We’re back for Season Two, huzzah! And we’re literally starting at the beginning. Also figuratively.

This time around, we dig into why first pages matter so much, and how they so often go sideways. We talk genre expectations, the great prologue debate, and what actually hooks readers (and agents) from page one. Along the way, we share hard-earned lessons, favorite examples from popular books, and practical tips for handling backstory, recycling cut material, and finding solid comp titles.

If you’ve ever stared at your opening chapter and wondered “is this working?”, this one’s for you.

AND! Hot gos! We get into a recent TikTok literary-agent controversy and how very dare them. (Note: The agent in question has since apologized. We recorded this before the apology, but we were happy to see it.)

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: badlitfriends.com

SHOW NOTES:

https://www.threads.com/@sam_evans_writer/post/DTLI1zxDr-c?xmt=AQF01R3hOo-jWVjeCoNdYE57ZY0YqfYJVlXulhjiuFvpOFOOxkzc6lCFHmBScGk4hGMtyHo&slof=1

https://www.tiktok.com/@kelly.j.jones19/video/7592298629696670998?_r=1&_t=ZP-92sMcQXqMXP

https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/comments/1q8p74o/discussion_what_are_your_thoughts_on_agents/?share_id=6f_NKJqCbHvGFkEPNeYqD&utm_content=1&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=17