This week, BLF's all about our agent wish list: all the things we wish literary agents would do better. (You're all perfect though! Utterly and thoroughly!) We are back in the trenches (deal with it, PubTips gatekeepers) and ready to tank our author careers before they get started because who doesn't feel like a soupçon of nihilism these days???

We have SO MANY THOUGHTS about query forms, submission pipelines, communication gaps, and why the *%#! are we still doing partials in 2026 when no one sends physical manuscripts anymore? We discuss streamlining query requirements, the importance of updating MSWLs (help us help you!), closing to queries occasionally, and the eternal mystery of "why did you query this agency?" We also turn the mirror on ourselves and talk about what writers can (gulp) do better. Because—shocker!— we're not perfect either. Well, sometimes we are, but it's good to be humble.

PLUS Hot Goss about Grammarly's new AI "expert review" feature that let dead authors critique your work (!!!). Nobody asked for this who wasn't being paid to sell it! Also: sex dolls somehow came up and we're very sorry. Sort of.

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.

Show email: [email protected]

Bluesky: @[email protected].

Threads: @badlitfriends

Instagram: @badlitfriends

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadLitFriends

Website: badlitfriends.com

Show notes: HOOOO BOY GRAMMARLY! : https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/890921/grammarly-ai-expert-reviews 

Since we recorded, Grammarly has walked this revolting “function” all the way back after authors, researchers, and users revolted but does this wash the sin away? My sources (bashed up Magic 8-Ball, common sense, and my vague recollection of California privacy torts law) say NO: https://www.wired.com/story/grammarly-is-facing-a-class-action-lawsuit-over-its-ai-expert-review-feature/