Friday, January 25, 2013

2018 Pitch Contest Calendar

(last updated March 21, 2018)

 If you're a writer querying a completed manuscript, the waiting time can be torture. Contests make the process a lot more exciting. Polish your pitch and join in the fun!
Polish your pitch - this means war!


See also: Previous #Pitmad Winning Pitches 
March 2016 ||  Jan 2013 || March 2013 || Sept 2014 
  Pitch Myths || Pitch Recipes || Pitch Generator
2018 Pitch Contest Calendar

Contest Calendar below! Enter these Twitter Pitch Parties or Blog-based contests for a chance to get your MS or query considered &/or critiqued by an agent!

A WARNING TO PARTICIPANTS: PLEASE READ. 
TW: Suicide

 While all these contests are legitimate ways to get your work seen by an agent or editor...

Some of these contests have in the past discriminated against outspoken marginalized voices.

 In one instance, a marginalized writer took her life after being bullied 
because she spoke out about racism.
(Thread 1 : Thread 2)

 I wish I didn't have to include this disclaimer at the top of this post, but here we are. There are several contests on this list that have, in the past, discriminated against mentor(s) & co-host(s) who speak out on social media about issues of racism, xenophobia, and/or homophobia because they do not agree with their tactics and the tone of their arguments. This is tone policing.  

This is not okay.

As a result, until the victims of this discrimination feel that these contests are once again inclusive and encouraging of marginalized voices that speak out about injustice, these contests will be listed on this page with a warning footnote in RED. 

 For more information on the incidents please
see the links below the Contest Calendar
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, 
please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on Twitter ( @CarissaATaylor )

Awesome Alternatives
In contrast, there are a few contests out there that actively seek outspoken marginalized voices, and champion those who speak out loudly against injustice.  Check out DVPit, PitchSlam, WriteInTheMargins,  WriteInclusively, SomeOfOurVoices, Pitch América, and WCNV! (these are also included in the calendar below when/if I have dates for them ).

 Furthermore, some other mainstream contests have spoken out against the bullying and have declared a Zero-Tolerance for discrimination, harassment, and bullying. See this post by Brenda Drake, host of PitchWars.
Upcoming 2018 Pitch Contests

April 25  -- #DVpit (Kidlit pitch party) -- hosted by Lit Agent Beth Phelan

 April 26  -- #DVpit (Adult pitch party) -- hosted by Lit Agent Beth Phelan

May 17 -- #PitDark -- hosted by Jason Huebinger

 May 16-18 -- #QueryKombat -- hosted by Michelle, Michael, and Kara
WARNING: In the past QueryKombat has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.

 June 7 -- #pitmad Twitter Pitch Contest  - hosted by Brenda Drake

 June 13-16 -- Savvy Authors Summer Pitchfest -- hosted by Savvy Authors

June 21 -- #pbpitch -- hosted by pbpitch

July 11 -- #pit2pub -- hosted by Kristin D. Van Risseghem

July 19 -- #IWSG Twitter Pitch Contest -- hosted by Insecure Writers Support Group

Aug 27-29 -- Pitch Wars Submission Window -- hosted by Brenda Drake

 Sept 6 -- #pitmad Twitter Pitch Contest  - hosted by Brenda Drake

Dec 6 -- #pitmad Twitter Pitch Contest  - hosted by Brenda Drake

More Information Regarding the Discrimination Incidents:
TW: Suicide

I encourage you, if you aren't familiar with the situation already, to read the information provided by the victims and hosts, and discuss the matter with people you trust and respect regarding issues of diversity, tone policing, and discrimination against marginalized voices. 

Regarding the Query Kombat, NoQS, and SunVsSnow incident:
The victim's post regarding the incident.
The host's response.

*Note: the host has also mentioned that following the incident, they are actively seeking more diverse subs, as there has been a decline in diverse submissions to these contests after this incident. 

Regarding the FicFest Incident & Pitch to Publication (#p2p16) editor incident:
The victim's threads: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Update: In February of 2017, Julie took her own life after being targeted and harassed by some of the writers and editors involved in these incidents. (Thread 1 : Thread 2)
RIP Julie. We miss your beautiful presence and voice so much. 


*Note: the host of FicFest has deleted all videos and other social media related to the incident, so that is all I have in terms of host response. In regards to Pitch To Publication, it was only one of the editors that was involved in the incident. Choose your editor/mentor wisely.

 Note: All the contests above, even those with a warning, are legitimate and can
be great opportunities for writers to get their work seen by an agent. 
Please use your own discretion as to whether or not a particular contest is the right fit for your manuscript.
If you have questions, comments, or concerns,
please don't hesitate to get in touch with me on Twitter ( @CarissaATaylor )

Monthly / Semi-Monthly Events




 Contests by Season
     (Northern Hemisphere Seasons)

     Note: The contests listed below usually happen annually,
               but may or may not happen this year. 
               Visit the hosts' websites for updates.


WINTER (Dec-Feb):

 Kisspitch -- hosted by Gwynne Jackson and Tricia Lynne
Pit2Pub -- (#pit2pub) -- hosted by Kristin Van Risseghem
Pitch Madness Contest -- (#pitchmadness) hosted by Brenda Drake
PitMatch -- hosted by Brenda Drake and #MSWL
Red Light / Green Light -- hosted by Adventures in YA Publishing
                       (Link only works in Google Chrome, sorry! The site doesn't have contest labels or a search function!)
Secret Agent Contests -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim
Sun vs Snow Contest -- (#SunVsSnow)
WARNING: In the past SunVsSnow has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice. 
#WritePit  -- hosted by Jessica Schmeidler
Write In the Margins -- hosted by Justina Ireland


SPRING (Mar-May):

Adult Pitch Workshop -- (#adpit) -- hosted by Heidi Norrod
DVPit -- hosted by Agent Beth Phelan
FicFest
WARNING: In the past FicFest has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.
KidPit -- (#kidpit) -- hosted by Heidi Norrod
Nest Pitch -- (#NestPitch) -- hosted by Nikola Vukoja
#PitDark Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Jason Huebinger
Pitch Slam -- (#PitchSlam) -- hosted by L.L. McKinney
Query Kombat (#QueryKombat)
WARNING: In the past QueryKombat has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.
#Teenpit -- hosted by Michael Mammay & K Hopkins

SUMMER (June-Aug):

New Agent -- (#NewAgent) -- hosted by Michelle4Laughs
   -- cohosted by Mandy Yates, PJ McIlvane, & Debra Shumaker
     WARNING: In the past, certain editors in pitch2pub have been known to make frequent 
                             racist, misogynist, and/or homophobic remarks on social media. 
                             Please choose your mentor with care.
Pitch Wars -- (#PitchWars) -- hosted by Brenda Drake
Pit2Pub -- (#pit2pub) -- hosted by Kristin Van Risseghem


FALL (Sept - Nov):

DVPit -- hosted by Agent Beth Phelan
First Lines Contest -- hosted by Adventures in YA Publishing
KidPit (#KidPit) -- hosted by Heidi Norrod
Nightmare on Query Street (#NoQS)
WARNING: In the past NoQS has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.
     -- cohosted by Mandy Yates, PJ McIlvane, & Debra Shumaker
PitMad Twitter Party (#pitmad) -- hosted by Brenda Drake
On the Block (formerly known as the Baker's Dozen) -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

FORMER CONTESTS (may now be defunct)

Agent Match -- (#AgentMatch) -- hosted by Samantha Fountain 
Cupid's Blind Speed Dating  
FaithPitch Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Aboundtiful
PitchMAS -- (#PitchMAS) -- hosted by Jessa and Tamara 
PitchMAS in July -- (#PitchMAS) -- hosted by Jessa and Tamara 
Like a Virgin -- hosted by Kristina Perez & Rhiann Wynn-Nolet
Luck O' The Irish -- hosted by WriteOnCon 
The Writer's Voice (#TheWVoice)  -- cohosted by Brenda Drake, Elizabeth Briggs, Monica BW, & Krista Van Dolzer



Twitter Hashtags:
Twitter hashtags to keep an eye on for upcoming pitch contest news!

#PitMad // #PitchMadness // #PitchWars // #CLCBSD // #WriteOnCon // #PitchFest //#AdPit (Adult & NA books) // #PitchSqueak (picture books) // #SFFPit // #JustPitchIt (faith-based books) // #PitchSlam // #NestPitch // #NoQS // #TheWVoice // #xmasinjuly  //#MysteryAgent // #PitchMAS // #QueryKombat // #NewAgent // #SecretShop // #SunVsSnow // #TheWritersTank // #NLpitchperfect // #RTSlap  // #AgentMatch // #PitchCB // #pit2pub // #PitchToPub // #pg70pit // #pitchtopublication

Want a link to a search for all the twitter hastags in one go? Done!
All your contest news in one feed:


Awesome Contest Hosts to Follow:



Previously in 2016


Jan 11 -- Pass or Pages -- hosted by Operation Awesome


Jan 22 -- #PitchCB Twitter Contest  -- hosted by Conville & Walsh + Curtis Brown UK

Until Feb 9 -- Dear Lucky Agent: Women's Fiction Edition -- hosted by Chuck Sambuchino of Writer's Digest

Feb 1 - 29 -- Pitchapalooza -- hosted by The Book Doctors

Feb 1 -- Sun vs. Snow -- hosted by Amy Trueblood & Michelle Hauck

Feb 3 -- Pit2Pub -- (#pit2pub) -- hosted by Kristin Van Risseghem

Feb 4 -- Sub It Club Pitch Day with Agent Shira Hoffman -- hosted by Sub It Club

Feb 4 -- Red Light / Green Light -- hosted by Adventures in YA Publishing
                (Link only works in Google Chrome, sorry! The site doesn't have labels or a search function!)

Feb 11 -- #PBPitch -- hosted by PBPitch

Feb 11 -- #PitMatch -- hosted by Brenda Drake and #MSWL

Feb 15 -- Son of a Pitch -- hosted by Ayden Morgen



Mar 5 -- Pitch to Publication (#P2P16) -- hosted by Samantha Fountain

Mar 7 -- Son of a Pitch (#SonOfAPitch) Twitter Party -- hosted by Ayden Morgen


Mar 17 -- #PitMad Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Brenda Drake

Mar 28 -- March Secret Agent -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

Apr 1 -- #AdPit and #KidPit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

Apr 7 -- Red Light / Green Light  -- hosted by Adventures in YA Publishing


Apr 24 -- #FicFest -- hosted by Kara Leigh Miller & Tiffany Hoffman


May 12 -- #PitDark -- hosted by Jason Huebinger
May 16-20 -- Query Kombat -- hosted by Michelle Hauck, Mike Anthony, and Laura Heffernan

May 16-22 -- Pages for Agents -- hosted by Savvy Authors

June 9 -- #PitMad Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Brenda Drake

                                                    -- hosted by Writing from Color and Native Voices (Elle McKinney)

June 15 -- #FaithPitch Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Aboundtiful

June 16 -- #PBPitch Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Mandy Yates

June 23 -- #SFFPit Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Dan Koboldt

June 23 -- Red Light / Green Light -- hosted by Adventures in YA Publishing


July 1 -- Page 70 Pitch Contest ( #70pit16 ) -- hosted by Lara Willard

July 10 -- #PBParty -- hosted by Michelle4Laughs & Sharon Chriscoe 


July 11-13-- Pass Or Pages (#PassOrPages): Women's Fiction Edtion
                                                                                                   -- hosted by Operation Awesome


Aug 3 -- Pitch Wars -- hosted by Brenda Drake

Aug 8 -- August Secret Agent -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

Aug 16 -- Pitch América -- hosted by  Pitch América  (Laura Pohl)

Aug 29 -- Hot Summer's Cool Pitchfest -- hosted by Savvy Authors

Sept 7 --PitchSlam: Star Wars -- TheWrite Side --hosted by L.L. McKinney and Kimberly VanderHorst

Sept 8 -- On the Block -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

Sept 8 -- #PitMad Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Brenda Drake

               Children & YA Fiction/NF Event -- hosted by Beth Phelan

Oct 6 -- #DVPit : Twitter Pitch Party for Marginalized Voices:  
               Adult Fiction/NF Event -- hosted by Beth Phelan

Oct 14 -- Nightmare on Query Street -- Michelle4Laughs & Writer's Outworld

Oct 20 -- #PitDark -- hosted by Jason Huebinger

Oct 20 -- Red Light / Green Light

Oct 27 -- #PBPitch -- hosted by PBPitch


Nov 9 -- #KidPit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

Nov 16 -- #AdPit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

Dec 1 -- #PitMad Twitter Pitch Party -- hosted by Brenda Drake

Dec TBA -- #SFFPit -- hosted by Dan Koboldt

Dec 11-12 -- PitchMAS -- hosted by Jessa and Tamara 

Dec 16 -- PitchMAS Twitter Party -- hosted by Jessa and Tamara 
Previously in 2017

Jan 18 -- #pit2pub Twitter Party -- hosted by Kristin D. Van Risseghem
Feb 13-17 -- #SonOfAPitch -- hosted by Katie Hamstead

Feb 14 -- Pitchapalooza Contest -- hosted by the Book Doctors


Feb 23 -- #PBPitch Twitter Party -- hosted by PBPitch
Feb 24 -- Pitch Madness  -- hosted by Brenda Drake

Mar 6 -- #SonOfAPitch Twitter Party -- hosted by Katie Hamstead


Mar 23 -- #pitmad Twitter Pitch Contest  -- hosted by Brenda Drake

April 3 -- April Secret Agent -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

April 5 -- #adpit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

April 5 -- #kidpit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

April 7 -- Pitch To Publication -- hosted by Samantha Fountain
April 15 -- #TeenPit -- hosted by Kelly Ann Hopkins and Michael Mammay
                                            *A contest for teen writers in grades 10-12!

April 25 -- #DVPit Twitter Party: Children's & Teen -- hosted by Lit Agent Beth Phelan

April 26 -- #DVPit Twitter Party: Adult -- hosted by Lit Agent Beth Phelan

May 17-19  -- Query Kombat
WARNING: In the past QueryKombat has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.


May 18 -- #PitDark -- hosted by Jason Huebinger
June 7 -- #pg70pit Contest -- hosted by Lara Willard

June 22 -- #SFFPit Twitter Pitch Contest -- hosted by Dan Koboldt

June 22 -- #PBPitch Twitter Contest -- hosted by PBPitch

June 28 -- #FaithPitch -- a contest for faith-based manuscripts, hosted by Little Lamb Books

August 2-6 -- Pitch Wars -- hosted by Brenda Drake

August 31 -- Pitch América -- hosted by Pitch América
Previously in 2018

March 26 -- Sneaky Agent Blogpitch -- hosted by Miss Snark's First Victim

March 27 -- #pbparty -- hosted by Michelle Hauck
WARNING: In the past pbparty has discriminated against those who are vocal about social/racial injustice.

April 4 - #kidpit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod

April 4 - #adpit -- hosted by Heidi Norrod


A lot of these folks have recurring contests throughout the year, so keep your eyes peeled for more to come!

Also check out these contest round-ups: 
Sub It Club  // KidLit 411 // Art of Infiltration  // Meredith's Musings // I Write for Apples // Agent Query Connect //  Brenda Drake Contest Schedule // Nestpitch Contest Roundup

And just for fun: Logline Generator

What about you? Do you have a favorite query, pitch, or twitter pitch contest? Know of other query or manuscript critique contests I should add to the list?
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4 comments:

  2. This is great, can't believe there isn't any one else posting this list. Thanks for compiling such a thorough list

    ReplyDelete

  3. I appreciate you compiling the items about contests who have discriminated and/or involved themselves in tone policing. It's been tough to find out what happened in these contests and you've provided that information. Much appreciated!

    ReplyDelete

  4. Thank you for this list, especially with the warnings for those who are discriminatory.

    ReplyDelete

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