Join us for #CanLitPit on Wednesday, July 11, 2018 from 10 am to 10 pm EST!
We’re bringing Canadian publishers, literary agents, authors, writing schools and creative writing programs together!
Canadian Literature Pitch or #CanLitPit
is a DigiWriting Book Marketing Agency social media initiative intended to increase the number of Canadian authors published and supported by Canadian publishers and literary agents. On the day of the event, Canadian writers with a completed and polished manuscript post their pitch on Twitter for Canadian publishers and literary agents to see. If a writer’s pitch is favourited by a publisher or literary agent, the writer will follow the manuscript submission guidelines posted online or in the publisher or literary agent’s Twitter feed.
Blue Moon Publishers
Book Thug
Goose Lane
Second Story Press
Check out the list of publishers, literary agents, and writing groups that have participated in #CanLitPit since 2016! Our rules section lists current participating publishers and agents.
Pitch Your Manuscript & Connect with the Canadian Literary Community!
While #CanLitPit is an online pitch event, we believe it is more than that. Many participating writers and publishers have expressed their gratitude that #CanLitPit helped introduce them to the wider Canadian literary community! Below, hear what they had to say about participating in #CanLitPit.
“The event was quite a success! “
“We were happy to be a part of it!” – Thistledown Press
#CanLitPit – a great idea. It can feel alienating to be a Canadian writer, amid the market dominance of the American and UK literary scenes.
“We ended up connecting with a lot of writers who probably thought of us as a “regional” press (which we also are) and consequently haven’t submitted manuscripts to us in the past.”
Such fun reading all the interesting pitches. There is talent to be discovered. Big thanks to@DigiWriting for this opportunity #CanLitPit.
Lots of great picture book pitches in #CanLitPit.
Ensure Your Pitches Are Ready for Success!
Beginning Wednesday July 4, 2018, participating Canadian writers will have the opportunity to post their pitch(es) in the comment section of a special post on our Facebook page. Working together, participating writers will have the opportunity to provide each other with advice and tips to refine their pitches prior to the official #CanLitPit event. Canadian editor Una Verdandi will also be offering her advice and expertise.
#CanLitPit Thus Far:
The #CanLitPit Rules!
Click the drop down arrow beside each of the F.A.Qs. If your question is not listed, please contact marketing@digiwriting.com.
The #CanLitPit Twitter Pitch Party will occur on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. Beginning at 10 a.m. EST, Canadian writers will have the opportunity to pitch their completed and polished manuscript directly to Canadian publishers and literary agents. The event will last 12 hours, finishing at 10 p.m. EST. The timing of the event will provide Canadian writers, publishers, and agents from coast-tocoast ample opportunity to participate.
Only Canadian publishers and literary agents can participate in #CanLitPit. All participating publishers and agents will be announced through DigiWriting Book Marketing Agency’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Here’s a sneak peek at some of the publishers and literary agents that have confirmed they will be participating:
Blue Moon Publishers
Book Thug
Canadian Society of Children’s Authors Illustrators & Performers (CANSCAIP)
Coteau Books
Edmonton Writers Group
ECW Press
Second Story Press
Goose Lane Editions
Pajama Press
Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) – New Brunswick
Sands Press
The Rights Factory
Ronsdale Press
TouchWood Editions
Transatlantic Agency
Turnstone Press
There are two main criteria to participate in #CanPitLit:
1) You must be a Canadian citizen. This includes those living abroad and with dual citizenship.
2) You must have a completed and polished manuscript. This means that it is ready to be reviewed by a professional publisher or literary agent.
First and foremost, we want to support Canadian writers, publishers, and literary agents by increasing the amount of Canadian literature in the marketplace. This initiative also helps by securing and supporting employment within the Canadian publishing industry.
Second, this is the only pitch party in which Canadian writers will have the opportunity to support each other. Prior to the event date, those wishing to participate will have the opportunity to post their pitch(es) to the DigiWriting Book Marketing Agency website for feedback from others participating. After refining their pitch(es), participants will have the opportunity to submit their best pitch on our Facebook page for the chance to win a FREE professional cover from our graphics team.
There are a number of rules that must be followed to participate in #CanLitPit. These rules are in place to ensure that the event runs smoothly and so that no writer has an unfair advantage.
#CanLitPit Rule #1 – Participants must be Canadian citizens. There are no exceptions to this rule. Prior to favouriting a manuscript, participating publishers and literary agents will be able to review the writer’s Twitter profile to confirm their location. Publishers and agents have the right to rescind interest given to pitches from outside of Canada.
#CanLitPit Rule #2 – Participants may not post more than six (6) pitches per completed, polished manuscript. This means that, roughly, writers should be sending one pitch every two (2) hours to maximize their odds of having one of their pitches favourited. This rule also makes it much easier for publishes and agents to review the #CanLitPit stream on the day of the event.
#CanLitPit Rule #3 – Participants are required to use age (i.e. #MG = Middle Grade) and genre (#M = Mystery) hashtags as part of their pitch. These hashtags allow publishers to easily search for specific pitches that align with their publishing needs. The hashtag #CanLitPit must be included as this is how agents and publishers will search for your pitch.
#CanLitPit Rule # 4 – Participants must stick to “traditional” Twitter pitch party guidelines. While Twitter is eliminating the 240-word character limit for tweets, in the spirit and tradition of established pitch parties, we ask that you follow the traditional guidelines. This includes refraining from using images, links, and hashtags other than #CanLitPit and your manuscript’s age and genre hashtags.
#CanLitPit Rule # 5 – Participants may only post pitches for completed and polished manuscripts.
#CanLitPit Rule # 6 – If a participant has a pitch favourited by a Canadian publisher or literary agent, it is their responsibility to follow their submission requirements. DigiWriting Book Marketing Agency and participating publishers and agents are not responsible for facilitating the submission process.
Every pitch must include the hashtag #CanLitPit along with your manuscript’s age and genre hashtags. For example, if your manuscript is intended for an adult audience and would be classified as Science Fiction, you would need to use the hashtags #A & #SF in your pitch.
Here’s a full example of a pitch:
Asher’s world is spinning as his former realities become mind-bending and
supernatural illusions. Is life only a trick? #A #SF #CanLitPit
Age Group Hashtags
#PB = Picture Book
#C = Children’s
#CL = Children’s Literature
#MG = Middle Grade
#YA = Young Adult
#NA = New Adult
#A = Adult
Genres Hashtags:
#CON = Contemporary
#E = Erotica
#ER = Erotic Romance
#ES = Erotica Suspense
#GN = Graphic Novel
#H = Horror
#HR = Humour
#HF = Historical Fiction
#HR = Historical Romance
#MR = Magical Realism
#M = Mystery
#Mem = Memoir
#LGBT = Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual & Transexual
#LF = Literary Fiction
#NF = Non-fiction
#P = Poetry
#R = Romance
#PNR = Paranormal Romance
#RS = Romantic Suspense
#SF – Short Fiction
#SFF = SciFi/Fantasy
#S = Suspense
#T = Thriller
#W = Westerns
#WF = Woman’s Fiction
Yes! Several writers found publishers for their manuscripts after participating in #CanLitPit! Here’s what they are saying:
“I can’t think of an easier or better way of finding a publisher, especially if you are a new writer or new to the industry.” – Richard Zaric, author of Hiding Scars.
“I encourage all Canadian writers to participate in #CanLitPit because beautiful things really can happen!” – Monique Grey Smith, author Tilly and the Crazy Eights.
“While it was a daunting task to capture my novel, ‘Edgar’s Worst Sunday’, in 140 characters, it seemed a worthy challenge and a great opportunity to share my work with publishers interested in finding new writers.” – Brad Oh, author of Edgar’s Worst Sunday.