What is the Scribble House Lit Fest?
At the Scribble House Lit Fest, Pittsburgh writers and readers can check out some of the incredible publishers that call western Pennsylvania home.
The core of the festival is the book fair. Every participating journal and press will have a table where folks can chat with the editors and check out their books (and other bookish wares). Our hope is that this will be an event that has something to offer every part of the local literary community, from the writers and poets who create works to the publishers who put them out into the world and the readers who read them.
Along with the book fair, we'll have a smattering of activities happening throughout the day. Editors from all the presses will get up on the stage at 4PM to give a moderated Q&A, where they'll answer questions about what they publish, how they choose work, their editorial process, and anything else that attendees want to know. Other activities include an asynchronous Silent Workshop, writing prompts, advice on how to submit work, pre-scheduled 10-minute Quick Pitch sessions with press editors, a raffle drawing, and a punch card prize wheel (scroll down or click here to see the full schedule).
Register as an attendee
|
 Many thanks to our media partner Littsburgh for helping to spread the word about the Lit Fest (and everything they do to support literary Pittsburgh!).
|
Other Participating Organizations Include...
 
|
Update 10/27: Submissions are open through November 15th for the Silent Workshop! If you would like to get feedback on your creative work during the Lit Fest, send it along using the Silent Workshop Submission Form.
|
What Are Quick Pitch Sessions?
Anyone who has been to one of Barrelhouse's Conversations and Connections conference might have taken part in their editor speed dating. This is the idea that inspired the Quick Pitch sessions at the Scribble House Lit Fest, though we're doing things a bit differently.
Here's how it will work:
- Choose the publisher you want to have a pitch session with from the list below and purchase a registration ($10 per session). Quick Pitch sessions are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Each Quick Pitch session lasts 10 minutes. You can choose the times you're available for a session when you register and will receive an email with your scheduled pitch session time before November 17th.
- Once you've registered, you can send the press a short sample to review in advance, or pitch the press cold with your idea when you sign up.
There are 5 presses and journals offering Quick Pitch sessions at this year's festival. You can click the link below to go to the registration page:
|
Lit Fest FAQ
Is there a cost to attend the Scribble House Lit Fest?
Nope! It's free to attend both the book fair and the editor Q&A. The only part of the festival that costs money are the Quick Pitch sessions, which are $10 each to register for.
Who is the Scribble House Lit Fest for?
Anyone who likes reading and/or writing! Many of the activities are designed for writers, and that's primarily who we had in mind when we decided to put the event together. We also hope it'll be a fun opportunity for local publishers to meet, mingle, and learn from/about each other, and that book lovers who want to discover new local things to read, or hear what things are like behind the scenes, will enjoy perusing the book fair and sitting in on the editor Q&A.
Do I need to register in advance to attend?
Advanced registration is not required to peruse the book fair or be in the audience for the editor Q&A. You do need to register in advance for Quick Pitch sessions or to submit work for the Silent Workshop. You'll also get a free raffle ticket if you register before the day of the event.
How much are tickets for the raffle?
Attendees who register in advance will get one raffle ticket free. You can also buy additional raffle tickets, both in advance or the day of the event, for $3 each or 2 for $5.
Do I need to be physically present to win something in the raffle?
You do need to attend the lit fest to have your ticket entered in the raffle - if you register in advance but don't attend, you won't be able to win. As long as you show up at some point before the drawing, though, you don't need to be there right when it's happening. You'll be able to provide a number when you pick up or buy tickets and we'll text you if your ticket is drawn. You'll then have until an hour after the event's end (8PM on 11/17) to either pick up your prize or provide a Pittsburgh address where we can drop it off (if you have an evening commitment that would prevent you from responding, you can let us know that when you pick up or buy tickets and we'll give you extra wiggle room if your ticket is drawn).
Will there be other stuff to do besides buying books?
Indeed! Along with the other scheduled activities, like the Quick Pitch sessions and editor Q&A, we'll also have "self-serve" writerly things on hand. These include a silent workshop, writing prompts, and resources for submitting work to publishers ( click here to see more info on these activities).
Publisher FAQ
Who is eligible to participate as a publisher?
Any publisher of creative work that has a connection to Western Pennsylvania. Creative work can include stories, poems, essays, graphic narratives, and art, and of any length--this includes literary journals and anthology publishers who release short stories and individual poems, as well as publishers of chapbook or full-length manuscripts.
Does it cost anything to register for a table?
Nope! It's free for publishers to participate.
I'm a self-published author. Can I register for a table to sell my books?
Not as an individual author. However, if you're a member of a publishing collective, or you run a press, journal, or magazine that has published your work in addition to publishing work from other authors, then you can absolutely sign up to participate! We may add an area for self-published authors in future years if this year's festival proves to be a success.
Am I required to participate in the editor Q&A if I sign up for a table?
This is a soft yes. We would like to have a representative from every participating publisher on the stage during the Q&A, but if there is a reason this isn't possible let us know.
Am I required to donate something to the raffle if I sign up for a table?
No, donating to the raffle is optional (though we definitely appreciate it if you do have something to donate!).
Am I required to offer Quick Pitch sessions if I sign up for a table?
No, the Quick Pitch Sessions are completely optional - we know that not everyone who publishes work is always looking for new unsolicited manuscripts. When you sign up, you'll have the choice to offer anywhere from 0 to 10 sessions throughout the lit fest, and you'll be paid $7 for each session that an attendee registers for.
|
|
|
