2 hours, 35 minutes ago). View report of recent responses from this project Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.For book publishers, it is standard to submit a cover letter, synopsis, and sample instead of the full manuscript. Do this unless otherwise instructed.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 01 Sep 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only