Question 1

General Guidelines - Just the Facts

Accepted Answer

Five South accepts unsolicited submissions of short fiction, flash fiction, and poetry for the digital biannual via submission manager. 
 Word Count: Flash: 1000  Short Fic: up to 5000 Poetry: No limit, up to 5 pages  Submission Fees:  Flash Fiction: $3.00 for up to three pieces Short Fiction: $3.50 for one piece Poetry: $3.00 for up to 5 pieces  ✅ Simultaneous submissions OK.   Payment
Five South is thrilled to offer $5.00 per accepted piece for publication in our issues.   Publication in The Weekly and our Non-Fiction blog are not currently paid, but we're working on it!  We accept all genres (including humor), but will not even remotely consider: hate, pornography, or pedophilia.   All submissions must be in English and previously unpublished in either print or online.  Please submit no more than one short story, three flash fiction pieces, or five poems at a time and please do not submit more than twice in a calendar year. Combine all pieces into one document.   Withdraw your piece here.   We suggest to all who submit that they read the most recent issue of Five South and our About Page to get to know our vibe.

Question 2

Q: Questions and Concerns About Our New Submission Manager?

Accepted Answer

So far we've received favorable feedback on our submission manager, but we realize it may not be for everyone. If you're feeling hesitant, have concerns, or any questions at all, please reach out and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. We want you to feel secure in your decision to submit to Five South and trust the system we have in place.   Send questions and comments to editor@fivesouth.net

Question 3

About Our Submission Manager & How it Works

Accepted Answer

Five South uses a bespoke submission manager that processes payments through Gumroad. When you submit, you will receive a confirmation email from Five South and a receipt from Gumroad. Rest assured, unless you hear otherwise, your submission has been received and you're good to go.   If you experience any technical difficulties using our submission manager or have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to editor@fivesouth.net.

Question 4

How to Format Your Submissions

Accepted Answer

Submissions not formatted correctly will be declined. Please double check your submission before you send.    Taking the time to format your submissions properly shows you care about your work and the people reading it.    General Rules:  12pt Times or Courier font Double Spaced We prefer .doc or .dox files, but in a pinch .txt is OK.  
Reedsy has a manuscript Word template you can download for free here.

Question 5

The Weekly

Accepted Answer

We publish flash fiction stories and poetry once per week. Submissions to The Weekly are open all year. The same guidelines for general submissions apply to The Weekly.

Question 6

Simulataneous Submissions

Accepted Answer

Simultaneous submissions are acceptable as long as we are notified immediately if your piece is accepted for publication elsewhere. Please use this form or email editor@fivesouth.net to withdraw your piece.

Question 7

Reading Time

Accepted Answer

All submissions received during the reading period will be read. Response time will vary according to the number of submissions. We make every effort to respond to all submissions within three to six months of receipt. If you don't hear from us in that time, feel free to give us a nudge.

Question 8

What exactly are we looking for?

Accepted Answer

Five South does not discriminate. We love all people and all people have stories to tell. While we want to remain an open (safe space) for all writers, we will not publish material that is outright hateful.  
What we want is totally subjective, but hopefully this will guide you in the right direction: 
 Generally, we're looking for great stories that have a beginning, middle, and end. How you accomplish that is up to you. Even poems have stories, whether they're in subtext, creatively crafted spaces, or expressive use of language.

By no means does "story" mean sticking to the conventions. We love pieces that surprise us, stray from the beaten path, and do something different. Try to remember the book, story, or poem you read as a kid - the one that made you want to write. How did that make you feel? That feeling is what we want. A good writer knows the difference between mystery and obscurity.   Fiction Genres We Accept (examples, but not limited to): See this article for 35 fiction genres and their definitions.    For even more information, read an interview with Editor--in-Chief, Kristen Simental regarding submissions: Six Questions For...Kristen Simental and Editor Interview at Duotrope.

Question 9

About Submission Fees & Financial Hardship Waiver

Accepted Answer

Submission fees make Five South possible. We ask for a standard fee of $3.00 for flash fiction and poetry, $3.50 for short fiction. Five South is a labor of love and is 100% reader funded, like PBS.    If you are experiencing financial hardship and would like us to waive the fee, please email please click here.

Question 10

Legal Stuff and Publishing Rights

Accepted Answer

If your work is accepted, it will be subject to an agreement granting Five South first publication
rights. You retain the rights to the work after first publication. ​ By submitting your work for consideration, you represent that:   (1) The work is not in the public domain, has not been published in any other publication in any jurisdiction in the World, has not been distributed or displayed to members of the public, and you have not made any agreement with another party inconsistent with granting first publication rights to us. (It is important for us to know if your work is to be included in a collection or larger work being prepared for future publication. Please let us know, right away, the title, publisher and planned publication date.)   (2) The work is your original authorship and no other party has a claim to rights in it except as you specifically disclose at the time of your submission;   (3) In the case of translations, you have obtained permission of the author or the author’s agent or estate to publish your translation.   (4) There is nothing in the work that is libelous, invades personal privacy or deprives another of the right of publicity, or is otherwise actionably harmful or illegal. ​

Spring Flash Fiction Prize $500 + Publication

Spring Poetry Prize
$500 + Publication

Spring Flash Fiction Prize $500 + Publication

Spring Poetry Prize $500 + Publication

Spring Poetry Prize
$500 + Publication