#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch

@dvpit.bsky.social

bsky pitch event for unagented creators from marginalized communities More #DVpit info: https://dvpit.carrd.co/ sign up for our updates newsletter: https://dvpit.substack.com/subscribe?params=%5Bobject%20Object%5D

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#DVpit 2026 pitching window is closed! Thank you to participating agents, editors, volunteers, & marginalized creators! You're proof that the publishing industry still wants & supports diverse stories! Agents/Editors feel free to keep perusing the feed!

Since bsky is an open forum, we can't control who posts under some hashtags, to ensure you're only seeing the #DVpit feed try a multisearch of #DVpit + category/genre 1) All in quotes (no #): "DVPit YA" 2) Individual quotes: "#DVPit" "#YA" (capitalization does not matter when searching hashtags)

In addition to always including the #DVPit hashtag, we ask everyone pitching to always include a hashtag indicating the category they're writing in: Picture Book (#PB) Graphic Novel (#GN) Middle Grade (#MG) Young Adult (#YA) New Adult (#NA) Adult (A) Genre hashtags are encouraged as well!

Welcome to #DVpit 2026! Now until 8:00PM Eastern unagented marginalized creators can pitch their unpublished project in 300 characters to participating literary agents & editors! Remember ❤️ are for agents & 🔁 are for editors! Good luck! Have fun & please be respectful! More info dvpit.carrd.co

Just a reminder, we ask #DVpit participants NOT to use agent guides. Everyone using 300 characters offers a taste of your book & ensures an equal chance for all. Additionally if some include pitch decks/agent guides as an image, it bogs down the feed. More guidelines here: dvpit.carrd.co#faq

Welcome to #DVpit 2026! Now until 8:00PM Eastern unagented marginalized creators can pitch their unpublished project in 300 characters to participating literary agents & editors! Remember ❤️ are for agents & 🔁 are for editors! Good luck! Have fun & please be respectful! More info dvpit.carrd.co

Thank you everyone who participated in #DVparty this week! See you all TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 30, 2026 at #DVPit!! Marginalized creators with completed unagented work come pitch your projects to literary agents and editors from 8AM - 8PM Eastern Time!!

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch reposted

I love when they come w/ a sense of what communication and practices work best for them. Not to make demands but to see if you're the right fit as professional partners and not just creatively. Many do, but I think some feel too intimidated to express what they need in a partnership. #AskDV

#AskDV what do you wish authors asked you about more? Particularly when you’re meeting to discuss offers of rep.

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There is a need for more younger YA, and teachers/librarians are asking for it. It's tough to break out at the moment, but I'm personally convinced that this is a space we're going to see growth in as soon as publishing cracks the code on reaching those readers. #AskDV

C.H.Lei@hpl0veshack.bsky.social

#AskDV Is it still possible to work a YA with a younger protagonist in the current market? (Ex like T.L Huchu’s Library of the Dead has a 14 yo protagonist but is not MG)

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Conferences can be great networking opportunities, but I don't think they're essential to finding an agent. Not being able to attend, you might miss an opportunity or two, but I think those chances can often be replicated in online events like this one! #AskDV

Abra Larrabure | is querying ✨@abralarrabure.bsky.social

I’ve heard that attending book cons and writer conferences is very important for marketing books. Are writers from distant countries (not based in the US or Europe) at a disadvantage when seeking represention and going on sub because they wont be able to attend as easily as others might? #AskDV

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#AskDV Great question! I always recommend only having one to three scenes per chapter. If you are changing settings more times that’s a sign to cut or merge. And of course every scene should contribute to the story arc. If not enough is happening/your character hasn’t changed you can likely remove.

A.M.Sahu 🧚 SFF Author@amsahubooks.bsky.social

#askDV When trying to decide which scenes to keep and which to delete/merge with another, what is your advice on that? What criteria should authors look for when revising a scene ?

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#AskDV I’ll echo this!!!

Eric Smith@ericsmithrocks.bsky.social

To not pitch those agencies. That’s absurd. #AskDV “But I’m an agent who does that!” Great. This is for you then, buddy.

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Agents may read one or the other first depending on their preference. The query and the pages serve different purposes, and one isn’t more important than the other. The query gives me a sense of the story engine and the plot skeleton. The pages give me a sense of voice. Both have to excite! #askDV

Luna 💫@lunacwriting.bsky.social

How important is the first page of the manuscript vs the query letter? Do agents read the query first or the pages first? Thank you so much! 💗 #AskDV

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If the story wraps up satisfyingly in Book 1 but could continue, saying “standalone with series potential” conveys that succinctly. While series are getting shorter many genres still thrive on series publishing and I wouldn’t consider it a problem if a manuscript I loved kicked off a series. #askDV

Nisa Akin@nisaakin.bsky.social

#AskDv For a debut author, how much of a concern is it if Book 1 is the start of a larger planned series? If the first book completes its main arc, is saying “planned series” still seen as a risk?

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Keep in mind that your book will be shelved in one section of a bookstore rather than on multiple shelves. An agent can help refine that category before subbing your book, but I'd consider what might be the primary genre, i.e. a horror with romantic elements, or a romance with horror elements #AskDV

Jaimee Choi 🪐📚@jaimeechoi.bsky.social

#askDV it seems crossover may be popular right now, but what is your advice for pitching manuscripts that may straddle a few genres?

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Agents and editors will have different opinions on word count. I recommend 60,000 max for a MG fantasy (including upper) since middle grade as a whole has been shorter lately. It may be better if an MG fantasy is lower than that. And I usually suggest 100,000 for a YA. #AskDv

Kelsey Gomez@kelseymgomez.bsky.social

What is the maximum recommended word count for fantasy novels in MG, upper MG, and YA? #AskDV #F #MG #YA

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Excited to hop on this afternoon! I just want to note that all of my responses are opinions based on my experience. Publishing is a subjective industry, so some answers may differ from agent to agent.

Today we're hosting #AskDV (Q&A with lit agents) @ 1-2PM ET to prep for #DVpit! Using #AskDV ask lit agents about pitching, querying, & publishing! Join us & @jimmccarthydgb.bsky.social @laurenabramo.bsky.social @stutitelidevara.bsky.social @rebeccaw04.bsky.social @sandraproudman.bsky.social

The #AskDV hashtag was trending all hour! Thank you to everyone who asked questions and participated. One of the agents has graciously offered to continue answering a few questions for a little while, but as always please respect their time! See you at the next #DVpit event!

That's it for this round of #AskDV! Thank you for everyone who attended & asked questions! Thank you to our amazing Lit Agents who graciously gave their time! #DVpit @ericsmithrocks.bsky.social @allielevick.bsky.social @mwhatnall.bsky.social @tinyfairyhunter.bsky.social Join us Sept 21 for #PreDV!

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I recommend making sure that each of your scenes is achieving multiple things, rather than just one--whether that's plot development, character development, or something else. So if you find a scene that's only doing one job, see if it can be combined with another to serve dual purpose!

A.M.Sahu 🧚 SFF Author@amsahubooks.bsky.social

#askDV When trying to decide which scenes to keep and which to delete/merge with another, what is your advice on that? What criteria should authors look for when revising a scene ?

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch reposted

An agent is going to first and foremost consider the current project you're pitching, so make sure you focus on that in your query! Many agents work across a range of categories/genres, so you can always try agents that you know work across the categories you're most interested in writing in.

Ruchi@ruchi-writes.bsky.social

The novel I intend to begin querying this month is a contemporary e-sports romance, but I'm also working on a cyberpunk project that I'm having a lot of fun with. Will this be a difficult sell for most agents? Do agents sign you based on your current project or future ones as well? #AskDV

#DVpit - Diverse Voices Pitch reposted

You can mention it in the query, sure! A lot of my colleagues (and me!) are eager for more neurodiverse rep in the books we work on. That said, also remember you don’t have to share everything about yourself with publishing. If you’re not comfortable, or it isn’t safe, there’s no need to. #AskDV

Alexandra Z. Lazar@alexandrazlazar.bsky.social

I'm writing a #MG fantasy where the main character is neurodivergent (as am l) which means she sometimes acts younger than she is. This is intentional for disability rep, but what should I do while querying so agents understand the intention & don’t just assume she's acting too young? #AskDV #F #ND

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The thing that makes a pitch stand out to me is specificity--comps tailored to aspects of the work, a synopsis that establishes character/setting/stakes right away (loglines are a bonus), and a concept that's different from other queries in that subgenre. #askDV

Briannica Lynn@briannicalynn.bsky.social

#AskDV What makes a pitch really stand out for you? What's an instant yes moment? And are there any trends you're seeing in the markets?

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I've seen publishers requesting shorter and shorter word counts. The guidelines I give my clients are 45k or under for MG fantasy, 60k or under for upper MG fantasy, and 95k or under for YA fantasy, which is on the conservative side so nothing is rejected on word count alone. #askDV

Kelsey Gomez@kelseymgomez.bsky.social

What is the maximum recommended word count for fantasy novels in MG, upper MG, and YA? #AskDV #F #MG #YA

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I think we’re gonna see a continued hunger for cozy, especially in unique genres, and several editors have asked me for dystopian books (in kids and adult!) lately. Also horror, cause I don’t think the supply can meet the demand. I think it’s the hardest thing to write. #AskDV

rihdara klay 📖@rihdaraklay.bsky.social

#askDV what do you predict publishing will REALLY be hungry to acquire in 2027? thanks for participating!! 🥰

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Hi there! I would send them a nudge on whichever platform you originally queried to let them know they requested on DVPit. Perhaps even worth asking whether they’d like you to resubmit in another way (sometimes we group subs from a pitch event). #AskDV

Claire Every@cripademia.bsky.social

👋 During #DVpit if we get interest from an agent, but are already in their query pile, what is the recommended thing to do?! (or worse case scenario, a rejection BUT the manuscript has been revised) #askDV

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The industry as a whole is still figuring out best practices regarding AI. I understand being wary of AI detection software; one thing authors can do is research the agencies you choose to query, and avoid any that disclose AI detection practices you're not comfortable with. #askDV

Noreen@noreenmughees.bsky.social

#askdv with agencies stating that they will run manuscripts through AI detection software (which is AI) as well how do writers prepare themselves(I feel like it’s counterproductive)

It's #DVpit month! #DVpit is a bluesky pitch event for unagented creators from marginalized communities to pitch their projects to literary agents and editors! And we've prepared a month of pre-events to help you prepare for the main event on Sept 30, 2026! Go to dvpit.carrd.co for more info!