What goes through an editor’s mind when they read a pitch? What turns them off, and what grabs their interest? One of our most popular salons is back with a twist: Editor-in-Chief Denne Michele Norris and Executive Director Halimah Marcus will review your anonymous pitches, submitted just for this event. They will read each pitch for the first time live on screen, sharing their immediate reactions as they go. Your pitch may even be commissioned for Electric Lit!

Submission instructions: You can find the link to submit in the chat, on the right hand side of the event page. (Please note, you will only see the chat if you are registered for the event.) If you are unable to find the submission portal or have questions about submitting, email editors@electricliterature.com. Please submit an essay pitch of 1 to 4 paragraphs, not to exceed a single page in 12 pt, Times New Roman font. Your pitch should be for an essay you would like to be considered for publication in Electric Literature.

Our tagline, “reading into everything,” describes the kind of work we are looking for. Essays do not necessarily need to be about books or works of literature, but they should turn a literary lens on whatever topic they examine, be that another artistic medium, politics, or a personal story. We are committed to publishing work that is intelligent and unpretentious, elevating new voices, and examining how literature and storytelling can help illuminate social justice issues and current events. We are particularly interested in writing that operates at the intersection of different cultures, genres, and media. Do not include any identifying information on the document.You may submit only one entry.

For help writing your pitch, check out our “How to Pitch Electric Lit” salon.

Submissions are due by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Evaluation: We will select and anonymize a dozen or so pitches to read and respond to during the salon. Prescreens will be conducted by other EL editors so Denne Michele and Halimah will read the pitches for the first time live on Crowdcast.

Submissions are optional. You are welcome to attend the salon without submitting. Editors will consider submissions anonymously during the salon, but will invite authors to be in touch directly if they wish to commission the piece. Please be advised that not all submissions will be read during the salon.

This event is part of Electric Lit’s Fall 2021 series, presented by Mount Saint Mary’s University. Electric Literature's virtual salons are supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts Literary Technical Assistance Program. With the support of LitTAP, we are able to offer 50 free tickets to each event for those for whom the ticket price presents a financial burden. To request a scholarship ticket, please email editors@electricliterature.com.

Pitch Roulette