Penguin Random House India is pleased to announce the third edition of The Perfect Pitch, its flagship writing mentorship and discovery platform, this time in collaboration with the Penguin Presents The White Owl Literature Festival & Book Fair. Known for spotlighting emerging voices and original ideas, The Perfect Pitch 2025 will invite unpublished writers from across the country to submit fiction inspired by the Northeast, marking a focused and regionally rooted edition of the programme.
Run in association with one of the Northeast’s most vibrant literary festivals, the 2025 edition of The Perfect Pitch reflects Penguin’s continued commitment to discovering distinctive stories and nurturing new writing talent. Open to unpublished writers across India, the programme does not require a completed manuscript—only a compelling idea, a strong narrative vision, and a clear pitch.
Entries for The Perfect Pitch 2025 opens today on 23 December 2025, with submissions closing on 10 January 2026. A jury comprising Deepthi Talwar, Executive Editor at Penguin Random House India and Programme Director of the White Owl Literature Festival; Atuno Rio, Festival Director of the White Owl Literature Festival and founder of The White Owl; and a Penguin-published author (to be announced), will select one Winner and two Runners-Up.
Speaking about The Perfect Pitch, Deepthi Talwar, Executive Editor at Penguin Random House India and a jury member of the programme, said, ‘The Perfect Pitch has always been about finding original voices and strong narrative instincts. This edition is especially exciting as it aligns with Penguin Eight, our new imprint focused on discovering fresh, contemporary storytelling. By collaborating with the White Owl Literature Festival, we are not only widening the platform for new writers but also creating a meaningful pathway for stories from the Northeast to find national—and potentially global—readership.’
The Winner will be invited to attend the Penguin Presents The White Owl Literature Festival & Book Fair 2026 in Nagaland, with travel, accommodation and main meals covered, and will receive an in-person mentorship session with a Penguin editor and a published author. The Runners-Up will receive virtual editorial mentorship and curated book hampers.
Further details regarding submission guidelines, jury members and programme timelines are available across Penguin Random House India’s and The White Owl’s official platforms.
Key Dates:
· Call For Entries Open- 23 December 2025
· Call For Entries Closed- 10 January 2026
Criteria and Guidelines
· Register on the link here
· Our jury seeks a compelling plot, exceptional writing, well-developed characters, and originality—hallmarks of a great novel.
· Participants must be 18 years of age or older
· Open to Indian residents only.
· Fiction entries only, with no genre restrictions.
· To participate, please submit:
1. The registration fee.
2. A completed registration form.
3. A pitch document, including a detailed synopsis of your book idea and a brief author bio.
