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Bad Lit Friends

@badlitfriends.bsky.social

149 followers 120 following 112 posts

A podcast by writers, for writers, about the doing of writing and publishing. We swear a lot. Please love us. We smell good. www.badlitfriends.com

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Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 21h

📚🌟NEW BLF!🌟🎤 Part 3 of Hypocrisy in Booklandia: transparency double standards, deadline double standards, and in Hot Goss a new debut author getting the Pangram treatment. We also discuss who should end up in the metaphorical wood chipper and why. 🪵 🪓 LISTEN! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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One Rule for Me: Hypocrisy in Booklandia, Part 3

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

📖📢NEW BLF!💫💥Pt 2 of bookish hypocrisy: readers can be messy but authors better be saints. Capitalism wants your free labor (like you didn't already know). And in Hot Goss: Jerry Falade finally speaks on those Pangram AI accusations and yeah, they done him WRONG. #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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One Rule for Me: Hypocrisy in Booklandia, Part 2

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🚨⚠️NEW BLF!🎤📖 One rule for me, another for thee: we kick off a 3-parter on Booklandia hypocrisy. Authors must be saints but publishers hire AI engineers! Be polite in querying but agents ghosting on a full's cool! In hot goss: when scammers pretend to be scammed.🙄 #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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One Rule for Me: Hypocrisy in Booklandia, Part 1

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

OH HELL YES IT'S THE FINAL EPISODE IN OUR 3-PART SERIES WHY AM I SHOUTING Part three of our impromptu three part series on why author boycott lists are bad mmkay, and also HWA/Creepaway Camp shenanigans and, weirdly enough, this all ties in to Supergirl somehow open.spotify.com/episode/726t...

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Even more Lies, Damn Lies, and Listicles: On Blacklists and Book Bans Part 3

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

📢🚨 BLF update🥵🔥 No new episode this week. The SoCal heat dome came for Meagan's AC, then her internetz, and frankly we feel personally attacked (must be all our hot and correct takes!). Back next week to finish the miniseries on book bans and why they SUCK. #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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It's Too Darn Hot (to Record a Full Episode, Sorry)

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

📚NEW BLF!🎤In part 2 in our miniseries on why book bans and context-free "do not read" lists are BAD we get into what some of the 57 authors on the Sleepy Readers' boycott list did to earn their ire. Spoiler: not much! PLUS: Bad agent, no cookie. #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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More Lies, Damn Lies, and Listicles: On Blacklists and Book Bans Part 2

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

📚NEW BLF!🎤 A book club in the north of England posted an "Authors to Boycott" list with 57 names, zero context and a whole lotta "trust me bro." This week we get into why lists like this aren't great for readers OR authors. Part 1 of an accidental(!) miniseries. #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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Lies, Damn Lies, and Listicles_ On Blacklists and Book Bans

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🔥New BLF!⚡Part 2 of our series on AI witchfinding and why the tools being used are as reliable as a dousing rod. WARNING: extreme capitalism ahead. Don't kid yourself that publishing's concerns about AI usage are rooted in art: this is commerce, baby! Listen up! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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Guilty Until Proven Human... AGAIN?

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Hey writers, you are guilty until proven human. We have proof! NEW EPISODE OF BAD LIT FRIENDS HAS DROPPED!! Come get some!! 💥🔥⭐🥂😱🧋 #WritingCommunity #BookSky #podcasts #podcast #WriteSky open.spotify.com/episode/0Xma...

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Guilty Until Proven Human

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

😵‍💫😣No BLF ep this week because Kirk can’t read a calendar. Instead: mini ep, maxi shame. We're back August 7th with Daggermouth AI discourse and some thoughts on why debut authors of color keep ending up in the crosshairs while openly pro-AI authors skate on by.⛸️📖 #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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Minimum Episode, Maximum Shame

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

✨NEW BLF✨This week: You know your book has an ending. You are writing another chapter anyway. This week we discuss how to actually finish the damn thing. Also sprayed edges are cool, justice for Chewbacca, and did you know Meagan likes trains? You will soon! 📚🎧🔥 #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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Closing Time: The Agony and the Ecstasy of Ending Your Book

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

New Bad Lit Friends is up, and my Lords and Ladies it is HOT GOS SUMMER!!! 💥🙌⭐🎉 Bad Lit Friends is a writing podcast that barely knows what it's doing. Come check us out! Or Not! We're not your boss! YET! #WritingCommunity #WriteSky #BookSky #podcasts open.spotify.com/episode/0aTV...

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Random Tuesday Scandal

ALT: Random Tuesday Scandal

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

💻🖊️NEW BLF EP!🖊️💻 We’re covering writing tools this week: the good, the mid, and the WHY IS THIS APP TRYING TO WRITE MY BOOK FOR ME?? Also: AO3’s Heated Rivalry PDF drama and if you hate AI, why are you using spellcheck? PHARISEE! BLASPHEMER! Listen up! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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The Writer's Toolbox

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Authors behaving badly! YUCK! 🤢What happens when the author is the problem? Like...A BIG PROBLEM. How long do you support a problematic author, and where do you draw the line? WE TELL YOU! (no we don't, we just talk about it) #podcasts #Booksky #WritingCommunity open.spotify.com/episode/4cYu...

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Art for Art’s Sake? When the Author Is the Problem

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

✨NEW BLF✨ We survived our hiatus! This week we take on dialogue: making fictional humans sound like real ones is HARD but very fun. (No promises.) Plus a Threads discourse about a short word that became overwrought because that’s the internet, folks. 📚💀🛜 LISTEN! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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Real Talk: Writing Dialogue Without (Too Many) Tears

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

🚨⚠️NO NEW BLF THIS WEEK⚠️🚨 Meagan got MARRIED 💍 and Kirk got COVID 🤒 so we did our very least and kicked the can down the road. We'll be back next week with a new ep on writing dialogue. In the meantime, go query something. Bemoan capitalism. Maybe hydrate. #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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When Weddings and Covid Attack: No BLF This Week

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

✨📗NEW BLF📗✨ Author Industrial Complex Pt 3! Passion v. the grind, performing positivity online while expiring inside, introverts who want you to read their work but DO NOT LOOK AT THEM. Plus: an author who bragged on QueryTracker about using AI. Umm, wow. LISTEN! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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The Author Industrial Complex, Part 3

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

🚨🎙️✨NEW BLF✨🎙️🚨 Our series on the Author Industrial Complex continues: Pen names! Entitled ARC readers! Writing awful people does NOT equal endorsement! Plus: fake agency Hot Goss update and why AI marketing can suck it. Gross gross gross. 📚💀🔥 LISTEN! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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The Author Industrial Complex, Part 2

Bad Lit Friends · Episode

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

💔📝NEW BLF📝💔 While Meagan's away at her high school reunion, author Anne Wells joins us to talk emotional craft in fiction: yearning! dread! vulnerability! devastation! Plus, how to write deeply disturbing scenes while grinning evilly at your laptop. LISTEN! #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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The Emotional Craft of Fiction Writing

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS is up!!! 💥🎉🥂😱 Writing a book now also requires becoming a brand, an influencer, a marketing strategist, and Soylent Green PROBABLY! Stay hydrated and try not to weep at our Author Industrial Complex - Part 1 episode! Listen and despair! open.spotify.com/episode/4Ovr...

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The Author Industrial Complex

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

🔥⚖️NEW BLF EP⚖️🔥 Court is now in session and we're getting all Judgey McJudgerson as we put character archetypes on trial. Who gets acquitted? Who’s gonna be breaking rocks in the hot sun? FIND OUT! Plus in Hot Goss: don’t give Nazis a glow up. LISTEN! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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BLF Court Is Now in Session: Archetypes on Trial

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Yes, it's late! WE KNOW! But it's finally here! New episode of Bad Lit Friends has dropped like a strange and slightly damp lap dance! In this episode: VILLAINS! You love them, right? We do too! Twist your mustache and come get some! open.spotify.com/episode/37Hp... #WritingCommunity #podcasts

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By the Pricking of Our Thumbs: On Writing Villains

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

📑📣New BLF!📣📑 Kirk's away, so Meagan did the obvious and called on her BFF, the multi-hyphenate storyteller Regina Robbins who is more accomplished than either BLF host. We talk writing for stage & screen, Wuthering Heights, VC Andrews, and poison donuts. LISTEN! #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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(Mostly) Good Lit Friends: In Conversation with Regina Robbins

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

📑📣New BLF!📣📑 This week we throw BookTok on the pyre and dance around the flames. Meagan sacrificed her wholesome cats and makeup tutorials algorithm just to research this episode for you, dear listener; now it's shadow daddies and Colleen Hoover. You’re welcome! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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Algorithmically Yours: How BookTok Ate Reading

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 14/04/2026

Have you caught our interview with Isaac Grijalva, author of 6½ DAYS IN THE CITY yet? WHY NOT? We talk friendship, family, bisexual representation, & in this clip, the moment a character finally sees himself. FULL EP HERE: youtu.be/trSbdD_ogm4 #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity #authorsofbluesky

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

🎆🔥NEW BLF EP - INTERVIEW WITH ISAAC GRIJALVA🔥🎆 This week we interview indie author Isaac Grijalva, whose debut SIX 1/2 DAYS IN THE CITY is out now! We talk queer rep, work-life-study balance, finding inspiration in your own life, and more. LISTEN NOW! #writingcommunity #booksky #podcast #writesky

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Interview with Author Isaac Grijalva

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

🔥🎤BAD LIT FRIENDS INTERVIEW ALERT🎤🔥 Author Isaac Grijalva (isaacgrijalvabooks.com) joins us on our next ep out Friday 4/10 to talk about his fantastic debut 6/12 DAYS IN THE CITY out now! Isaac talks inspiration, craft and his book. We had SO MUCH FUN! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast #booksky

Book cover for "6 1/2 Days in the City" by Isaac Grijalva. Illustration rather than photograph. Three figures stand with their backs to the reader looking out at a stylized New York City skyline at dusk. The title is written in cursive script in cyan and pink lettering against a deep purple sky. The cityscape features geometric buildings in shades of purple, pink and blue.

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

📚✨NEW BLF✨📚 This week: what do writers owe readers? Plot! Meeting genre expectations! No AI! What readers get to demand? Definitely not harassment but that won't stop some of them! Plus: sex scenes are HARD (but not in a good way) and more Mia Ballard. LISTEN! #writesky #podcast #writingcommunity

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Sir, This Is a Wendy's: What Do Writers Owe Readers

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Capitalism -- a love story? Not on this week's BAD LIT FRIENDS where we're talking about Mia Ballard's "Shy Girl" and what it says about publishing, authorship, and what we can do as readers and writers to stay authentic in a time of AI slop. Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/7Kze...

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

💣⚡NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS⚡💣 Yes, this week we're talking Shy Girl as we call out some serious publishing Big Bads: capitalism💰, AI, gendered double standards, racism, classism, and why Mia Ballard is only a symptom, not the disease. Everything sucks so join us!🤢 #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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We Regret to Inform You Everyone Sucks: How Capitalism Brought Us "Shy Girl"

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS is up!!! This week we're revisiting some of our older Hot Gos stories to see how well they aged. As always, WE HAVE THOUGHTS. 🤔😬 open.spotify.com/episode/4Hdc...

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Hot Gos Warmed Over!

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

Apologies for the delay in this week's ep (dropping tomorrow!) but in the meantime, Meagan brought out this t-shirt for recording tonight. That's right: the evils of capitalism and their intersection with trad pub are on the chippity chopping block at BAD LIT FRIENDS next week! #writingcommunity

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

BAD LIT FRIENDS ask the burning question of our (querying) age: WHY ARE AGENTS STILL REQUESTING PARTIALS IN THE YEAR OF OUR DARK LORD LABUBU 2026??? (Agents: we're kidding. Please request a partial from either of us.💖💕🙏) Listen! open.spotify.com/episode/2Y3c... #podcast #writesky #writingcommunity

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

✨📖NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS📖✨ This week we're tanking our author careers before they start by telling agents what they could do better. (Why did we think this was a good ep idea?) PLUS Hot Goss: what, dead authors shouldn't give you feedback on your MS? BUZZKILL! #writingcommunity #podcast #writesky

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Agent Wish List: What We Wish Literary Agents Would Do Better

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 11/03/2026

BAD LIT FRIENDS' hot goss this week is pipin': should a writer (1) not read a genre and (2) hate the genre but (3) decide to write in the genre and (4) proceed to shit all over it? Listen to our latest ep to find out! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p... #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast #romantasy

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

🚨🎙️NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS🎙️🚨 Social media: as a writer, you gotta lov— No, no you don't. But sometimes it's useful? Sometimes enjoyable? Maybe? We don't promise anything EXCEPT that our Hot Goss about a writer who won't read in and hates her genre will make you mad! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast

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Please Hate Me: Social Media For Writers

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

On this week's BAD LIT FRIENDS, it's true confession time: Meagan spills the beans on how she came back to writing by embracing her inner forum troll. Turns out, sometimes it's good to feed them! LISTEN: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmuK... #podcast #writesky #booksky #writingcommunity

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

✨YOUR FRIDAY IS COMPLETE—NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS EP✨ This week we take on shelf novels: manuscripts that seemed like a good idea at the time but on second thought... 💀🗑️💔Join us for true confessions from our boneyards. And in Hot Goss: rejection letter drama. Listen! #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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Kill All the Darlings: The Art and Agonies of Shelving a Book (S02E07)

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

🎶Books? What are they good for? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING - SAY IT AGAIN🎶 On this week's BAD LIT FRIENDS we talk about books' superpower as empathy engines. The more empathy right now the better, as if you needed an excuse to read more. Listen! youtu.be/FeUvHWqOnRI #booksky #writesky #writingcommunity

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Hello writers! New episode of Bad Lit Friends is up in your internets! 💥🔥🌟 We talk opening lines and share some of our current favorites. And then we have thoughts on maybe how you might want to read outside your comfort zone. #WritingCommunity #podcasts #WriteSky open.spotify.com/episode/3Sg7...

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Love at First Line (S02E06)

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

👀NEW BAD LIT FRIENDS EPISODE👀 Writing communities! The good (support, feedback, not feeling alone), the bad (gatekeeping, toxic positivity), and in—Hot Goss—the ugly (publishers, again). Also Meagan's tire tried to kill her. Listen now! #writingcommunity #writesky #podcast #booksky

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Misery Loves Company: Why Writers Need Community (S02E05)

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

As the poet of our* age, Axl Rose, once sang: all we need is just a little patience. In this week's episode of BAD LIT FRIENDS, Kirk says that goes for writing too as we discuss what we wish we'd known when we started this writing lark. Listen: youtu.be/TI_B0M2-wIg *Meaning the hosts. We're olds.

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 09/02/2026

WHAT??? 😲 You haven't caught the latest episode of BAD LIT FRIENDS yet? This week we're talking stuff we wish we knew when we started writing, including when the best time to get going with that first book (hint: sooner than you think). Listen now! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

🚨NEW BLF EP ALERT🚨 We get all nostalgic and stuff as we talk about the things we learned the hard way so you don't have to. (You'll probably still have to learn them the hard way. Sorry.) Plus Hot Goss: what the ever-lovin' HELL is speed editing??? LISTEN NOW! #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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It's a Hard Knock (Writing) Life: What We Wish We’d Known When We Started (S02E04)

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Dream agents--who needs 'em? What if it's a case of mistaken identity? Hey we're BAD LIT FRIENDS, of course we have a hot take! Listen to our latest ep about handling rejection and...maybe you'll feel like less of a reject? (No promises.) #writesky #writingcommunity open.spotify.com/episode/1zXo...

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Dear writer: YOU SUCK! A new episode of BAD LIT FRIENDS is up and it's all about everyone's favorite part of querying: rejection letters.😐 But what if "it's not your book, it's me?" is an undercover blessing? PLUS in Hot Goss: Agents behaving badly. Very badly. #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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Rejection Letters: When They're Just Not That Into You (S02E03)

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

We... did not know we could make clips that made us look like we almost understand marketing but you learn something every day! Listen to our latest episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube (when we remember to enable the episode) and all the usual places. And unusual ones. #booksky #writesky

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

We know it's late but this is 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵. This week we're illuminating the mysteries of comp titles: what they are, how to find them, and why maybe your Aunt Sue might be the superhero you didn't know you needed. Plus in Hot Goss: buy my book or we're not friends.😤 #writesky #writingcommunity #podcast

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Comp Titles and Other Humiliating Experiences (S02E02)

Reposted by Bad Lit Friends

✨Meagan Essary swears she's querying✨ @thecrumpet.bsky.social · 24/01/2026

After a hard week (trial, migraine, living through my own very special Gen X version of The Big Chill), looking forward to recording next week's episode of BAD LIT FRIENDS w/@kirkrafferty.com. We're talking everyone's version of a good time: rejection letters! GOOD TIMES. #writesky #writingcommunity

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a man is walking on a beach with the words `` when u get rejected '' written on the sand .

ALT: a man is walking on a beach with the words `` when u get rejected '' written on the sand .

Bad Lit Friends @badlitfriends.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

Season 2 of BAD LIT FRIENDS is here! And in our first ep of the new year, we're using our inside voices VERY LOUDLY to talk about when your book starts off in the wrong place, why it matters, and how to fix it. Also a lot about spontaneous human combustion. Very normal! #writesky #booksky #podcast

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Right Book, Wrong Place (S02E01)