Fans of Fiction. Purveyors of Dodgy Writing Advice.

For our final episode of the season we chat with Dan Wells about how to incorporate horror elements into our work. Because Dan is really smart, we let this one go a little long.

Kathryn Purdie and Ben Grange join the Lit Service crew to talk about what crucibles are and how to put your characters in them in order to raise the tension in your story.

Literary agent Ben Grange joins the Lit Service Crew to chat about what makes an interesting and original character.

The Lit Service Crew talks with Literary Agent Ben Grange about what agents are looking for in a first chapter and how to get yours up to snuff.

The Lit Service Crew chats with Karen M. McManus, author of NYT Bestselling One of Us is Lying, about the rise of the YA thriller and the elements that go into writing a good thriller (and thriller elements that you can apply to any other genre you write.)

The Lit Service Crew discusses story brainstorming techniques and processes with literary agent Ben Grange.

The Lit Service crew chats about subplots, what they are, how to use them, and why you need them.

This week we talk with Rosalyn Eves (Author of the Blood Rose Rebellion series) about rhetorical devices, how to add them to your repetoire without making your writing purple.

Ben Grange chats with the Lit Service Crew about what it means to "hang lanterns" and how to go about doing it effectively in your writing.

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We critique a chapter about a boy named Cole who is a guarding angel.

Caitlin chats with Charlie Holmberg (who is published through Amazon's traditional publishing arm, 47 North as well as indie published), Jolene Perry (who has worked with Simon Pulse, Albert Whitman Teen, Entangled, Cedar Fort, as well as indie publishing), and Abel Keogh (Cedar Fort and indie published) about the differences between working with a big publisher, small publisher, and doing it yourself.

Ben Grange from L. Perkins agency joins the Caitlin, Cameron, and Aliah to discuss some things that authors ought to research and think about before they begin querying agents, including awareness of genre, researching agents, word count, titles, and submission guidelines.

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Guest Caitlyn McFarland schools Caitlin, Cameron and Aliah on the proper writing of romance by sharing her tips and tricks to making the romance in your writing crackle. There are several methods she uses that help authors avoid romances that start too quickly, escalate too quickly, and allow things to flow naturally.

How do you help readers to really get to know your characters (and keep consistent?) both for main and side characters? Why is it important to pay attention and how do you approach it?

How do you incorporate science, technology, engineering, into your work (and why do it?) without confusing your reader or sounding like you're regurgitating an entire text book?

Literary Agent Ben Grange comes to chat about why plot twists are either the best thing ever or the destructive force that will implode the world. 

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You can follow along with our critique by checking out the document with our notes.

In this episode we discuss the different ways to add tension to your story so your readers will be primed for the climax.

Erin, Caitlin, Cameron, and Kristen chat about how character and plot fit together, and how, as you are engineering your character, to choose flaws and strengths that suit the sort of plot you want to write. Erin talks about the emotional core of a book and how oftentimes conflict is internal rather than external.

In which Caitlin, Kristen, and Cameron examine the correct pronunciation of the words "latrine" and "Yosemite". We also talk about our own writing habits and how to cultivate the consistent sort of habits both with writing and editing.

The Lit Service crew chats about what makes a compelling antagonist or villain with Simon Pulse assistant editor Sarah McCabe.

We highlight some of our favorite examples of antagonists such as Mayor Prentiss from Chaos Walking by Patrick Ness, Jackal and Cassius from Red Rising by Pierce Brown, as well as the choices main characters are forced to make as a result of their interactions with these antagonists.

Our first episode of the season!

We have some important announcements about how the podcast is going to be posting and announcing things in the near future, as well as a quick preview of who our guest (who you can start submitting to now!) will be in two weeks.

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This week we chat with Summer Spence about the differences between Young Adult books and Middle Grade.