Lit Match

Latest Episodes:

Lisa Montanaro ON: How to Use Real-Life Experiences to Inspire Memorable Fiction, Writing in Multi-POV and Dual Timelines, and Crafting Secrets in Storytelling Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

If you have real-life experiences that have shaped you, but you want to write a fiction—not nonfiction—story, then don't miss this episode.

In this conversation, I talk to the mesmerizing author and public speaker, Lisa Montanaro, about her heartfelt debut, EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WAS TRUE. This is a jam-packed conversation, filled with invaluable insights on writing and publishing fiction, like:

How Lisa transitioned from being a published nonfiction author to a fiction author
Finding the balance of writing fiction inspired by real-life events—i.e. how she used her real-life experiences to inspire her debut and also how she had fun making up plot points and character arcs for her fiction story
Writing tips for writing multi-POV and a dual timeline
Why secrets are so important in storytelling, and when and how to reveal them
Her decision to publish with a small publisher (and advice on how to pick your own publishing path)

And that's only the beginning!

By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a strong grasp on how to craft a fiction story pulled from your personal experiences, how to sketch characters before putting them into high-stake conflicts and situations, writing tips that can help you write mult-POV and/or dual timeline, and questions that can help you decide what publishing path is best for your writing endeavors. Plus, you'll want to order a copy of Lisa'a debut pronto!

Don't forget to bring a notepad to this episode. There's so much to learn!

Important Links for this episode >>

Buy EVERYTHING WE THOUGHT WAS TRUE by Lisa Montanaro

Check out Colage and how it can support adult children of LGTBQ parents

Connect with Abigail and Lisa:

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @lisa.montanaro

Abigail's website

Lisa'a website

Wondering what you should you listen to next? Learn more about writing secrets from literary agent Allison Hunter in her episode: Allison Hunter ON: What Makes a Great Beach Read, How to Use Comps, and Why Secrets are Imperative in Fiction

First Chapter Deep Dive: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (with Savannah Gilbo) Feb 14, 2025

Show notes

Do you love historical romance? Do you want to learn what makes a first chapter capture a reader's (and literary agent's!) attention?

Then you need today's episode.

In today's episode, book coach and developmental editor Savannah Gilbo returns for a deep dive into the uber-popular, time-traveling romance, OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. This conversation is jam-packed with insightful tips on how to pull readers into your story with world-building, set ups, and memorable, interesting characters without slowing the pace.

Some other topics Savannah and I explore include:

How to write an intriguing opening (and scenes) with what can sometimes feel like less intense stakes
How many scenes are in this first chapter, and why each models a well-structured scene
How to plant set ups and share meaningful backstory without dragging down the pace
Plus, more!

By the time you finish this episode, you'll know how to identify and answer some important questions that first chapters need in order to set up reader expectations. You'll also take away a handful of tools that you can use to tighten and polish well-structured scenes. So pick up a notebook and get ready to learn!

P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Lit Match podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, I'd greatly appreciate if you took a minute or two to rate and review the show. Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're super insightful to me. Thanks in advance!

Books mentioned in this episode:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
The Writer's Guide to Beginnings by Paula Munier
Story Grid by Shawn Clyne

Follow Abigail and Savannah:

Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo

P.S. Don't miss Savannah's podcast, FICTION WRITING MADE EASY!

Diagon Alley Deep Dive: Scene Analysis of Chapter 5 in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

If you're unsure how to write or analyze well-structured scenes in your novel, you need today's episode.

Today, book coach and developmental editor Savannah Gilbo returns for a deep dive and scene analysis...only this time, it's extra special because it not only features a chapter from one of our favorite books, it is also the book Savannah analyzes in her Writer's Guide: The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Story Grid Publishing).

When writers reach out to Savannah about this writer's guide, they often as her, "How many scenes are in the Diagon Alley chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone?” Well, today Savannah and I take a deep dive into this very chapter, which was quite a challenge to break down!
Listen to our conversation to hear us discuss the ins-and-outs of the major events and details that happen in Diagon Alley, which includes topics like how many scenes are in the chapter, exceptional world building details, and conflicts that come close to causing Crisis questions, but only one actually does this.

Some other topics we explore are teaching points like:

How to analyze your scenes from three different perspectives—the reader’s perspective, the character’s perspective, and the author’s perspective
A quick trick for determining if your scenes work (and how to identify which areas of your scenes need work once you’ve written them)
*Spoiler alert!* Why we chose to analyze this chapter as one 6,500-word-long scene versus a bunch of smaller scenes (and how the structure of this scene works)
The purpose of the smaller moments within the scene that are arguably significant (and move the scene) forward but aren’t technically “scenes”
Our final thoughts on writing a scene like Diagon Alley

By the time you finish this episode, you'll go from scrambling to put a scene together (or understand how your favorite scene in a bestselling book works) to feeling confident about how you write scenes in your story or analyze them in masterworks. Plus, if you like this episode, you’ll probably LOVE Savannah's book, The Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Story Grid Publishing). Click here to order a copy for your bookshelf >>

Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

Links mentioned in this episode:

OrderThe Writer's Study Guide: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone— Click here
Watch the video interview on Story Grid’s YouTube channel

Follow Abigail and Savannah:

Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo

P.S. Don't miss Savannah's podcast, FICTION WRITING MADE EASY!

Zoe Norvell ON: Everything You Need to Know About Book Covers (and How to Find the Perfect Designer for Your Story) Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

If you've written a book and are in need a book cover, this is a super important episode for you to hear.

In this conversation, I talk to the brilliant book cover designer, Zoe Novell, who is also the founder of the one-of-kind book designer directory, available on her website, I Need a Book Cover. In this special conversation, Zoe and I cover a range of invaluable and interesting information about book covers, including hot topics like what makes a book cover stand out, book cover trends based on their genre, key factors to consider when choosing imagery, color, and typography for a cover—and, how to find (and hire!) the best designer for your book.

And these are only some of the huge takeaways you’ll get from listening to Zoe.

By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a better grasp on why book covers are so important, what to consider when designing a book cover or hiring the ideal designer for your book, and how to use Zoe’s premier directory filled with hundreds of dedicated, full-time, and freelance book cover designers who are consistently adding extraordinary work to adult, trade book genres.

What are you waiting for? Listen to our chat now!

Connect with Abigail and Zoe:

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @zoenorvell

Abigail's website

Zoe's websites: Zoe Norvell, I Need a Book Cover, I Need a Book Interior

Wondering what you should you listen to next? Learn all about book contracts from literary agent Kate McKean on this episode — Kate McKean ON: Demystifying Book Publishing Contracts

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: A Complete Breakdown of the Main Plot Line Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

If you're planning your novel or have a finished draft and don't know where to begin with revisions, you need to hear this episode.

This is a special two-part discussion with the brilliant book coach, developmental editor, and author Savannah Gilbo as she breaks down the main plot line—or the big picture—in J.K. Rowling's debut and phenomenon, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE (HPSS).

In today's high-level discussion, Savannah and I chat about some foundational knowledge that can greatly benefit you when outlining, writing, and revising your book, such as understanding your content genre, the 5 Commandments of Story Telling (Story Grid), and how to identify the main scenes that govern your story. This pieces pulled from this episode come from an interview Savannah and I did with Story Grid for their YouTube channel, which you can watch here.

To do this, Savannah and I first explore the 5 main scenes that make up the global story in HPSS. After, we zoom-in and dissect what we call the skeletal structure of HPSS; in other words, the 20 key scenes that make up the story's main plot line, split into the beginning, middle, and end (also known as Act I, Act II Part I, Act II Part II, and Act III).

By the time you finish this episode, you'll have a better grasp on how to use plot and structure to test the strength of a story, all of which is modeled in a masterwork that changed history. The key points made in this discussion also pull from Savannah's recent book, THE WRITER'S STUDY GUIDE: HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, which you can purchase by clicking this link.

What should you listen to next? Check out Savannah and my analysis of the first chapter in HPSS: First Chapters: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.

Connect with Abigail and Savannah:

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo

Website: www.abigailkperry.com | https://www.savannahgilbo.com/

Karyn Fischer ON: Writing a Memorable Narrative Voice for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction Sep 24, 2024

Show notes

Abigail sits down with Karyn Fischer, a book coach and past literary agent of Bookstop Literary Agency, to discuss narrative voice and how to differentiate a character’s voice in middle grade and young adult novels.

If you’re writing a middle grade or young adult novel—or you get consistent feedback that something is just “off” with your voice—this episode is for you.

Karyn shares specific (and practical) tips that can help you improve your narrative voice, and she even takes a deep-dive into two examples that emphasize when a voice really works, and why it needs to change in order to reflect the age of the protagonist.

As a certified Author Accelerator book coach, and a past literary agent with additional experience as a bookseller and book buyer for an indie bookstore (among various other roles in the industry), Karyn knows how to teach writers how to improve their character’s voice and prose. I don’t want you to miss out!

P.S. After you listen to this episode, share it with a writing companion who could use this advice, and don’t forget to subscribe to the show and rate/review it so that Abigail can reach more writers like you who want to blend their passion of writing with business.

Connect with Abigail and Karyn:

Website: www.abigailkperry.com |https://www.storyandprose.com/

IG: @abigailkperry |@storyandprose

P.S. Check out Karyn’s latest workshop: Revision Confidence!

BONUS Part 2: How Rowling Created A Cast of Compelling Characters (An Interview With Savannah Gilbo & Abigail K. Perry) Jul 30, 2024

Show notes

Join Savannah Gilbo and Abigail for the second part of an inside interview with Tim Grahl, CEO of Story Grid, on our latest book, a masterwork analysis guide to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (now available for purchase!).

In this interview, we discuss how Rowling created an unforgettable cast of quirky and relatable characters in the Harry Potter series. You’ll learn insights and tips like:

How to think about the number of characters you include in your story (and what we can learn from the characters Rowling highlighted in book one).
How to write a dynamic cast of characters that can help your protagonist grow and change (and, in Harry’s case, harm or aid his ability to survive).
How Rowling layered the forces of antagonism Harry faces in this first book (and why this was necessary based on his age and skill level).
How point of view choice affects our interpretation of the events in the story—and influences whether we classify certain characters as “good” or “evil.”
And so much more…

If you like this episode, you’ll LOVE our book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide. Follow the link to order a copy and learn how to improve your writing craft today.

BONUS Part 1: What Made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone A Best Seller Jul 26, 2024

Show notes

What made Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone a worldwide bestseller? Why does this story still resonate with readers almost thirty years later?

And why did Savannah Gilbo and I agree to spend so much time dissecting every single scene and page to find out how and why it works?!

Tune into this episode to hear Savannah Gilbo and I talk to Tim Grahl (the CEO of Story Grid) about what it was like to study Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—why we chose this book, what we learned from our analysis, and so much more.

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Lit Match podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're so fun for me to read. Just click here , scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

First Chapters: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (with Savannah Gilbo) May 21, 2024

Show notes

The third (and final!) analysis in a 3-part episode series!

Abigail and Savannah return for their final first chapter analysis in The Hunger Games series, this time analyzing the first chapter (and scene) of MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins. Learn why they think this first chapter makes a splash, and how it emotionally pulls fans into the final chapter of a high stakes trilogy.

Some key elements they explore include:

How can you spell out a crisis without stiffening the stakes?
How does this first chapter set up expectations for the whole story?
How do you write a scene that advances the plot and develops characters?
And more...

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about how to start your manuscript with an engaging first chapter, check out the resources that inspired this episode's analysis:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Writer's Guide to Beginnings by Paula Munier
Story Grid by Shawn Coyne
Story by Robert McKee

Follow Abigail and Savannah:

Website: www.abigailkperry.com | www.savannahgilbo.com

Instagram: @abigailkperry | @savannah.gilbo

P.S. Don't miss Savannah's podcast, FICTION WRITING MADE EASY!

First Chapters: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (with Savannah Gilbo) May 07, 2024

Show notes

The second analysis in a 3-part episode series!

Abigail and Savannah are back to analyze the first chapter of CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins, the sequel in The Hunger Games phenomenon, and the second analysis in The Hunger Games first chapter deep dive episodes. Come listen to why Abigail and Savannah think this first chapter hooks, and why it sets the stage for arguably their favorite book in the series.

Some key elements they explore include:

How does the first chapter set up expectations for the whole book?
How can you break down scenes in the first chapter?
How do you raise the stakes in a sequel?
How does each scene advance the plot and develop character(s)?
Why does this chapter ground readers and entice us to turn the page?

P.S. If you'd like to learn more about how to start your manuscript with an engaging first chapter, check out the resources that inspired this episode's analysis: