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.
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.
Please only submit your pitch once! If you need to edit your pitch, please reach out to the PitBLK team.

Official Hashtags

Every pitch tweet should include #PitBLK + hashtags for AGE CATEGORY, GENRE and (optional) IDENTITY. See below for the relevant hashtags to include.

Age Category (one is required):

#PB=Picture Book
#CB=Chapter Book
#GN=Graphic Novel
#MG=Middle Grade
#YA=Young Adult
#NA=New Adult
#A=Adult
#ART=Illustrators/Artists

Genre

#AD=ADVENTURE
#CON=CONTEMPORARY
#CR=CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
#CF=CONTEMPORARY FANTASY
#E=EROTICA
#F=FANTASY
#H=HORROR
#HF=HISTORICAL FICTION
#HR=HISTORICAL ROMANCE
#LF=LITERARY FICTION
#MR=MAGICAL REALISM
#MEM=MEMOIR
#M=MYSTERY
#NF=NON FICTION
#P=PARANORMAL
#PR=PARANORMAL ROMANCE
#R=ROMANCE
#RC=ROMANTIC COMEDY
#SF=SCIENCE FICTION
#SPF=SPECULATIVE FICTION
#STEM=SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS
#S=SUPSENSE
#T=THRILLER
#UF=URBAN FANTASY
#WF=WOMEN’S FICTION

Identity Information (optional)

#ESL (Author is International/Writing English as a second language)
#TNB (Trans and Nonbinary Voices)
#OWN (Own Voices)
#IMM (Immigrant)
#LGBT (LGBTQIA+ Subject Matter)
#IRMC (Interracial/Multicultural)
#MH (Mental Health Subject Matter)
#DIS (Disability Subject Matter)
#ND (Neurodiverse Subject Matter)
#FP (Fat Positive)
#WFH (Work for Hire)

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 #DVPit #APIpit #SWANAPit #LGBTNPit #SmoothPit #MoodPitch, and we can’t forget to shout out the decade of success and positive impact of #PitMad for leading the way.

What is #PitBLK?

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!).

How do I Participate?

To participate, 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.

You are able to submit up to three pitches total (one per project if you have multiple). Any additional submissions will be deleted. Please submit your finalized pitch by 10/14 at 5:00pm EST! Once you submit, you will be unable to make any any edits.

On October 17th from 8am-8pm EST, agents and editors will be able to access the pitches securely and comment under any submissions they are interested in!