This autumn, Spread the Word is delighted to partner with the commercial fiction editors at Sphere, Little, Brown Book Group for our latest feedback opportunity, which will focus solely on the querying pitch. This is a concise piece of copy for your novel that consists of two parts:
- A one-line summary. This should be an “X meets Y” elevator pitch – comparing your novel to two existing novels.
- A short blurb of 150 words.
This summary is typically included in the cover letter you send to an agent or editor.
From Tuesday 17 September, we’ll be accepting short pitches (a one-line pitch plus a 150-word blurb) for commercial fiction titles (e.g. crime, thriller, mystery, romance, comedy). In total 20 pitches will be selected for written feedback by Molly Walker-Sharp, Rosanna Forte, Ed Wood and Tilda Key of Little, Brown Book Group.
The call for submissions will open on the same day as our Commercial Publishing 101 webinar with Little, Brown Book Group – sign up for a free ticket here: https://www.spreadtheword.org.uk/events/london-writers-network-commercial-publishing-101-with-little-brown-book-group/
Molly Walker-Sharp is looking for pitches for romance, romantic comedy, love stories, historical fiction and anything with lighter themes.
Rosanna Forte is looking for pitches for plot-driven general fiction, contemporary novels with an element of fantasy; crime and thrillers with a big concept, an underrepresented perspective or a fun/unusual structure.
Ed Wood is looking for pitches for an original whodunnit, a unique mystery or fresh, character-led crime fiction, as well as commercial general fiction with a big high-concept idea and special voice.
Tilda Key is looking for pitches for crime, thrillers, suspense and mysteries – any variety except cosy or gangland.
Eligibility Requirements
This opportunity is open to unagented and unpublished writers who are also from one of the following backgrounds that are underrepresented in UK publishing:
- Black, Asian, or Global Majority
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Disabled
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LGBTQIA+ community: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and other self-identifications under the umbrella of sexuality and/or gender.
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On a low income (in receipt of benefits, universal credit, income support, earn minimum wage or Zero hours contracts)
- Working Class upbringing
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Have experienced a lack of academic and/or vocational training opportunities – i.e. have not been able to study/train to your full potential due to low income, ill health, being a carer etc.
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Are or have been a carer
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Experience of homelessness
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Experience of imprisonment
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Are a refugee
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Are a single parent
Feedback will be given in writing from the editors. There will be no feedback meeting on this occasion. If you have been successful in a feedback opportunity with Spread the Word in the last 12 months then you are not eligible to apply. This is to give more opportunity to writers who have not received feedback.
How to apply
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You can apply for this opportunity via our Submittable page. Only one entry per applicant will be accepted.
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The link to apply is here. This opportunity will open to submissions on Tuesday 17 September and close on Wednesday 16 October.
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To apply, you will need to complete a short form and upload your pitch document. The pitch must include a one-line summary and a blurb of no more than 150 words.
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If you are a disabled writer, there is the option to submit visual or audio submissions. Please get in touch if you need any support with this at [email protected].
Please note that we are not accepting submissions of science fiction and high/epic fantasy or experimental literary fiction.
Timeline
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Submissions will open at 7pm on Tuesday 17 September.
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The deadline for submissions is 1pm on Wednesday 16 October.
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Applicants will know the outcome of their submission by Friday 29 November and successful applicants will receive their feedback by Friday 20 December 2024.
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If you have any queries about your application or this opportunity, please get in touch with [email protected].
About the Editors
Molly Walker-Sharp is Senior Commissioning Editor at Sphere Fiction, commissioning across a broad spectrum of women’s fiction, from trope-led rom-coms to sweeping historical romance to conversation-starting book club reads.
Rosanna Forte is Editorial Director at Sphere Fiction, commissioning commercial and literary-commercial-crossover fiction, particularly historical and gothic fiction, and crime and thrillers.
Ed Wood is Publishing Director for Brands and Creative Partnerships at Sphere Fiction and IP Director for Little, Brown, publishing top-flight crime and thriller, plus high-concept or platform-led general commercial fiction.
Tilda Key is Deputy Publisher at Sphere Fiction, publishing a range of crime, thriller and suspense – from procedural series to high-concept thrillers and some historical mystery.
Published: Tuesday 17 September 2024