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/

Rylan is off having East Coast adventures, so it’s just Meagan and Kirk left unsupervised like gossipy Kevin McCallisters.

Whether you’re staring down your first query or have already sent out fifty, this episode is packed with hard-learned experience, do’s and don’ts, and the structure of your query letter. We break down the must-haves, and Kirk shares his actual hook that landed an agent.

We also commiserate about rejection, resilience, and what makes this whole process just a little bit less demoralizing, rounded out with thoughts on voice, structure, personalizations, and why publishing is basically just a never-ending series of gates to worm your way through.

And of course, more hot goss as we dive into the recent $1.5 billion Anthropic lawsuit settlement, the ethics of AI and piracy in publishing, and their impact on real writers. And as always, Megan and Kirk have plenty of feels about capitalism, copyright law, and the future of the book world.

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:

The query letter that got Kirk an agent:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4527162724777475067/3648320377209075956

The five questions your query letter should answer:

• Who is the main character?

• What do they want?

• What’s standing in the way?

• What are they willing to do to get it?

• What happens if they fail?

We didn't discuss on the show, but Lauren Kay has a fantastic query letter guide here:

https://www.laurenkaywrites.com/blog/how-to-write-a-query-letter

With Kirk away on vacation, Meagan is joined by producer (and guest co-host) Rylan for a deep dive into the writing contest industrial complex.

Are contests a legitimate path to publication, or just an expensive detour filled with dashed hopes and black-box judging? Together they compare notes on entering contests, from quarter-finalist laurels to anthology publications, and debate whether the deadlines, feedback, and visibility are worth the fees, or if it’s all just a money pit.

Also: the joys and pains of adapting screenplays into novels, the tea-fueled glamour of Australian book launches, and this week’s Hot Goss: when a querying author’s Twitter misstep spirals into internet drama and unlikely allies.

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. This episode is guest co-hosted by Rylan Rafferty. Our Producer is Rylan Rafferty.

Show email: badlitfriends@gmail.com

Bluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.social
Threads: @badlitfriends
Instagram: @badlitfriends

Show notes:

What Makes a Great First Page of a Novel: https://gutsygreatnovelist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/What-Makes-a-Great-First-Page-of-a-Novel-.pdf

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  Gutsy Great Novelist Page One Prize guidelines: https://www.thegutsygreatnovelist.com/page-one-prize

  
  

  Mind’s Shine Bright Confidence II Anthology: https://www.mindsshinebright.com

Content warning: We discuss the alleged sexual assault incidents at the Sinners and Stardust conference. (Starts at 29:00 and ends at 34:45)

In this episode of Bad Lit Friends, Kirk and Meagan dive into the messy, beautiful realities of the writing life. They reflect on their own journeys as authors, sharing candid stories of jealousy, comparison, and imposter syndrome, as well as the pressure that comes with reader expectations.

We also talk about the role of conferences and writing contests, and the responsibilities writers carry toward their readers.

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:

MSLexia can be found at https://mslexia.co.uk

Meagan's audio was a little funky--because we are, after all, the podcast that barely knows (and at times, doesn't know) what it's doing. We'll get that fixed before the next show.

Meagan and Kirk dive into the Reddit community r/PubTips, unpacking both the helpful advice and the more problematic trends they’ve seen circulating in the subreddit.

They also explore some of the recurring debates that dominate r/PubTips, including the infamous word-count rules, comparative titles, and the murky territory of query personalization.

For the Hot Goss segment, Meagan and Kirk turn to the ongoing debate about editors. Must every writer hire a professional editor before querying, or is this just another form of gatekeeping?

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:

You can find typical editorial rates at: https://www.the-efa.org/rates/

Typical word counts:

Short story: under 7,500 words

Novelette: 7,500 to 17,500 words

Novella: 17,500 to 40,000 words

Fantasy & Sci-Fi: 100,000 to 115,000 words

Mystery & Thriller - 80,000 to 100,000 words

Literary Fiction - 80,000 - 100,000 words

Romance - 80,000 to 100,000 words

Horror - 70,000 to 100,000 words

Memoir - 80,000 to 90,000 words

Young Adult - 55,000 to 80.000 words

Nonfiction - 50,000 to 80,000 words

Middle Grade - 20,000 to 55,000 words

(Source: https://reedsy.com/studio/resources/how-many-words-in-a-novel)

Meagan and Kirk pull back the curtain on an inevitable part of writing life: writing your next book when your first one’s fate is still hanging in the balance. Kirk has just completed the manuscript for his second novel while his debut is out on submission, and Meagan is halfway through drafting her follow-up while actively querying her first. Together, they explore the strange mental limbo of wondering, "What if all this is for nothing?" and how that uncertainty shapes their choices at the keyboard.

Also: a detour into recent book-world drama, and oh hey, it's about AI again!

Whether you’re a debut author, an aspiring novelist, or just curious about the unglamorous, emotional middle of a writing career, this episode has more messy Thoughts and Hottakes™ than you can shake a stick at.

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

In our chaotic debut, we ask the big (and terrifying) question: Are you still a writer if you're not actually writing? We discuss writing routines (or lack thereof), the myth of writing every day, perfectionism paralysis, the distinction between writing and writing-adjacent procrastination, and why having a cheering section might be the key to finishing anything.

Also: research rabbit holes, book-world drama, Paris Hilton(?), and a spicy BookTok controversy that has us questioning whether vibes alone are enough to sell a novel.

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