From Pitch to Publication

From Pitch to Publication, a Jacana Literary Foundation (JLF) initiative, provides an exciting platform for emerging writers from southern Africa to showcase their work to a panel of industry professionals in a Shark Tank-cum-Dragon’s Den type environment.

Participants are selected from a heaving submissions box, and are afforded a priceless behind-the-scenes glimpse into the literary world.

They get invaluable feedback, insights, and tips from the panel of publishers, booksellers, literary festival organisers, academics, and media, and importantly, a shot at a writing mentorship and a publishing deal with the JLF’s partner publisher, Jacana Media.

You may get a better feel for the pitching process with this video:

A special EB Homebru edition of From Pitch to Publication

The JLF is delighted to collaborate with Exclusive Books in 2025 to launch a special EB Homebru edition of From Pitch to Publication, with pitching sessions being held in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg, at the end of May.

Exclusive Books’ Homebru is an annual campaign that celebrates South African literature and homegrown authors, showcasing a collection of diverse titles and giving a platform to local voices. Collectively, through From Pitch to Publication, the JLF and Exclusive Books will identify, nurture and profile new talent.

Do you have what it takes to pitch your book? This is your chance to impress and persuade us in person to consider your work for publication.

We will consider pitches in the following genres:

Lifestyle
Children’s Fiction, including Short stories and Science fiction/Fantasy
Politics/current affairs/history
Memoir/biography/autobiography
Natural history/travel
Business
Self-help

Submissions are open from 17-31 March 2025.

Queries can be e-mailed to: info@jacanaliteraryfoundation.co.za

Please note that we will only be giving feedback on submissions that interest us. If you have not heard from us by 14 April 2025, please consider your submission unsuccessful.

From Pitch to Publication Entry Form

If you have not heard from us by 14 April 2025, please consider your submission unsuccessful.

From Pitch to Publication Submissions Form

Your Name

Email

Contact Number

Pitching sessions will take place in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg at the end of May 2025.

If selected to pitch your manuscript, in which city or cities would you be able to pitch?

You can select multiple cities

Title of Book

Category / Genre

Language of manuscript

Book Synopsis

Three key descriptors of your work, e.g., eerie, suspenseful, tearjerker

Who are you?

How did you hear about the From Pitch to Publication EB Homebru edition?

Jacana Media is the publishing partner of the JLF; please share why you feel your book would be a good fit with Jacana’s list.

Who is your market, and how will we reach them?

So that we can better understand what inspires your writing, please tell us which three books you’ve read and found life-changing.

Upload Your Manuscript **

Choose File

** If you do not have a full manuscript to submit, don’t panic. You can submit the first 4 completed chapters. If you do not submit a full manuscript, please state as such in the manuscript description portion of the form.