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

BAD LIT FRIENDS FIRST ANNUAL HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

We were going to take the week off, but then a publisher was VERY WRONG on the internetz and… well. Surprise! Consider this a late holiday season present from Kirk and Meagan because who doesn’t like a little bit of legal analysis while they eat their weight in Danish butter cookies?

This episode is all Hot Goss, Contract Law Edition as we dig into the Shadowlight Press litRPG contract that’s been circulating online, why it’s so monumentally appalling, why publishers shouldn’t include Rickrolls on their websites, and what this contract can teach you about reading publishing agreements before you sign anything. We also talk litRPG as a genre, Shadowlight’s not-so-great public response to the kerfuffle, and the bigger takeaway: if a contract makes you feel like you’re being seduced into an author’s penal colony, maybe don’t do that.

Listener note: no episode on January 9th so we can have a tiny rest. We’re back on January 16, 2026 with Season Two (wut) of BAD LIT FRIENDS.

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:

Writer Beware, “Why These Contract Clauses Are Scary”: https://writerbeware.blog/2025/12/19/why-these-contract-clauses-are-scary/

Reddit post in r/ProgressionFantasy, “PSA: Shadow Light Press Contract” (12/16/25): https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/1poe338/psa_shadow_light_press_contract/

Follow up Reddit post by Shadow Light Press in r/ProgressionFantasy, “Shadow Light Press - Update” (12/19/25): https://www.reddit.com/r/ProgressionFantasy/comments/1pppp7l/shadow_light_press_update/

Editorial Freelancers’ Association’s Editorial Rates: https://www.the-efa.org/rates/

Author’s Guild Contract Review (I know I said Writer’s Guild!): https://authorsguild.org/legal-services/contract-reviews/

EPISODE 20! We made it even though we still barely know what we’re doing. This week we’re roasting literary tropes like chestnuts in the fire. Join us as we rate enemies-to-lovers, chosen ones (spoiler: thank u, next), ticking clocks and much, much more on a scale that’s completely inconsistent! Also, Meagan gets weirdly deep about property law and Kirk insists the romance genre needs more corpses. PLUS Hot Goss about yet another AI feature that literally nobody asked for unless their last name is Bezos.

Content warning (24:25-24:35): passing reference to slash fic involving the 27th and 30th U.S. presidents that seriously the world probably never needed to know about. I mean, hey, maybe it is your bag, so no judgment and you might want to fast forward right to this part. Just listen to the rest of it, okay?

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/

In this episode, we’re chatting with indie author Jessica Lunt about her writing journey and her debut novella, The Witch Hunter’s Wife. We talk about what it’s really like to write historical fiction, from research and routines to tackling big themes like marriage, social expectations, and pregnancy loss. Jessica also shares how she balances writing with life as a mom of four, and what the indie publishing world looks like from the inside. We dive into everything from audiobooks and marketing to handling rejection, finding community, and what she’s working on next. Jessica also imparts advice for writers trying to find their way in indie publishing.

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://badlitfriends.com

Show notes:

Content warning: we discuss pregnancy loss between 00:27:00 and 00:31:00.

Jessica's website where you can signup for her newsletter: https://www.jessicalunt.com/

You can buy Jessica's newest novella, The Witch Hunter's Wife at Amazon, your local bookstore, or through your local library.

Yes queen/king/court jester, we're tackling alpha and beta readers: what they are, when you need them, how to find them, and what to ask for when someone agrees to read your ugly book baby. Consider this a companion to our last episode on critique partners and writing groups because we said so.

In Hot Goss, we wonder why anyone cares how many books other people read in a year, and lose our minds over quite possibly the worst take of 2025: third person POV makes you a misogynist. Someone needs to throw their laptop in the dumpster and get a flip phone.

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.comBluesky: @badlitfriends.bsky.socialThreads: @badlitfriendsInstagram: @badlitfriendsWebsite: https://www.badlitfriends.com/

In this episode, we welcome our guest, Anne Wells, to the show to talk about writing groups and critique partners. We share our very different experiences: Meagan's unicorn-level luck with her supportive four-year-old writing group, Kirk's unfortunate writing-group curse, and Anne's adventures in a Meetup group where the rude go to die.

We also dig into what makes a writing group actually work, how to find one that won't make you miserable, and why some writers seem weirdly drawn to tearing others apart. (Is it their kink? We're not here to kink-shame, but also, yes we are.) We also talk about where to find your people: Discord servers, Blue Sky, conferences, local guilds, boring weddings maybe? And we share tips for keeping a group healthy long-term, including the most important question you should ask yourself: Are you miserable?

In Hot Goss, we discuss a BookTuber's garbage take that Romantasy readers are "not the brightest sparks" and tools of the patriarchy. We also touch on why attacking a genre and its entire readership is, like, not cool, man.

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/

In this episode, we're wrapping up our three-part series on novel, talking about actually finishing the thing, managing the emotional rollercoaster of finishing, stepping away after “The End,” and getting your manuscript ready for beta readers.

In Hot Goss, we dive into the latest BookTok drama involving author and influencer Elyse Myers, reader spaces, parasocial relationships, and the increasingly complicated rules of online engagement.

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:

Seven Drafts, by Allison K Williams

https://sevendrafts.com/

Elyse Myers' Bad Taco Date

https://www.tiktok.com/@elysemyers/video/7016002945082871046?lang=en

Welcome back to the second part of our "So You Want to Write a Novel" series! Last week, we covered the basics: genre, POV, and whether your idea could just be vibes (spoiler: no). This week, we're tackling the actual writing part, which turns out to be kind of important.

We discuss where (and where not) to start your novel , why your first draft is allowed to be garbage, and the importance of just getting words on the page. We also compare writing tools and get very serious about backups. (Seriously, stop reading this and go back up your manuscript right now.)

We also talk about research and how much is enough before you're just procrastinating, and why momentum matters.

And of course…Hot Goss. (Hot gos? Hotgos? Hawtgaws?)

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:

Scrivener: https://www.literatureandlatte.com/

Dabble: https://www.dabblewriter.com/