The Black List for Fiction: A New Publishing Shortcut for Aspiring Novelists
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When I was querying agents for my first novel, I remember how painfully slow the process was. I’d spend hours crafting personalized query letters, send them off with my fingers crossed, and then wait. And wait. Weeks turned into months, and I’d get rejections—or, worse, no response at all. When an agent finally requested my full manuscript, I was thrilled, only to find myself back in limbo for another three months while they decided. It was exhausting, and honestly, pretty demoralizing.
That’s why, when I heard about the Black List expanding to include fiction submissions, my ears perked up. What if there was a way to skip the endless waiting and get real feedback from publishing professionals—fast?
If you’ve never heard of the Black List, don’t worry. In this post, I’m going to walk you through what the Black List is, why it’s been a game-changer in Hollywood, and how its recent expansion into the world of fiction could be the publishing shortcut you’ve been looking for.
Let’s jump right in.
What Is the Black List?
Until recently, the Black List was something that only people in the TV and film industry knew about. It began in 2005 as an annual survey to highlight the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood. The idea was to shine a spotlight on fantastic scripts that hadn’t yet been turned into movies, creating a sort of “discovered gems” list for producers and directors.
In 2012, the Black List expanded its reach by creating an online platform. Screenwriters could now upload their scripts, making them accessible to industry professionals like agents, producers, and even actors. This was a big deal because it leveled the playing field. Suddenly, you didn’t need a personal connection to get your script read. If your work was good, it could get noticed. And it worked: over 400 Black List scripts have been produced, racking up more than $26 billion at the box office and winning 53 Academy Awards, including four Best Picture wins in the last decade.
Pretty impressive, right?
Now, as of September 2024, the Black List has extended its reach to fiction. This is huge news for novelists, especially those trying to break into traditional publishing.
How Does the Black List for Fiction Work?
The Black List for fiction operates through its website. Here’s how it works:
Create an cccount: You’ll start by creating a profile on the platform.
Host (or describe) your manuscript: This is where it gets important. Hosting your manuscript on the site is the real draw—you want agents and publishers to have access to your work. You can also describe what your manuscript is about, but that doesn’t make a ton of sense—you want industry professionals to actually read your work. That’s the whole point of The Black List
Request evaluations: You can also pay for professional evaluations of your manuscript. These evaluations provide you with feedback and a score, which can boost your visibility if your work gets high marks.
The Costs
Hosting your manuscript costs $30 per month.
A professional evaluation of the first 100 pages of your novel costs $150.
If you’re a member of the Authors Guild, you get a 20% discount on these fees. An emerging writer membership in the Authors Guild costs $100 per year, which can save you money if you plan to get multiple evaluations. For example, if you order four evaluations, the membership pays for itself.
There’s also a neat feature built into the system: If your manuscript scores an 8 out of 10 or higher in an evaluation, you get two free evaluations. If those evaluations also score high, the cycle continues, and you can even get free hosting if your work ranks in the top 3% of manuscripts on the platform.
Why I Was Skeptical at First
When I first heard about the Black List expanding to fiction, I had doubts. The querying process for literary agents, while slow, is already pretty democratic. You don’t need a personal introduction or insider connections to get an agent. You just need a great book. Most authors I know—including myself—landed their agents through cold querying, not networking.
So at first, I thought, “Do we really need another platform for getting in front of agents?”
But then I thought about the drawbacks of querying. It’s a slow, uncertain process. You might wait weeks or even months to hear back from an agent, only to get a form rejection—or worse, no response at all. And if an agent requests your full manuscript, you might spend another three months in limbo waiting for feedback. That’s a lot of time spent wondering what to do next.
Why I Changed My Mind
Here’s where the Black List shines: speed and clarity. The evaluations provide professional feedback much faster than traditional querying. Instead of waiting months for a response, you can get actionable feedback within weeks. This is invaluable for writers who are eager to improve their manuscripts and move forward.
The fact that the evaluators are vetted publishing professionals is also a big plus. You’re not getting random opinions; you’re getting insights from people who know what it takes to succeed in the industry.
Is The Black List Worth the Investment?
Let’s break down the numbers. If you get four evaluations without any discounts, you’re looking at $600 plus $30 per month for hosting. If you join the Authors Guild, the total drops to $604 for the evaluations and hosting combined, plus you get additional benefits from the Guild like free legal reviews of publishing contracts.
Yes, it’s an investment. But if it saves you months of waiting and gives you high-quality feedback that improves your chances of landing an agent, it could be worth every penny.
And if your manuscript scores well, you’ll get extra perks like free evaluations, free hosting, and increased visibility on the platform. That visibility could be what catches the eye of an agent or publisher, especially now when the fiction side of the Black List is just getting started and competition is relatively low.
Final Thoughts: The Black List for Fiction
The Black List for fiction is an exciting new tool for aspiring novelists. If you’re serious about getting published and want to accelerate the process, it’s worth considering. The combination of professional feedback, increased visibility, and the potential for free perks makes it a compelling option.
That said, the Black List isn’t a magic bullet. Your manuscript needs to be strong to make an impact. But if you’ve got a solid book and you’re looking for a way to cut through the waiting game of traditional querying, this could be the shortcut you need.
Thanks for reading, and as always, happy writing!
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