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SUBMIT YOUR MANUSCRIPT

We're seeking bold voices that align with our mission.
Here's what we're looking for:
PIVOT GROWN: Urban & literary fiction that challenges conventions
PIVOT COMMUNITY: Essays, memoirs, social critique that builds bridges  
PIVOT FAMILY: Caregiving guides, healing narratives, legacy stories
SUBMISSION PROCESS:


DETAILED EXPECTATIONS BY DIVISION:
 

PIVOT GROWN Submissions: We want urban and literary fiction that doesn't just tell Black stories—it disrupts how they're told. Your protagonist should face real systemic challenges while maintaining agency and complexity. We're looking for:

  • Characters navigating survival with intelligence, not just struggle

  • Fresh takes on love, family, and ambition within urban contexts

  • Stories that challenge respectability politics and one-dimensional narratives

  • Authentic dialogue that reflects how people actually speak

  • Plot-driven narratives with literary depth

  • Word count: 70,000-90,000 words
     

PIVOT COMMUNITY Submissions: Your nonfiction should combine personal truth with broader social analysis. We want writers who can connect their lived experience to larger patterns of injustice and resilience. Looking for:

  • Essays that blend memoir with cultural criticism

  • Works that examine how personal trauma intersects with systemic oppression

  • Books that offer solutions, not just problems

  • Research-backed arguments with accessible prose

  • Intergenerational perspectives on Black experiences

  • Word count: 60,000-80,000 words for full-length works; essay collections 50,000-70,000 words
     

PIVOT FAMILY Submissions: We need practical wisdom wrapped in compelling storytelling. Your work should honor the daily labor of care while providing actionable guidance. We're seeking:

  • Caregiving strategies rooted in Black cultural practices

  • Healing narratives that acknowledge trauma without retraumatizing

  • Intergenerational wisdom transfer between elders and younger generations

  • Stories that center Black joy alongside Black struggle

  • Guides that address real challenges: eldercare, mental health, financial planning, parenting

  • Word count: 40,000-70,000 words
     

WHAT WE DON'T WANT:

  • Trauma porn that exploits Black pain without purpose

  • Stories that require white characters for validation

  • Work that perpetuates harmful stereotypes

  • Manuscripts that aren't ready (first drafts, unedited work)

  • Submissions outside our focus areas
     

QUERY LETTER MUST INCLUDE:

  • Hook that captures your book's unique angle

  • Brief plot summary (fiction) or main argument (nonfiction)

  • Word count and genre

  • Why your story fits our mission

  • Your platform and relevant experience

  • Comparison titles published within last 3 years
     

We respond within 8-12 weeks. We champion stories that gatekeepers overlook.

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