Poetry
Free the Verse
Free the Verse pays $10 for a poem in its themed quarterly issue and $20 for a Marginalia piece that annotates a poem's first and final drafts. Both routes are free to submit, and the issue deadline is 25 November 2026 while Marginalia is always open. The page states no policy on rights, AI or eligibility.
🟢 Currently accepting Verified 2026-10
The docket
The nine things that decide whether a pitch is worth sending. Every answer below is either taken from the publication’s own guideline or computed by BRYME from the 288-publication desk. Where the publication does not say, the docket says so instead of filling the gap in.
- Payment
- $10 per poem for the themed quarterly issue; $20 for a Marginalia pieceOf the other 63 records quoting in USD on this desk that state a figure, 6 state less, 49 state more, 8 state exactly this.
- Length
- No word or line limit stated.Each issue publishes 10-12 poems around a theme; Marginalia takes a first and final draft with annotations.
- Who can submit
- Not statedNo stated country restriction on the guidelines page.
- Reading period
- Issue submissions close 25 November 2026 for the next themed quarterly issueMarginalia is always open
- Response time
- Not statedNo response time recorded. A follow-up after two to three weeks is reasonable; silence past that is a soft no, not a rejection.
- Simultaneous submissions
- Not statedThe guideline does not address simultaneous submissions. BRYME records that as silence rather than assuming a yes: if you are sending the same piece to several publications, say so in your cover letter and withdraw it everywhere the moment it is taken.
- AI policy
- Not statedThe guideline is silent. BRYME records that 127 of the 288 publications on this desk do restrict AI-assisted work, so silence here is not permission — ask.
- Rights
- Not statedBRYME records that 149 of the 288 publications on this desk state their terms. This one does not. Ask what rights you are assigning, for how long and for what territory, before you sign anything.
- Experience
- Not yet assessedBRYME has read this publication's guideline but has not yet put the experience question to it, so this row is untouched rather than unanswered — it is our gap, not theirs. Treat it exactly as you would an unstated policy.
What this record does not tell you
This publication leaves 6 of the nine questions unanswered. BRYME publishes that gap instead of filling it — a generated answer would look complete and cost you a pitch.
- Who can submit — the guideline leaves this open, so ask before you spend an evening on the pitch rather than assuming a yes.
- Response time — expect to wait blind, and keep other pitches live.
- Simultaneous submissions — the guideline leaves this open, so declare it in your cover letter rather than assuming.
- AI policy — assume disclosure is expected unless the editor says otherwise.
- Rights — you may be asked to assign more than you expect. Get the terms in writing.
- Experience — BRYME has not assessed this one yet, so do not read the blank as either a welcome or a bar. Look at who the publication normally publishes before you pitch.
Record last human-checked 2026-10-01. Sources listed at the foot of this page. Figures are compared only against other records quoting in USD on this desk quoted the same way, so a per-word rate is never ranked against a flat fee.
Quick facts
- Payment
- $10 per poem for the themed quarterly issue; $20 for a Marginalia piece
- Word count
- No word or line limit stated. Each issue publishes 10-12 poems around a theme; Marginalia takes a first and final draft with annotations.
- Submission
- Online form linked from the submissions page.
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- 🟢 Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-10
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Poetry. Official guideline: Free the Verse guidelines.
Topics, themes and styles they look for
- Poems on the theme announced for the coming quarterly issue - 10 to 12 poems are published each quarter.
- Marginalia pieces: a first and final draft of one poem with annotations explaining the edits.
- Poems that work with the annotation format, which the magazine shapes into an article.
Subjects they avoid
- Work outside the announced theme for an issue submission.
- An unannotated draft for Marginalia, which exists to show the editing.
Key requirements
- Read https://free-the-verse.com/poetry-submissions before sending.
- Choose the route: a themed issue poem by 25 November 2026, or a Marginalia piece at any time.
- For Marginalia, send the first and final drafts with annotations on the edits.
- No submission fee applies on either route.
Who can submit
No stated country restriction on the guidelines page.
Rights
Not stated on the guidelines page.
AI policy
Not stated in the guideline
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions — they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.
How to submit
Online form linked from the submissions page.
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Online form linked from the submissions page.
What the guideline asks you to prepare
- Read https://free-the-verse.com/poetry-submissions before sending.
- Submit through the form linked on the page - there is no charge.
- Send a poem to the next quarterly issue before 25 November 2026, or a Marginalia draft pair at any time.
- Check the theme for the issue you are entering.
What happens after submission
Expected response: Not publicly stated
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-10.