Lit Service

Ben Grange and the Lit Service Crew chat about what it means to "hang lanterns" in your writing, and how to go about doing it. Some books we mention: The Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater The Office (the TV show) Avatar: The Last Airbender The Belles by Dhionelle Clayton Moby Dick by Herman Mellville Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman Our first chapter critique is about a boy named Cole who...

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 your...

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. This episode is pretty heavy on the agent-businessy side of things. Don't feel like you have to bend over backwards and cut yo...

Guest Caitlyn McFarland shares her tips and tricks to making the romance in your writing crackle. There are several methods she uses that help authors to avoid romances that start too quickly, escalate too quicly, and allow things to flow naturally. Check out the submission we critique here:  https://litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation If you'd like a first chapter critique, you can find out s...

The Lit Service crew chats with Emily Suvada about science, technology, engineering, and math, it's importance in literature and how to write it through research, creating believable characters and craft. Be sure to check out the submission on our website: litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation That's also where you can find info on how to get a first chapter critique from us. Some of the books w...

Literary Agent Ben Grange joins the podcast to tell us why plot twists will make or break your book...but not for every genre. We discuss how to go about setting up plot twists and some ideas as to why the do or don't work for readers. In this episode we discuss 10 Cloverfield Lane (AGAIN. Anyone see number three?) The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness One...

This week Kristen, Caitlin, and Cameron talk about rising tension and how to use it in your writing and announce our special publishing industry professional guest for April. Some books we mention:  Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World by Joan Druett Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson American Panda by Gloria Chao Out of the Dust by Karen Hess Night Watch by Terry Pratchett...

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.   Please check out the submission we critque here: litservice.wixsite.com/podcast If...

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. Please come visit us on Twitter  https://twitter.com/LitService , facebook  https://www.facebook.com/LitServicePodcast/  or on instagram  https://www.instagram.com/...

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 a...

In this episode we talk about some changes to the podcast. We have a new website: litservicepodcast.wixsite.com/litnation where you can find our shiny new forum, a place you can chat about your own work and find craft-savvy querying authors like yourself with whom to form writing groups. We also announce that in two weeks we'll have special guest Sarah McCabe, an editor at Simon & Schuster/Simon P...

Inciting incidents: what they are and how to effectively choose one. Kristen, Cameron, and Caitlin discuss their own writerly inciting incidents (how they started writing) and then talk about they ways inciting incidents affect the rest of the story, specifically using examples from RED RISING by Pierce Brown, THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, ILLUMINAE...

Romantic Subplots! The best AND the worst! How do you keep your romantic subplot from feeling like...a plot point? We talk about building relationships in books and how to help your characters come together instead of shoving them together. We talk exhaustively about the relationships in Maggie Steifvater's THE RAVEN BOYS, Leigh Bardugo's THE SIX OF CROWS, THE WINNER'S CRIME, by Marie Rutkoski, St...

Want to know where your book fits on a bookshelf? We do too, and so do the agents and editors reviewing your query letters. With guest Kate Watson, we chat about why it's important to know where you fit into your genre and how it can help your writing. You can find out more about Kate Watson and her books here: http://www.katewatsonbooks.com/ If you're interested in Blake Snyder's Save the Cat bea...

With special guest Mckelle George, the Literary WIP team talks about how to make a story move forward by establishing stakes and motivation. We had some technical difficulties on the recording for this week...so, sorry in advance. You can check out this week's submission or submit your own work to be critiqued on our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

Caitlin and Cameron talk tropes with Emily R. King, author of THE HUNDREDTH QUEEN and Karen M. McManus, author of ONE OF US IS LYING.   This is our first submission which has officially SURVIVED THE QUERY PROCESS. If you'd like to follow the author's journey now that she's agented, you can follow her on Twitter here:  @CassaCassaCassa or check out her website:  https://ginger-and-sage.org/   If yo...

The Literary WIP crew discusses our own approaches to world building during the planning process as well as thoughts on how to keep things consistent and thought out if you are a discovery writer. You can see the submission featured in this podcast or submit your own work to be critiqued here: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

Caitlin is up to no good, Cameron works too hard, Kristen makes a mean sweet potato fry and Tracey will not fold laundry for a kingdom. Tracey Neithercott joins the Literary WIP team to discuss what it means to make promises in your first chapters and how to make sure you're making the right ones. If you want to look at the submission from today, you can find it here: https://literarywip.wixsite.c...

Find out much more about Cameron Harris than he wants you to know! Caitlin, Kristen, Dan, and Cameron chat about what concrete details are and why they're important. We then critique a submission about a boy who has a little trouble with hallucinations. If you'd like to submit your work for a critique, check out our website: literarywip.wixsite.com/podcast

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan, and Tricia discuss how to make characters sympathetic (and why that's a thing you want to have happen), then critique a submission about a girl who isn't too fussed about super villians destroying her city.

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, and Dan discuss why writing groups are so helpful, and ways you can avoid having a toxic experience. They then critique a submission about a young man who runs away from home to develop his illegal Lakewalking talent. You can find today's submission or find out how to submit your own work to be critiqued by the Literary Work In Progress Team on our website: https://liter...

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan and special guest author Emily R. King chat about how to show instead of tell. They then critique a submission in which a young lady stows away on a train only to find out it's a circus train, and the circus knife-thrower needs a new assistant.

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, Dan and guest author Aprilynne Pike talk about the do's and don'ts of pacing. They then critique a submission about a girl who has a perfect life, but something terrible is about to happen to her.

Caitlin, Kristen, Cameron, and Dan discuss different kinds of point of view and how to stick to them. Then they critique a submission about a world where going out in sunlight after you turn sixteen means you get eaten by ghosts.