Episode 14: “So You Want to Write a Novel — Really? (Part 1: Before You Begin)”

This week, Meagan and Kirk kick off a three-part series on actually writing a novel. If you’ve ever said, “I think I’ll finally write that book,” this series is the audio equivalent of Cher slapping Nic Cage in the face in Moonstruck. Maybe.

In Part 1 of the series, we’re talking reality checks and big decisions: are you sure you want to do this, what you’re really signing up for (spoiler: years of emotional and financial ruin), and how to choose your genre, POV, and tense without having a full-blown existential, thermonuclear meltdown. Also outlining vs. pure chaos and admit which camps we not-so-secretly live in, and why writers don’t need to be footsoldiers in the gatekeeping wars.

In Hot Goss, we rage about that agent on Threads who insists you need ten betas before querying. We discuss why beta readers are important, why online writer groups are absolutely the hellscape people think (unless you’re in Meagan’s group), and why quality is more important than quantity when it comes to betas.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

Jane Friedman on Beta Readers: https://janefriedman.com/beta-readers/

This week, we tackle every writer's favorite task (narrator: no it's not): revisions. From massive rewrites to line editing minutiae, we discuss what to keep, what to fix, and what to destroy in a fire.

We also have some show news, as Rylan steps back to focus on her writing unless, you know, there was some kind of write-in campaign demanding her return. (ahem)

Thank you Rylan for all of your hard work!

In Hot Goss, we dive into PenguinGate (not that Penguin): the drama surrounding Paul and Matthew's children's book, pity marketing tactics, and why doxxing Ingram employees is never the answer.

Whether you're a revision lover like Kirk or a revision resister like Meagan, this episode covers everything you need to know about transforming your manuscript from "meh" to publishable.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

Show Notes:

Sorry for the less-than-stellar editing! Did I mention Rylan was our editor?

This week, Meagan, Kirk, and Rylan talk about the wild world of online pitch events—you know, those (used-to-be) Twitter (and now Blue Sky) contests where you condense your entire manuscript into 280 characters and hope an agent notices you in the mob.

Are they a legitimate path to publication? A performative Hunger Games for writers? A way to connect with your people? Spoiler: it's complicated.

We break down what pitch events actually are, which ones are worth your time, how to craft a pitch that doesn't make you cringe. And then we talk about the pros and cons of different events like #PitMad, #PitDark, and #DVPit, the reality of getting likes versus actual requests, and why community might be the real prize here.

In our Hot Goss segment, we dive into the recent piracy drama. We're calling out the performative "think of the disadvantaged people" arguments, discussing why "information should be free" doesn't mean entertainment should be stolen, and getting real about how piracy actually hurts authors.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We're glad you're here, even if none of us know what we're doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann, Kirk Rafferty, and Rylan. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

This week, Kirk, Meagan, and Rylan sit down with debut author Amber Hamilton to talk about her dark academia romantasy, Seven Deadly Thorns, a twisted Snow White retelling where true love's kiss kills instead of resurrects.

Amber shares her journey from rejection to landing five agent offers for her second novel, and the delicate balance between writing what your heart wants and writing what the market needs.

We also dive into the unique challenges of writing your second book under contract, and the surrealness of people literally painting your book at a garden party.

We had an absolute blast speaking with Amber, and can’t wait to read her book!

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

Show notes:

Seven Deadly Thorns is published by Bloomsbury YA, and is available for preorder right now. It will be available for purchase on Novemeber 4, 2025. In the UK, it will be available on October 28, 2025.

This week, Meagan and Kirk tackle the sacred cows of writing advice, from “show, don’t tell” to “kill your darlings,” and then gleefully tip them over.

We also discuss adverbs, passive voice, and confess to crimes against first drafts. Meagan shares post-conference war stories (and book five confessions), and Kirk reveals his "sure, why not?" two-adverbs-per-chapter rule.

In Hot Goss, we discuss the latest writing-community drama: authors quitting querying and expensive special editions.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Website: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

Show notes:

The book Kirk thought was zombies on a submarine, but is actually vampires on a submarine, is 100 FATHOMS BELOW by Nicholas Kaufmann and Steven L. Kent. It's now on my TBR list, and should be on yours too! -k)

The Bad Lit Friends are live(ish) and in person! Meagan, Kirk, and Rylan are recording from the Colorado Gold writers conference, sharing a microphone and thoughts on what it's really like to attend a writing conference.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Our writing progress (or lack thereof) heading into the conference
• What to expect at your first writers conference versus what actually happens
• The value of workshops
• The reality of pitching to agents (and whether it's worth it)
• Why the connections you make matter more than the sessions you attend
• Pro tips for surviving a conference

In our Hot Goss segment, we tackle the latest internet outrage: people who think the Scholastic Book Fair is...bad?

Whether you're considering attending your first conference or you're a veteran looking to optimize your experience, this episode covers everything from managing introvert energy to making the most of being surrounded by other writers who understand the struggle.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann, Rylan, and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

In this episode, Meagan, Rylan, and Kirk discuss the complexities of writer's block, sharing personal experiences and strategies for overcoming creative challenges. We explore the different types of writer's block, the importance of community support, and various techniques to stimulate creativity.

And in our Hot Goss segment, we call out book haulers and performative book collecting for internet points.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Rylan, Meagan Thompson-Mann, and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Show notes:

Tips for breaking through writer's block:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jT4y4Vo38UOnvKT9d4Xv3DtJ3yvno6_Cb0t8yWxpDok/edit?usp=sharing

Summary

In this episode of Bad Lit Friends, we discuss arguably the most challenging part of your query package, the synopses.

We share personal updates on our writing progress, delve into the structure of a synopsis, and explore common pitfalls.

In our "hot gos" segment, we talk more about the Anthropic settlement, the future of publishing, and the impact of fan fiction on the traditional publishing market.

Welcome to Bad Lit Friends. We’re glad you’re here, even if none of us know what we’re doing.

Bad Lit Friends was created and is hosted by Meagan Thompson-Mann and Kirk Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

Show notes:

Writing a Great Synopsis by Nicola Morgan: https://nicolamorgan.com/my-books/write-a-great-synopsis/