Your DVpit 2026 Guide

DVpit (Diverse Voices Pitch) is BACK in 2026. DVpit is one of the OG pitching events and it goes back all the way to 2016! Since it's creation, hundreds of writers have signed with agents and contracted lots of book deals as a result of the event.

What Is DVpit and How Does It Work?

DVPit is a pitching event that provides an opportunity for unagented marginalized creators--that have been historically underrepresented in publishing--to pitch their work to literary agents and editors.

On the day of the event, eligible participants can post pitches for completed, query-ready projects using the #DVpit hashtag, with the goal of catching the attention of publishing professionals who are actively participating.

Who Can Participate in DVpit?

DVpit is open to unagented creators from marginalized and historically underrepresented communities. This can include:

1. Black creators
2. Indigenous creators
3. People of Color
4. Creators from underrepresented cultures or countries
5. Disabled and neurodivergent creators
6. LGBTQIA+ creators
7. Creators from other marginalized cultural or religious communities

DVpit 2026 Dates and Schedule

This year, DVpit will hold on September 30, 2026. But, if you're planning to participate, there are other Dvpit events and dates to add to your calendar.

In the weeks leading up to the main #DVpit pitch event, writers can ask literary agents questions, practice and refine their pitches, connect with other writers, and get ready for the big day through a series of companion events on Bluesky.

Here’s what’s happening, when it’s happening, and how each event can help you prepare.

September 17: #AskDV Day 1

What it is: A live, one-hour Q&A with literary agents on Bluesky.

When: September 17, 2026, from 1:00–2:00 PM Pacific (4:00–5:00 PM Eastern.)

Where: BlueSky

#AskDV gives writers a chance to ask participating literary agents questions about querying, pitching, and traditional publishing.

This is not a pitching event, so save your manuscript pitch for later. Instead, use the hour to ask the questions you wish you could put directly in front of an agent.

Participating agents currently include Alexandra Levick, Michaela Whatnall, Paula Weiman, and Eric Smith.

How to make the most of #AskDV

Prepare your questions before the event starts. Think beyond questions that apply only to your own manuscript and consider the things you genuinely want to understand about querying, pitches, agent expectations, or the publishing process.

And keep an eye on the full #AskDV feed. Even if you don't ask a particular question yourself, another writer may ask something you've been wondering about.

View #AskDV Day 1 event details

September 21: #preDV

What it is: A practice pitching event.

When: September 21, 2026, from 8:00 AM–8:00 PM Eastern.

Where: BlueSky

Consider this your rehearsal.

During #preDV, writers can share draft versions of their 300-character pitches, experiment with different approaches, receive feedback, and offer feedback to other participants.

Unlike the main DVpit event, this is deliberately low pressure. You can try more than one version of your pitch as long as you aren't spamming the feed.

Use #preDV, not #DVpit, when posting.

How to make the most of #preDV

Write and post multiple versions of the pitch. Pay attention to which versions do best. This will help you determine which pitches to lead with on September 30.

View #preDV event details

September 24: #AskDV Day 2

What it is: A second live literary-agent Q&A.

When: September 24, 2026, from 10:00–11:00 AM Pacific / 1:00–2:00 PM Eastern.

Where: BlueSky

If you missed the first #AskDV, or walked away from it with even more questions, you get another opportunity a week later.

Day 2 features a different group of literary agents, currently including Rebecca Podos, Jim McCarthy, Lauren E. Abramo, Stuti Telidevara, Rebecca Williamson, and Sandra Proudman.

The same rule applies: this is a Q&A, not a pitching session.

Ask questions about querying, pitching, and traditional publishing, and use the #AskDV hashtag so participating agents can find them.

A good time for your final questions

By September 24, you may already have participated in #preDV and started finalizing your pitch.

That makes this second session particularly useful for questions that came up while preparing. Use what you learn as you make your final preparations for DVpit.

View #AskDV Day 2 event details

September 25–29: #DVparty

What it is: A multi-day community and networking event with prompts.

When: September 25–29, 2026.

Where: BlueSky

Each day during #DVparty, the organizers will share a prompt on Bluesky. Writers can respond by sharing things about their projects, including details, mood boards, or other information inspired by the day's prompt.

More importantly, you're encouraged to interact. Reply. Like. Repost. Quote-post. Discover other writers and their projects.

Pay close attention to the difference in engagement rules during #DVparty and #DVpit.

During #DVparty, engagement between writers is encouraged. Likes, reposts, quote-posts.

During #DVpit, only agents and editors can like and repost pitches. Writers can however quote-post a pitch.

Don't treat #DVparty like another pitch event

Use these few days to meet people. Querying can feel intensely individual: your manuscript, your query, your inbox, your rejections, your requests. #DVparty gives participants a chance to experience the community side of the process before pitch day arrives.

You can participate with multiple projects, and you're encouraged to help boost other writers.

View #DVparty event details

September 30: #DVpit

D DAY!!! On September 30, writers pitch using #DVpit, while illustrators use #DVart as required for artwork.

How pitching works

Each pitch must be a single standalone Bluesky post within the platform's 300-character limit.

That character count needs to accommodate your pitch as well as the required #DVpit hashtag and relevant category or genre hashtags.

For each project, you may post:

1. Up to six pitches
2. No more than one pitch per hour

Threads aren't permitted for individual pitches, so each post needs to stand on its own.

This is where the work you did during #preDV can pay off. Rather than posting the exact same pitch six times, prepare several strong variations in advance.

Engagement Rules

Pay particularly close attention to how likes and reposts work during #DVpit.

Likes and reposts for agents and editors signal interest or a request. Therefore, fellow writers should not like or repost DVpit pitches during the event

You can still support other participants in one of two ways. You can reply their posts or quote-post. Do NOT tag individual agents or editors in an attempt to bring a pitch to their attention.

If an agent or editor likes or reposts your pitch

First: congratulations. A request is exciting.

Second: research before you submit.

Don't let the adrenaline of getting a request convince you to skip the same due diligence you would normally do before querying an agent.

Research the person who requested your work. Look at their agency, interests, submission guidelines, professional background, and whether they seem like the right potential fit for you and your career.

Received a like or repost from an agent? Review their query policy. Received a like or repost from an editor? Research if they accept unagented submissions or not. If they receive unagented submissions, review their submission policy. If they don't receive unagented submissions, keep this in your back pocket for when you land an agent and your book goes out on sub.

View the complete #DVpit event details and participation rules

Your DVpit 2026 Game Plan

If you're participating in the full series, your September could look something like this:

Before September 17

Start researching DVpit, familiarize yourself with the rules, and write down questions you'd like to ask literary agents.

September 17: #AskDV Day 1

Ask questions and learn from the participating agents' answers.

Before September 21

Draft several versions of your pitch.

September 21: #preDV

Test your pitches, get feedback, and help other writers with theirs.

September 24: #AskDV Day 2

Bring any remaining questions to the second agent panel.

September 25–29: #DVparty

Meet other writers, share your project, participate in the daily prompts, and support the community.

September 30: #DVpit

Pitch your work. Hype other participants.

And if an agent or editor requests your manuscript? Celebrate and then do your research before sending.

One last thing

DVpit is as much a pitching opportunity as it is a chance to have fun and connect with other writers. A pitch event puts your work in front of publishing professionals in a very particular format, on a very particular day. Whether your pitch receives one request, several requests, or none at all says nothing about your writing career.

Join the DVpit events. Learn something. Meet other writers. Make your pitch stronger. Give yourself the opportunity to be seen. And then keep going.

Looking for more opportunities? Browse upcoming writing and publishing events on QueryTo.