GOT THE WRITE STUFF?

Paging Dynamic, Unpublished, Diverse
Women And Nonbinary Writers

LitUp will provide five emerging writers with an all-expenses-paid retreat, a three-month mentorship with a published author, and marketing support from Reese’s Book Club. LitUp is a journey and we’re with you every step of the way.

Hone Your Craft at Our Writer’s Retreat

Selected fellows will participate in an all-expenses-paid writer’s retreat to develop their manuscript and learn about the business side of publishing.

Join the Reese’s Book Club Family

Through it all, we stand by you every step of the way, including a first-look window with top agents and a book launch marketing commitment from us and our partners.

Get Mentored and Build a Support Network

Post retreat, fellows are matched with a published author for a three-month mentorship to get their book ready for market.

We Are Looking For Magic

Open our eyes. Tell us an uplifting story that’s been overlooked.

Introduce us to the diverse main character who’s falling in love while solving a murder mystery. Take us on an adventure where a diverse, time jumping protagonist saves the day. We believe real magic lies in the stories we don’t always hear. The stories that make us laugh one second and cry the next. The stories we just can’t stop reading.

APPLications open soon

Meet Our Past Fellows

CYCLE THREE

  • Ntebogeng Mahlare Archer

    Maropeng: In the Ruins
    Adult Literary Fiction

  • Natalie Messier

    Every Version of You
    Adult Romance

  • Janasha Prabhu

    Ripping Wings Off Butterflies
    Adult Thriller

  • Razz Sharpless

    Red Line Romeo
    Adult Romance

  • Monika Gupta

    The Right Kind
    Adult Literary Fiction

CYCLE TWO

  • Tolani Akinola

    Black Nylon
    Adult Literary Fiction

  • Margot Fisher

    LEAVE IT ON THE TRACK
    YA Contemporary

  • Ashley Jordan

    ONCE UPON A TIME IN DOLLYWOOD
    Adult Romance

  • Allison King

    THE PHOENIX PENCIL COMPANY
    Adult Speculative

  • Bora Reed

    THE LETTER WRITERS
    Adult Historical

CYCLE ONE

  • Sophia Chang

    Mothertongue
    Adult Urban Fantasy

  • Chatham Greenfield

    TIME AND TIME AGAIN
    YA Romcom

  • Jaya Mehta

    THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR
    YA Contemporary

  • Katerina Ivanov Prado

    STILL LIFE
    Adult Literary Fiction

  • Gina Isabel Rodriguez

    FORGET NOTHING
    Adult Literary Historical

  • Arriel Vinson

    THE FREEDOM OF FALLING
    YA Novel in Verse

Guidelines And Eligibility

Who is eligible?

Candidates must be diverse (as defined below) women or nonbinary writers who are also unagented and unpublished.

LEARN MORE

What do I need to apply?

Candidates may only submit one application and one manuscript. Once submitted, applications cannot be updated. Late applications will not be accepted.

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What is the selection process like?

Applications are judged across manuscript and application questions on both technical and artistic merit.

LEARN MORE

Meet Our Partners

LitUp is made possible by a village of committed
changemakers who believe diverse stories matter.

Updates, tips, highlights and all kinds of book fun from our (and Reese’s) pen to your inbox. Delivered every Monday and Friday.

Updates, tips, highlights and all kinds of book fun from our (and Reese’s) pen to your inbox. Delivered every Monday and Friday.

Updates, tips, highlights and all kinds of book fun from our (and Reese’s) pen to your inbox. Delivered every Monday and Friday.

@REESESBOOKCLUB

Jan 22

Open
To quote Chloé Zhao, we are setting the story straight on how the adaptation of Hamnet came to be. 💛 Join us for this honest conversation on the latest episode of Bookmarked, featuring the incredible Chloé Zhao, Paul Mescal, and Reese's Book Club author Maggie O'Farrell. Start listening on the @iheartpodcast app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen.

Jan 22

Open
Have a burning question for our January author @lauradaveauthor? ⛵️☀️ Tap the link in our story to head to our WhatsApp channel and submit your questions for our author #askmeanything! Join us in the channel at 2:30pm EST/11:30am PST to hear Laura’s answers live, only on @whatsapp 💚

Jan 21

Open
Reading before watching or watching before reading? 🤔 With all the book to screen adaptations coming out this year, you’ll find us racing to finish each book before they release! What are you most excited to see adapted for screen?

Jan 20

Open
#ad Cozy reads deserve comfy threads ✨ We’ve teamed up with @discovercotton to help you upgrade your reading vibes with the fabric that makes every story feel better: cotton. Whether you’re reading on-the-go, or lost in a cozy read on the couch, cotton complements every reading vibe. Tell us, what’s your favorite way to read? 👇

Jan 20

Open
Before The Last Thing He Told Me S2 drops, we’re reading the sequel, The First Time I Saw Him. 📖 Who’s joining us before the new season returns Feb 20?

Jan 19

Open
Hi Book Lovers, are you ready for this plot twist? 👀 Reese’s Book Club stickers are officially available on WhatsApp! React to our monthly book pick, express your inner reader, and level up your book club conversations with our brand-new Book Lover sticker pack. Now available across @whatsapp 📲💚

Jan 19

Open
Stop everything. Paul Mescal, Chloé Zhao, and Reese’s Book Club author Maggie O’Farrell sit down to talk Hamnet—from page to screen. Honest, intimate, and packed with moments you’ll be thinking about long after you hit play. 💛 Start listening tomorrow on the @iHeartPodcast app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you love to listen! 🎧

Jan 19

Open
We're tearing up hearing about @LauraDaveAuthor's dream book club! 🥹 Tell us, who would you invite to your dream book club?

Jan 18

Open
A little Bookshelf Confession 📚 @daniellerobay sharing the lines that live rent-free in her head — this time from The Nightingale by @kristinhannahauthor ✨ 💬 What book quote changed you?
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