Guidelines
The Emerging Voices Fellowship is The Fifth Corner's initiative dedicated to discovering and publishing exceptional writers under the age of eighteen. We believe literary excellence is not defined by age. Each submission is read with the same editorial care and consideration as every manuscript submitted to The Fifth Corner. Selection is based solely on the strength of the work.
Eligibility
- Writers must be under 18 years of age at the time of submission.
- Previously unpublished short fiction only.
- Simultaneous submissions are welcome. Please notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
- One submission per reading period.
- AI-generated or AI-assisted creative writing will not be considered.
Manuscript Guidelines
- Maximum 5,000 words.
- Submit as a .DOC, .DOCX, or .PDF file.
- Standard manuscript formatting is preferred (12-point font, double-spaced).
The selected Emerging Voices Fellow will receive an honorarium of CAD $150 upon publication, together with publication inThe Fifth Corner.
The Fifth Corner Journal selects one poet per issue.
A single poem will be chosen for publication in Issue lII, placed at the close of the journal as part of its final movement, the CODA.
The selected poet will be featured with an in-depth interview.
Prize $500 CAD Publication in Issue lII of The Fifth Corner Journal Feature/Article. Publication in annual anthology CODA.
Guidelines
- Submit 1 poem per entry
- Writers may submit multiple poems as separate entries
- Unpublished work only (including self-published)
- No strict length requirement; we favor precision and restraint
- Simultaneous submissions are permitted (please notify us if accepted elsewhere)
Submissions are considered in relation to the issue as a whole.
One poem. One poet. One placement. The CODA.
The Fifth Corner Press publishes a limited number of carefully curated books each year.
Founded as the publishing arm of The Fifth Corner, the press is devoted to literary fiction that is ambitious, emotionally resonant, and formally confident. We are particularly interested in dark literary fiction, literary horror, speculative fiction, the uncanny, psychologically resonant work, and manuscripts that resist easy categorization.
For our Founding Reading Period 2026, we are seeking:
• Novellas (15,000–40,000 words)
• Novels (40,000+)
• Story Collections
Submission Materials
• Query Letter
• Synopsis (1–3 pages)
• First 30 Pages
Editorial Consideration Fee
CAD $39
The editorial consideration fee supports manuscript review, contributor compensation, commissioned artwork, and the publishing activities of The Fifth Corner Literary Society.
Please note that submission does not guarantee publication. Due to volume, we may only request full manuscripts from selected projects.
As The Fifth Corner Press intends to publish only a small number of carefully curated titles each year, submissions for Founding Reading Period 2026 are limited and may close before the advertised end date.
Response Time
Please allow up to three months for consideration.
We are grateful for the opportunity to read your work.
Dark Fiction Prize A $1,500 CAD prize for outstanding short fiction.
Deadline: July 30, 2026.
Open to atmospheric, dark, and literary fiction.
We are drawn to work that unsettles, stories that linger, distort, and resist easy resolution. We welcome dark, speculative, and cross-genre fiction.
One winning story will receive $1,500 CAD and publication in Issue No. 3 (Fall 2026).
Guidelines:
- Up to 4,000 words
- Multiple submissions are welcome; each entry must be submitted separately and includes its own reading fee
- Previously unpublished work only
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed (please notify us if accepted elsewhere)
- Remove your name from the manuscript for blind review
By submitting, you confirm that your work is original, unpublished, and submitted in accordance with these guidelines.
All submissions are read with care and intention.