Return of XpoNorth Digital Tweet Pitch for aspiring authors

Just 280 cleverly crafted characters could bring with it a book deal for participants in the eighth edition of the event, which is taking place on Friday 20 January 2023.

XpoNorth Digital, Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s mechanism for supporting creative industries in the region, is producing the event in association with ASLA – the Association of Scottish Literary Agents.

Throughout the day from 9am to 9pm, writers from across Scotland will be given the chance to tweet their book pitch to a panel of Scotland’s literary agents and publishers.

Open to all genres of work, fiction, non-fiction and children’s writing will be accepted, and the only stipulation is that it must be unpublished, with participants asked to send pitches in using #XpoNorth to be in with the chance of a book deal. Last year’s event saw Tweet Pitch trend throughout the day with a record number of direct pitches received.

Prior to Tweet Pitch, three of Scotland’s leading literary agents, Jenny Brown, Caro Clarke and Louise Lamont, will also be part of a dedicated information session taking place online on Wednesday January 11. The trio will set the scene around the current marketplace for books, look at this year’s growing trends and offer their perspective on what publishers and readers are seeking – a great opportunity for writers to get some top tips to hone their pitches.

XpoNorth Digital’s specialist advisor in Writing and Publishing and founder of the Tweet Pitch, Peter Urpeth, said: “Over the last eight years, the XpoNorth Tweet Pitch has become the best way for writers to kick-start their new year. Make 2023 the year that you make that move and find the right agent and/or publisher for your work.

“Twitter as a platform has undergone a change of ownership and with that a change of approach which to many of its users has been a challenge. However, for Scottish writing and publishing, the first 15 years of Twitter has for many been a very positive experience, a source of community, interaction and information, and we are proud of the tweet pitch’s highly positive impact and as a platform for success for so many participants, whether be writers, agents or publishers. For now, we push on and continue to share that aim and message.”

Literary agent Jenny Brown of ASLA said: “The top new year resolution for many new writers will be getting attention for their writing. Although some writers prefer the traditional methods of submitting their work, our experience shows that many others enjoy the direct opportunities that social media offers to engage with agents and publishers. Constructing an enticing pitch in 280 characters is a hard task, but if you know your work inside out and really understand its core purpose and storylines, then the tweet pitch is for you. It’s fun, it’s free, it’s fast - and it works!”

Tweet Pitch has turned multiple participants into published authors in recent years, including picture book author and illustrator, Corrina Campbell; author of This Golden Fleece – A Journey Through Britain’s Knitted History, Esther Rutter and Leonie Charlton, author of Marram.

Aspiring authors keen to take part in the information session can visit https://www.xponorth.co.uk/events/tweetpitch-2023 and https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writers-how-to-pitch-your-work-in-2023-tickets-486707153197 for more information.