Lit Match
Abigail K. Perry
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Top 10 Lit Match Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Lit Match episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Lit Match for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Lit Match episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
05/25/22 • 68 min
QUICK NOTE! THE BOOK VS. THE AUTHOR
As much as I love the HARRY POTTER series, I am saddened by and do not condone JKR’s attacks on the trans community.
It’s this reason that, for these first chapter episodes featuring the Harry Potter books, I choose to separate my love for the books from the author’s public actions.
I decided to do this because the series has taught me indispensable lessons about great storytelling, and I believe such examples can also benefit burgeoning writers.
However, if you aren’t comfortable separating the books from the author, you are welcome to pass over this episode without judgement. I do not want anyone here to ever feel unwelcome, and I respect and understand your decision.
EPISODE DISCUSSION
Abigail sits down with certified book coach and editor—and fellow Harry Potter nerd and superfan!—Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE.
To do this, Abigail and Savannah share their thoughts on how the first chapter, divided into two scenes, sets up expectations and engages its target readers. Abigail and Savannah use the seven key first chapter questions to review the story’s big picture, and then zero-in on the scene structure and compare their notes on each scene’s five commandments.
Although writers should never use the Harry Potter series as a comp, there’s a lot to learn from how the books skillfully tell and execute story.
Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Savannah provides a wealth of knowledge and practical tips on writing every week. If you want to improve your craft on writing, subscribe to Fiction Made Easy today!
HERE: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/podcast
Find us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
"Working with a book coach is an investment, and there's no guarantee. No book coach is going to say, ‘I guarantee that you will get an agent and a book deal.’ That would be dishonest. They can't do that. So you're paying money to give yourself the best shot.” – Jennie Nash, Book Coach and Founder of Author Accelerator
Abigail K. Perry sits down with leading book coach and the founder of Author Accelerator, Jennie Nash. Together they discuss what exactly a book coach is, when a writer should hire one, and why a writer can benefit from investing in a book coach before they finish their first draft. Jennie sheds light on some systems she has used to help writers land major New York agents and hit the bestseller list—and why they work. She also shares some of the inside questions and strategies she uses to mentor writers during the writing process—and even after it—and some new developments happening through Author Accelerator.
Jennie also talks about the upcoming Manuscript Incubator for writers. She's honest about what it entails and what to expect, and shares details that can help a writer decide if it's for them or not.
Read the Books in this Episode:
Blueprint for a Nonfiction Book (and Jennie’s other books)
Find us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @jennienash
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @jennienashbookcoach
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.jennienash.com | www.authoraccelerator.com
07/20/22 • 20 min
In the first episode of a three-part series of episodes on how to write a query letter, Abigail teaches writers how to write the first paragraph of their query letter. To do this, she covers important elements like:
- What a query letter is and why a writer who wants to traditionally publish needs one
- 4 essential details in every first paragraph
- 4-5 factors that determine a strong comp (comparable title)
- More!
Plus! Abigail offers a free critique of the first paragraph to the first 10 writers only. Details on how to submit to Abigail and other examples and resources in this episode below:
I WANT A CHANCE AT ABIGAIL’S FREE CRITIQUE! Here’s what to do:
- Email Abigail at: [email protected]
- Subject Title: Quick Query Tips Paragraph One
- Embed the first paragraph ONLY in the email
- Not required, but if you want to follow Abigail or share the show, go for it!
***If you are not one of the first ten writers to email Abigail in the requested format, you may not get a response.***
FIRST PARAGRAPH EXAMPLE
Dear AGENT’S NAME,
I saw on Twitter that you love [SOMETHING THEY’VE SHARED PUBLICLY] and think you’d enjoy my book [YOUR BOOK IN ALL CAPS]. It is a [WORD COUNT and GENRE] that [SHORT LOGLINE] [OR] would entertain readers of [TWO COMPS THAT SHOW YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR GENRE AND ARE SOMETHING THE AGENT WOULD REPRESENT + BE ABLE TO SELL].
Additional Resources:
08/18/22 • 60 min
We're back with book four!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE.
Abigail and Savannah return with a discussion on how the first chapter in GOF sets up expectations for the big picture story using Paula Munier's seven key first chapter questions (THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS). They also nerd out about whether or not GOF is a thriller or an action story, why Frank models a sympathetic character, and much more!
Abigail and Savannah then zero-in on the small picture and break down the first chapter of GOF with the five commandments (Story Grid).
What do you think makes up the first scene in GOF? If you don't remember it, feel free to read the first chapter of GOF—and then join us for this lively conversation.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast for writers: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
In today’s episode, Abigail sits down with another amazing Trellis Literary Management co-founder, Allison Hunter.
Allison is an expert in commercial fiction and shares exactly what she’s looking for in a manuscript wishlist, as well as other invaluable writing and publishing tips like:
- How to use comparable titles to pitch and market your book (with examples!)
- What makes a page-turning beach read
- Why secrets are imperative in engaging fiction
- How publishing is moving away from the term “women's fiction”
- And more!
Do you want to send a query letter to Allison?
- Check out her manuscript wishlist
- Follow Trellis Literary Management’s submission guidelines
- Learn more about Allison Hunter
Find Us
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @AllisonSHunter
Instagram: @abigailkperry |
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.trellisliterary.com/allisonhunter
09/14/22 • 64 min
We're back with book five!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX.
Abigail and Savannah return with a discussion on how the first chapter in the OOTP sets up expectations for the big picture and creates, to the reader's discretion, the most exciting first chapter in the Harry Potters series yet.
Once again, Abigail and Savannah use tools like the seven key questions to ask about first chapters (to analyze the big picture), taken from Paula Munier's THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS, and Story Grid's five commandments of storytelling (to analyze the scene's "workability").
Along the way, Savannah and Abigail share perspectives and insights on important topics like:
- What is the inciting incident in the scene?
- How various progressive complications (or conflicts) raise the stakes throughout the scene (and set up expectations for high stakes in the big picture)
- Why readers need to care about the character in order for life or death stakes to work
- How Harry's character is changing in big ways (and why this works better in YA vs. MG)
- How Harry and Sirius' relationship evolves, even from chapter one
- Plus more!
What do you think makes up the first chapter of OOTP? We'd love to hear your thoughts.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
10/05/22 • 61 min
We're back with book six!
Abigail sits down with certified editor and book coach Savannah Gilbo to discuss and analyze the first chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.
This is an extra special episode since HBP is Savannah's favorite book in the series—plus, both Abigail and Savannah agreed that this first chapter was the most difficult to analyze, at least so far in the series—which makes for a fun challenge and discussion.
In this analysis, Abigail and Savannah discuss how the first chapter sets up expectations for the big picture and delivers a well-structured scene in the small picture. They use tools like the seven key questions to ask about first chapters, taken from Paula Munier's THE WRITER'S GUIDE TO BEGINNINGS, and Story Grid's five commandments of storytelling—along with other thoughts and opinions.
What do you think makes up the first chapter of HBP? We'd love to hear your perspective.
P.S. Don't miss out on Savannah's amazing podcast: FICTION WRITING MADE EASY
Connect with us:
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @savannahgilbo
Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/
10/19/22 • 35 min
Taking a different direction for this week’s episode, Abigail speaks directly to listeners about ten pieces of writing (and life!) tips she absorbed from what she considers her favorite in-person author presentation.
Last month, Abigail was lucky enough to attend bestselling author Fredrik Backman’s book tour for the third book in his Beartown series trilogy, THE WINNERS.
Abigail had been wanting to read Backman’s books for years but constantly failed to prioritize them on her reading list—until she saw Fredrik Backman was coming to town.
Now, Abigail easily and enthusiastically calls Fredrik Backman one of her favorite authors —of all time. She’s obsessed with his writing and ability to create characters—and even more so with his raw, sincere ability to answer thought-provoking questions.
In this episode, listen to the ten invaluable pieces of writing and life advice that Abigail learned from Fredrik Backman’s presentation. These lessons have sat with Abigail ever since she listened to him, and they offer advice and writing tips Abigail purposefully carries with her as she moves forward with her own writing and editing.
Find Abigail
IG & Twitter: Abigail K. Perry
Read THE WINNERS by Fredrik Backman
After writing a book comes publishing it, and to do so (or if you want to do it well), you need to know your target readers and the market. One of the most important tools a writer, literary agent, editor, and publisher uses to give a quick, clear, and catchy idea of what a story is about—and what everyone can predict for sales—is comparable titles (or comps). That’s what Abigail covers in this episode. She pulls from her first-hand experience as an editorial intern and various insightful articles (linked below) to teach:
- 📖 What are comparable titles (comps)?
- 📖 Why do you need them if you want to publish your book?
- 📖 4 easy ways to find noteworthy comps
- 📖 4 essential requirements to verify if you have strong comps
- 📖 More!
Resources reference in this episode:
- Comp Title—An Elevator Pitch for Your Book by Andrea Bachofen
- How to Find Compelling Comps for Your Book by Star Wuerdemann
- 10 Ways to Personalize Your Query to Agents by Carly Watters
- Must-Knows When Picking Comparable Titles by Abigail K. Perry
Want to sign up for Book Notes (a virtual book club with Savannah Gilbo and Abigail)?
- Learn more (and join us!) at: www.savannahgilbo.com/book-club
Abigail sits down with book marketing expert (with 13 years Big 5 publishing experience), Andrea DeWerd, to discuss the writing community's mass departure from Twitter.
In this conversation, Andrea explains what's really happening on Twitter, why eight percent of the writing and publishing community have left this platform, and what this means for writers who want to find information about the publishing business, discover agents (among other professionals in the book industry), and sell books.
Andrea also shares insights from her book marketing expertise with specific tools and strategies authors can use to market their books—and make a splash!
Listen to this conversation to learn a wealth of book business-related news and book marketing tips that you won't want to miss, some including:
- How to use various tools imbedded in technology to market your book
- What really is happening on Twitter and why the writing and publishing community has left the platform at a higher rate than the US average (8%)
- Changes in the blue check mark on Twitter and why this might hinder an account's credibility
- Twitter alternatives for publishing professionals and why none of them have stuck yet
- How to pick the one social media platform that is best for marketing your book
- What to do if you want a video-based platform but don’t like to be on video
- Where writers should turn for information on the book business if the publishing industry leaves Twitter altogether
- The difference in social media algorithms and why it is easier to gather a following on Twitter compared to other social media platforms, like Instagram
- The amount of time you need to market your book before you launch it if you want to make a splash
What are your biggest takeaways from Andrea's insights? Abigail would love to know!
P.S. Abigail’s email list is up and running! If you’d like to be the first to hear about new podcast episodes, insight on the publishing industry, and writing tips, be sure to sign up at www.abigailkperry.com
Follow Abigail and Andrea:
Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://ajdewerd.com/
IG: @abigailkperry | @ajdewerd
Twitter: @abigailkperry | @ajdewerd
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FAQ
How many episodes does Lit Match have?
Lit Match currently has 69 episodes available.
What topics does Lit Match cover?
The podcast is about Podcasts, Books and Arts.
What is the most popular episode on Lit Match?
The episode title 'First Chapters: Read Until You Understand by Farah Griffin' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Lit Match?
The average episode length on Lit Match is 53 minutes.
How often are episodes of Lit Match released?
Episodes of Lit Match are typically released every 7 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Lit Match?
The first episode of Lit Match was released on Mar 9, 2022.
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