Apply for The Verge
Industry Engagement Day
Publishing industry professionals will respond in real-time to pitches for picture books, novels, and long-form nonfiction, giving writers valuable insight into what's working and how they can sharpen their pitch.
Online event - July
Writers submit a book pitch and get live feedback from top literary agents and editors.
cost
$250 for Non-Members with a Pitch
$185 for CTC Members with a Pitch
$175 Without a Pitch
Frequently Asked Questions
Registering with a Pitch
Starting June 1, we will invite all registrants to set up an account in our new THRIVE portal. This is where you'll submit pitches, access replays, submission instructions, and more. So that we can organize submissions and share with faculty, pitches and other materials are due at noon CT on Monday, June 15, 2026.
Yes, we’ve limited each panel to 25 pitches so those 25 writers are guaranteed to have their pitch read as long as they submit it by the deadline. Once those 25 spots sell out (or the deadline arrives, whichever comes first), that panel will no longer be available for purchase.
Please check the THRIVE portal.
Great! As long as it’s before the deadline, you can log into the portal and update your pitch. Faculty will only receive the most recent version of your pitch.
Faculty receive a list of pitches for their panel in advance. They provide responses in advance using these options:
Once faculty respond to all pitches, Bethany synthesizes feedback from the panel and moderates the Q&A.
- YES, totally my thing.
- YES, fills a gap in the market.
- YES, I am intrigued.
- YES, I can see/feel/imagine the readers. Emotional appeal.
- YES, has school and trade appeal.
- NO, not voicey, doesn’t stand out.
- NO, great pitch but just not for me personality.
- NO, pitch needs more development/a tad confusing.
- NO, fills the same space a current client has on my list.
- NO, a genre I am full on or don’t see potential right now.
- During the panel, Writing Barn staff read the pitches aloud and share them on screen. Faculty share responses and often include more context on why a pitch does or does not pique their interest, suggest appropriate comp titles, or discuss how a pitch could be even stronger. In the past, several faculty members have changed their no’s to yes’s in real-time after hearing a pitch read aloud!
Once faculty respond to all pitches, Bethany synthesizes feedback from the panel and moderates the Q&A.
Not all writers can attend live or want to present their pitch, so Writing Barn team members read all pitches aloud. Don’t worry, they’re experienced presenters who will make your pitch shine. In several cases, their delivery has convinced faculty to request a project they’d originally declined!
Writers are encouraged to attend live so they can participate in the chat and support fellow writers, but it’s not required. Everyone who registers will get the replays for all panels and will have the opportunity to submit to faculty.
Writers are encouraged to attend live so they can participate in the chat and support fellow writers, but it’s not required. Everyone who registers will get the replays for all panels and will have the opportunity to submit to faculty.
As far as we know, this has never happened in one of our events or classes and it would violate our code of conduct. We encourage attendees to share “aha” moments on social media, but NOT to screenshot pitches or share them with anyone. If you’re still concerned about this and are pitching something like a picture book biography, you could describe the subject and what makes them book-worthy without mentioning their full name.
For the July Industry Engagement Day, all pitches are due by Monday, June 15, 2026 at noon CT. We send reminders about this deadline. If you miss it, we unfortunately can’t guarantee that it’ll get shared with faculty, but you will still have access to replays and submission opportunities.
Congrats! If a faculty member requests to see your manuscript based on the pitch, you should receive an email with submission instructions in the week following the event. In some cases, agents or editors create a separate submission process for manuscripts they specifically request. In others, they provide the same submission instructions for all attendees, and we encourage you to mention in the first sentence if they requested the project during Industry Engagement Weekend.
All our Industry Engagement Weekend pitch panels include a mix of editor and agent faculty, so sometimes agented authors get a yes from an agent on faculty. If you’re happy with your current agent, you can just pat yourself on the back for writing a great pitch and disregard that request.
All our Industry Engagement Weekend pitch panels include a mix of editor and agent faculty, so sometimes agented authors get a yes from an agent on faculty. If you’re happy with your current agent, you can just pat yourself on the back for writing a great pitch and disregard that request.
For your first nudge AFTER AN ASK, wait 3 to 4 months. For the second nudge, shoot for between months 5 and 6. That’s ALL. And remember: Always update with any movement or news in your nudge (for instance, if you won an award), and always “reply all” to the original email thread you submitted through to provide context.
Replays go out via email within one week of the event, and often sooner. Please check the THRIVE portal.
