How to pitch your novel

Want to learn how to present your novel in a way that will make it stand out from the competition? Don’t miss our free online event, in partnership with New Writing North.

Register for free now >

Discoveries is our writing development programme, which invites all unpublished women writers aged 18 and up, currently residing in the UK or Ireland and writing in English, to submit their works of adult fiction to the Discoveries Prize. The Prize doesn’t require writers to have finished a novel – only to have started one – and it is free to enter. We’re looking for writing that shows real potential, originality and imagination, not necessarily polished drafts. Learn more here >

New Writing North supports writing and reading in the North of England. They commission new work, create development opportunities, nurture talent and make connections.

This free panel event, chaired by Tinder Press Publisher Mary-Anne Harrington and including authors Monique Roffey and Sairish Hussain, Curtis Brown literary agent Lucy Morris, and Kadija Sesay, Publications Manager for Inscribe, an imprint of Leeds-based publisher Peepal Tree Press, will include a 45 minute discussion on ways to present your work in a compelling, confident and intriguing way, followed by a Q&A and pitching workshop. As well as answering your questions, the panel will give constructive feedback on a selection of novel pitches, submitted by attendees ahead of time. If you would like to submit a question, or your pitch for potential live feedback, please do so in the sign-up form. 4 pitches will be selected by the panel in advance.

Pitches should be as crisp and concise as possible – just one or two lines, and no longer than 50 words at the absolute most. The point of the pitch is to convey the basic premise of your novel in such a way as to make people want to read it. Some novels are easier to pitch than others. Depending on the nature of your novel, you might like to think about some of the following pointers to help you come up with your pitch:

• Is there an important question which your novel answers, that drives the plot?
• Is there a high concept or strong hook in your novel that would make people want to read it?
• What is at the heart of your novel? What’s important to you about it?
• Are there any other novels it’s similar to?

So, if you want to find out more about how to hook the Discoveries readers and judges, join us on Thursday 2nd December, 6.00pm-7.30pm. 

Register for free now >