When Words Collide 2026

Live Action Slush - What is it?

The Slush Pile is the magical pile of unsolicited manuscripts that editors and publishers comb through to discover great new work.

A Live Action Slush event is just a slush pile in real time. A panel of editors and publishers listen to a cold reader tackling an anonymous first page of a manuscript. The panelists raise their hands at the moment they would stop reading. When all hands are raised, the reader stops and the discussion begins. What’s working? What’s not working? Discuss! At the end, the submitter may choose to identify themselves, or stay under the radar. 
How to Play

1. Bring the first page of your manuscript without your name on it! Take note of the genre of the slush; one page only; typed, double-spaced, 11pt type. 
2. Drop it in the basket and hope yours gets picked for review. 

The panelists will try to get through as many as they can in the 60 minute event! This year we have several slush types to enjoy.

Mark your SCHED schedules, go write and good luck! 

Reader: Claire Bolton

Want to know if your query letter works? Query letters are your first introduction to an agent or publisher. They need to introduce your work in a way that stands out in the hundreds of emails filling their inboxes. Join this lively slush reading where anonymous queries are read out to a panel of experts (authors, agents, editors, publishers, or assistants) who will raise their hand when they would stop reading. Find out if your query makes the cut or if something is getting in the way.

Reader: Erin Weir

Live Action Slush - What is it?

The Slush Pile is the magical pile of unsolicited manuscripts that editors and publishers comb through to discover great new work.

A Live Action Slush event is just a slush pile in real time. A panel of editors and publishers listen to a cold reader tackling an anonymous first page of a manuscript. The panelists raise their hands at the moment they would stop reading. When all hands are raised, the reader stops and the discussion begins. What’s working? What’s not working? Discuss! At the end, the submitter may choose to identify themselves, or stay under the radar. 
How to Play

1. Bring the first page of your manuscript without your name on it! Take note of the genre of the slush; one page only; typed, double-spaced, 11pt type. 
2. Drop it in the basket and hope yours gets picked for review. 

The panelists will try to get through as many as they can in the 60 minute event! This year we have several slush types to enjoy.

Mark your SCHED schedules, go write and good luck! 

Reader: Nicole Roche