How does it work?
Submit information about your book idea, through our online form. Click on the Apply link at the top right of this page.
Our mentor panel will evaluate all the entries we receive and shortlist 10 finalists. The finalists get a chance to pitch their book idea to a jury, get feedback and make connections for potential publishing opportunities. The LitMart finals pitch event will be held at the Bangalore Literature Festival on 6-7 Dec 2025.
What to submit?
A 250 to 500-word proposal/synopsis covering the story idea, background and/or characterization and/or plot summary along with an excerpt or a chapter from your manuscript (1-4 pages). LitMart is open to English language submissions only across fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels and poetry.
What is the selection procedure?
Submissions will be accepted only via the online submission form. 10 finalists will be selected. Finalists will be required to confirm their ability to attend the LitMart pitch event at the Bangalore Literature Festival.
LitMart Pitch Format
The format for the final pitches could be in any format that suits the book idea best – storytelling, short video, slide deck, short play or musical, dance, stand-up, improv – really, anything, as long as it is within THREE minutes. The pitch will be followed by a short Q&A from the jury. Pitching will be in front of a live audience.
Timelines
The deadline for submissions is 11pm IST on Sunday, 16th November 2025.
The 10 finalists will be notified on or before 10pm on 23rd November 2025 via individual emails.
Terms & Conditions
- Only unpublished authors can apply to participate in LitMart and the pitch competition accepts only unpublished work.
- However, if you have previously self-published other work, please disclose this at the time of applying.
- An individual is allowed to submit a maximum of 2 entries only.
- An entry submitted for ScreenLit cannot be submitted for LitMart.
- The Bangalore Literature Festival is only a facilitator via LitMart to connect aspiring authors with literary agents, commissioning editors and publishers. We do not guarantee or commit to any publication deals or commercial contracts from the event.
- LitMart is a platform for feedback and not a competition. The decisions and feedback of the jury is theirs alone and the Festival does not have any influence on the same.
“If you can’t describe a book in one or two pithy sentences that would make you or your mother want to read it, then of course you can’t sell it.”