FAQ and Rules

Rules

  • Your manuscript should be “query ready."

  • This means it should be A. complete B. not your first draft C. edited for grammatical and formatting errors.

  • If possible, it’s best for you to get second and third eyes on your manuscript. This can be fellow authors (critique partners), family and friends who are avid readers (beta readers), and/or a professional (freelance editor).

  • Ultimately, you will determine when your manuscript is “query ready” and then agent/editor feedback will confirm if you were right.

  • We have many resources for mentor programs and workshops for unagented authors to help you perfect your manuscript!  

  • If pitching non-fiction you must have a “query ready” book proposal. 

  • We want to see those beautiful and varied shades of melanin reflected all over our submissions! 

  • All submitted images must be accompanied by “alt text” descriptions. If you need help writing your alt text, check out our alt text instructions. WRITE HELPFUL ALT TEXT TO DESCRIBE IMAGES

  • AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS: If you’re pitching a completed manuscript that contains illustration (e.g. graphic novels and picture books) please submit your original visuals/illustrations with your pitch including ALT TEXT.

  • Participants will be able to submit up to three pitches  from 8am EST on September 21st to 8pm EST on September 25th. You are able to submit up to three pitches total (one per project if you have multiple). Any additional submissions will be deleted. Pitches are limited to 280 characters but this doesn't include hashtags! Comps are included in the character limit.

  • To submit: Click on the "PitBLK Submissions" tab above. You will be taken directly to our pitch form. From there, please complete the form to upload your pitch! For additional resources on crafting the perfect pitch, check out the "Resources" tab. Participants will complete a form with their name, email address, book title(s), pitches, and age category and genre. You must submit all information in order for it to be on our Pitch Site. Once you submit, you will be unable to make any any edits.

  • Similar to last year, #PitBlk will occur off Twitter on our Pitch Site.

  • Agents and Editors will have to register for access to the site and all pitches will be password protected. They will be able to comment on pitches with instructions for submission and following the event, we will email participants with the instructions.

FAQ

What is #PitBlk?

#PitBLK began in September 2022 as a Twitter Pitch Party. While we are moving to a new site, our goal remains the same. #PitBLK is an event that invites unagented Black authors of picture books, middle grade, YA, adult fiction and non-fiction as well as graphic novels to “pitch” their completed work to agents and editors on our website using subtags (See FAQ page for subtags). 

We’ve chosen to refer to our event as a “party” rather than a “contest”. Yes, attracting agent/publisher interest in your work is ultimately the goal. But, we want participants to feel and foster a celebratory vibe rather than to stress over who gets the most “likes”. Picture #PitBLK as a Twitter “cookout” with the fam… but instead of sides, you’re bringing your talent to the table!  

#PitBLK is distinct in that it is the first and, as far as we know, the only, Twitter pitch event that is open exclusively to Black authors. 

We know we are following in the footsteps of some amazing author pitch events, many of which are still actively hosting events. We encourage you to check out our friends at #PitchDis #APIpit #SWANAPit #SmoochPit #LatinxPitch, and we can’t forget to shout out the decade of success and positive impact of #PitMad and #DVPit for leading the way.

Who can participate?

All authors of African descent are welcome to participate in #PitBLK and agents and editors of all backgrounds are invited to peruse and like pitches! #PitBLK considers “of African descent” to include Black people, both indigenous to Africa and of the global diaspora. The US Census Bureau further defines this as “People having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.” 

#PitBLK organizers ask all participants to be authentic in their self-determination of whether or not they meet this eligibility. We will not police anyone’s identity due to culture, biracial status, or complexion. However, if observed, we will call out egregious perpetrators of racism, colorism and hoaxism (this may not be a word but you know what we mean; don’t be fake!). 

What is PrePitBlk?

Need to warm up before PitBLK? Come practice your pitching at #Prepitblk! #Prepitblk is an event where writers can practice their pitches. Volunteers will provide constructive feedback to authors during this time. We also encourage participants to provide feedback to other pitches. This is a great opportunity to practice before the big day, connect with others, and get valuable feedback!

  • #Prepitblk date is September 16th.

  • Your manuscript doesn’t need to be complete to get feedback during #prepitblk. However, you must have a completed manuscript during #PitBLK. If your manuscript won’t be ready in time for #PitBLK, you can still participate in #prepitblk.

**We ask authors and volunteers to create a civil, constructive environment. Please give honest feedback, but avoid being overly harsh.

Racist, ableist, anti-LGBTQ+, sexist, body shaming, and other hateful rhetoric is unwelcome and has no place in this event. Identifying problematic content is not unkind (in other words, when we ask you to be kind in your responses, we are not suggesting that you should not tell an author if they are working with a problematic premise or using problematic language).**