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. 

 

We are fully independent and do not accept any institutional grants, donations, or other financial support. 

 

Come join us!