Want to know more about fiction at The Black List? Open This.

A new, regular post featuring fiction programs, free resources for novelists and much more...

Greetings and salutations,

We are expanding our coverage of fiction, publishing and creative writing here on our Substack, Establishing Shot.

What does that mean for you? We’ll be sharing updates regarding our new and continuing fiction-related programs, Read the Acknowledgments podcast episodes, helpful industry tips, stats, facts, book recommendations and much more. Consider this a new resource tool – a monthly fiction guide – with exciting, ever-evolving features.

If you’re already subscribed, keep it locked for future posts. If you’re new, subscribe and stay up to date on all that we’re doing in the books space.

CROOKED LANE ACQUIRES FIRST MANUSCRIPT FROM BLCKLST.COM

Crooked Lane Books has acquired Isabel Booth’s debut crime thriller Then He Was Gone after Senior Editor Marcia Markland discovered the manuscript on The Black List.

THEN HE WAS GONE is a nail-biting thriller that explores the darkness that emerges within a family after their six-year old son disappears without a trace in the wilderness. The novel arrives on February 24, 2026 — you can pre-order it from Penguin Random House and all other major booksellers.

“Imagine how excited I was when I found and read the manuscript of THEN HE WAS GONE, one of the best thrillers I’ve read in years. I suspect her work will be quickly snapped up by film producers as well. Move over, Harlan Coben,” said Markland of the acquisition.

“I had heard about The Black List as a platform for writers to showcase their screenplays, pilots, and plays for industry professionals. Then, about a year ago, I saw an article announcing that The Black List was accepting novel manuscripts. I posted the manuscript for THEN HE WAS GONE, and three months later I was contacted by Marcia Markland, Senior Editor at Crooked Lane Books. It’s hard to describe how I felt when I got the email from Marcia telling me that Crooked Lane wanted to publish my novel. Euphoric? Yes. Euphoric. And grateful that a platform like The Black List exists to connect unknown authors like me with wonderful publishers,” said Booth.

Cheers to you, Isabel!

PROGRAM UPDATES

Congratulations to the recipients of our first Spotify x JED Impact Award! This is a new initiative to identify five unpublished, novel-length manuscripts that elevate exceptional depictions of mental health in fiction. Each writer will receive a $10,000 grant to support their work in fiction and will maintain the rights to their manuscripts.

This initiative was open to unpublished manuscripts in all genres, and we particularly encouraged submissions that normalized mental health experiences, challenged stereotypes, and showcased help-seeking and help-giving narratives. As a part of the initiative, Spotify generously covered 140 fee waivers for one month of free hosting and a free evaluation for eligible, submitting writers.

You can find out more about the five selected projects below:

DISTORTION by Daniel J. Patinkin

IN-BETWEEN WORLDS by Solomon Tesfaye

INFINITE DELORES by Bree Barton

MORE THAN QUIET by Terah Tsuyako Summers

THE INVISIBLE RUNNER by Dennis Haseley

READ THE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ARCHIVE

We’re preparing more episodes of Read the Acknowledgments as we speak, but the meantime, check out our episode archive here on Substack and Spotify. Guests include creative writing instructors, bestselling and award-winning authors, editors, book agents, and more.

Franklin Leonard | Spotify | Substack

Pilar Garcia-Brown & Jenny Xu | Spotify | Substack

Robert Jones Jr. & Mateo Askaripour | Spotify | Substack

Stephanie Delman & Allison Hunter | Spotify | Substack

A.E. Osworth & Denne Michele Norris | Spotify | Substack

Erin Edmison & Szilvia Molnar | Spotify | Substack

Traci Thomas & Franklin Leonard | Spotify | Substack

Thomas Gebremedhin & Jackson Howard | Spotify | Substack

Kate McKean & Maris Kreizman | Spotify | Substack

Minal Hajratwala & Raychelle Heath | Spotify | Substack

Spotify x JED Impact Award Panel | Spotify | Substack

Maura Cheeks, Josie Kals, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah | Spotify | Substack

Zakiya Dalila Harris & Sincere Brooks | Spotify | Substack

Ashley Garland & Glory Anne Plata | Spotify | Substack

FICTION RESOURCES GUIDE

Do make time to familiarize yourself with our extensive Fiction Resources Guide! As mentioned there, you will find links to helpful information about the art and craft of writing, publishing industry facts and data and more. Want to learn how to write a query letter or how to fine tune your elevator pitch? Links to those examples are all there. Pay close attention to the book recommendations which, over time, will be re-shared here as we expand our coverage of fiction and books.

And, when you’ve absorbed all the great information in the Fiction Resources Guide, check out the Fiction Writer’s Notebook too.

IN THE DETAILS

Be sure to check out important conversations The Black List is having with stakeholders in the books and creative writing space. These events, info sessions, podcasts, etc. include key details that will be very helpful for industry members and writers who use our platform.

Check out a few of these conversations below…

The Authors Guild: Info Session for Fiction Writers

The Future of Storytelling: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, with The Black List

Book Riot Podcast: On The Black List and Spring 2025 Adaptation Preview

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If you’re not already a member of the Black List website, here you go:

Writers: Create a free Writer Profile and whenever you’re ready (and only then) upload your project, order professional feedback, and explore the various opportunities we have from time to time.

Industry Professionals Register for an Industry Membership to discover new material before everyone else.

See you in the comments.