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