The Bad Version

This project is believed to be defunct. (December 2014)

About

The Bad Version is a quarterly print magazine that seeks to foster conversation about the world we live in through the fiction, poetry, and essays of the young and curious. Its name comes from the collaborative art of screenwriting, where the first attempt at a scene, that wild idea that gets the process going, is called a “bad version.” Likewise, this magazine is dedicated to beginnings: to pieces that are taking risks, trying to broach new ideas, experimenting with new forms, starting new conversations. To give you a general sense of our ethos, we are looking for work that is written smartly and sincerely, but not high-handedly. We are more interested in pieces that try to raise new questions than those that attempt to lay down definitive answers. We want writing that makes itself as accessible as possible (though we understand that certain ideas can only be reached with some difficulty). Our aim is simple: we want to reach as many people as we can so that they can engage in discussion, and push back against our articles, and refine our ideas, and go further with our techniques—so that we can all work together to construct better versions.

Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for some submissions. Look for the fees icon.

Country of Publication

United States

Publication Medium & Frequency

Print Publication Print Publication: Published 4 x per year

Collapse section Fiction Believed Defunct

We’re looking for fiction that you’d like to read and that hasn’t been published elsewhere. There are no limitations in regard to genre: we’re open to short stories, novel excerpts, novellas, translations—whatever form your narrative project assumes.

Audience:

Unknown

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Flash Fiction: No specific word count limits known (our definition: up to 1000 words).
Short Story: No specific word count limits known (our definition: 1000 to 7500 words).
Novelette: No specific word count limits known (our definition: 7500 to 15000 words).
Novella: No specific word count limits known (our definition: 15000 to 40000 words).
Novel Excerpt: No specific word count limits known.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

None found.

Payment:

Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word) Pay ranges from Token payment (under 1 US cent per word) to Semi-pro payment (1-4.9 US cents per word).
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than payment specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Nonfiction Believed Defunct

We want essays that make us think about the world in its intellectual, social, cultural, or political dimensions. In essence, nothing is out. The key for us is that you needn’t sound authoritative — we’re looking for essays that are thoughtful and sincere, and open about their limitations.

Audience:

Unknown

Lengths:

Essay: No specific word count limits known.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

None found.

Payment:

Submissions:

Method: Submittable submission manager.
Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.
Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
Media: Text.

Collapse section Poetry Believed Defunct

We’re interested in poems that propose a set of criteria by which to read them. These criteria may or may not be held in common with the members of an existing “school” of poetry; we care little either way, as long as the poem in question would be coherently read, even if the school to which it pledges unwitting allegiance had never existed. Simply make the words count.

Audience:

Unknown

Genres:

General

Lengths:

Poem: No line limits known; Unknown number of pieces.

Poetry Forms:

Open to all/most Forms.

Styles:

Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.

Topics:

None found.

Payment:

Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem) Professional payment (US$50 or more per poem).
Note: We list broad pay categories rather than payment specifics. Check with the publisher for details.

Submissions:

Method: Submittable 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.

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The Bad Version 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.

This listing is inactive and does not have any submission reports for the past 12 months.

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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.
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Dates

Last Updated: 22 May 2026