Tenth Industry Meetup: Literature
Behind the scenes: The secrets of our industry
7 to 9 May 2026
Refugio, Lenaustrasse 3–4, 12047 Berlin-Neukölln
Literary industry, backstage: This year, the Industry Meetup: Literature will focus on everything that happens behind the scenes. Publishing in particular can sometimes be a black box for authors: How does a publisher actually decide on my manuscript, and above all, who decides? What exactly does the publisher do with my manuscript, and what do the publishing representatives then tell the book trade?
Industry insiders explain how the industry works, bringing publishing down to human scale for us. Participants in our tried-and-tested speed matching event will then have the opportunity to get to know them even better. Those who write for the theater or screenplays may also get a glimpse behind the scenes. The workings of a rather secretive niche industry will also be examined: ghostwriting.
If that’s too much external input for you, you can get involved in a variety of practical and hands-on ways at the Barcamp or in our Maker Space. Clear the stage!
The complete program for the 2026 industry meetup is expected to be published by mid-March.
Lectures, workshops, discussions, gallery walks and much more, by and for literary creators since 2016
Since 2016, the Industry Meetup: Literature has brought together solo self-employed literary professionals once a year to discuss current issues in the literary scene and political developments. The focus of the working groups, panels, lectures and workshops of the past Industry Meetups was on alternative forms of work organisation, cooperation and cooperative models as well as the visibility of literature. At the 2023 Meetup we hosted a Barcamp for the first time, which has now become a central part of the programme. The literature industry meeting is aimed at freelance authors, translators, editors, literature organisers and literature mediators. This year we are already celebrating the seventh edition of this annual exchange and networking format for Berlin’s literary professionals, save the date! The Industry Meetup: Literature takes place as part of the project schreiben&lebenPLUS of the Literaturhaus Lettrétage e. V. and is funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Picture: (c) Frieder Unselt
Take a look at the programmes and participants for 2016-2024:
2016 | Von und mit Literatur leben
2017 | Zusammen arbeiten. Kooperations- und Genossenschaftsmodelle
2018 | Literatur sichtbar machen
2020 | Literatur viral: Wie geht es weiter nach Corona?
2021 | Vor|care|ungen. Freiberuflich mit Zukunft
2022 | Team Spirit. Netzwerke, Kollektive, Banden
2023 | I’m worth it! Ways towards solidarity & self-care in our work
2024 | PUBLIC – Publication, Publicity, and Public Persona
2025 | My Fear and Me: Finding Security in Insecure Times