Lit Match Collective
LightNews LightNews
banner
litmatchcollective.com
Lit Match Collective
@litmatchcollective.com
41 followers 38 following 40 posts
A writers community led by editors🔥
Helping members connect and grow
litmatchcollective.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
litmatchcollective.com
Uh oh. Did you miss our November Residency Chat?😿

No prob. Here's a recap.

🏆to Jeff McMahon, Director of Operations at Willapa Bay AIR + @jrigamonti.bsky.social former Program Coordinator @cmwritershouse.bsky.social

Catch the whole convo + more tips + insights @ #treasure-chest in our Discord
If you missed November's Residency Chat, we discussed how funded residencies can feel out of reach for emerging writers. BUT we also learned how to work around that. TARGET YOUR APPS Some residencies, depending on source of funding and mission, intentionally create space for those without solid footing in academia or Writing Career (AKA most of us) PROVIDE CONTEXT We also learned that jurors want to know "how your work fits in the literary landscape and the world." In other words: Can we talk clearly about the lineage in which we write? And how our work engages the greater world? PITCH YOURSELF + YOUR WORK Jurors want to see "a smart cohesive image of yourself as an interesting and invested writer" who has a project that needs "a deep, immersive push," who can articulate "why it is worth supporting." In a way that's "Not too long and not self centered." In other words: Why would our work matter to anyone but us? Can we articulate that quickly, clearly, and convincingly? And keep applying! Jeff McMahon: In the cycle we just completed, a writer is going to be accepted after 2 previous rejections. Over several years their score improved with each application which I feel reflects their growth. They finally got there. Keep working. Try, and then try again. Justin Rigamonti: Keep applying def. If someone applied for three years in a row, we were MUCH more likely to give their app a second look.
November 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
okaydonkeymag.com
We just published a really excellent feature on this with some sample answers depending on how snarky you want to be 🙂‍↕️
November 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
pintsncupcakes.bsky.social
Got an ad for a medication for people "over 70" and I clicked on "why am I seeing this ad?" The explanation was I've liked "content about books." Ive never felt such a burn
November 22, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
roxanegay.bsky.social
I'm editing an anthology about unlikable characters and seeking work from younger writers, 15-21. If you know of one such writer who might want to submit their work for consideration, please share this call for submissions: audacity.substack.com/p/acquired-t...
Acquired Tastes: A Call for Submissions
For younger writers, ages 15-21
audacity.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:23 PM
litmatchcollective.com
it's not about your material, it's about your take on it.
kjcharleswriter.com KJ Charles @kjcharleswriter.com · 8d
the idea is not all that counts. the idea is nothing at all until it has been lassooed, corralled, mutated, shuffled, blended with other ideas, and then expressed over the medium of however many thousand words that you have selected and arranged as best you can. the idea is a promise, not a book.
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
litmatchcollective.com
Want to learn more about landing a funded residency?

This Sunday is our Residency Chat! So bring ALL your questions.

In the meantime, check out www.pineywoodatlas.com
A great resource for emerging & unconventional residencies.
(All free, cheap, or will PAY you to go)
November 19, 2025 at 12:20 AM
litmatchcollective.com
TONIGHT! Don't miss out! 😍🔥
litmatchcollective.com Lit Match Collective @litmatchcollective.com · 17d
Don’t forget! Sunday, Nov 16, we’re diving into craft with Freund Prize winner and @lambdaliterary.org finalist @1demerith.bsky.social and EPOCH editor @jrobertlennon.com 🔥

Pre-game by reading “The Best Man” in @epochliterary.com or this scorcher in @therumpus.net:

therumpus.net/2022/06/13/r...
November 16, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
litmatchcollective.com
Don’t forget! Sunday, Nov 16, we’re diving into craft with Freund Prize winner and @lambdaliterary.org finalist @1demerith.bsky.social and EPOCH editor @jrobertlennon.com 🔥

Pre-game by reading “The Best Man” in @epochliterary.com or this scorcher in @therumpus.net:

therumpus.net/2022/06/13/r...
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
antonhur.com
Whether you get an MFA or not, goddamn, find a workshop, find a way to talk to some working writers and editors, I dunno, all of that would've made things a lot easier and faster for me in retrospect. Get your onboarding somehow but do GET IT, writing is solitary but publishing is collaborative.
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
litmatchcollective.com
Lesson 2 of 4 is live: On Situation vs Story pt. 2

How to:
- humanize character vs types
- generate consequences to make incidents matter
- break free from writing synecdoche for routine and 'activate' your narrative

(LMC members get 1 free month of FW)
www.theforeverworkshop.com/p/editor-ins...
November 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
litmatchcollective.com
And when the medium is prose to build the fictive dream: what does it mean to hammer too hard and splinter it?
A photo of a Laurie Anderson quote on a wall. "For me the work process has been about gradually learning about materials and respecting their nature, learning not to hammer too hard on things that can easily splinter."
November 11, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
thecorlew.bsky.social
sometimes to read a book of poetry is to be reminded that another person is much funnier and better at expressing their pain than you are
November 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
litmatchcollective.com
Been feeling out the world of flash? There's no better guide🔥
kathyfish.bsky.social Kathy Fish @kathyfish.bsky.social · 17d
Hey friends, become an ANNUAL subscriber & get a spot in an EXCLUSIVE 90-minute flash workshop ($60 value) & my undying gratitude. Details below: ...https://open.substack.com/pub/artofflashfiction/p/fragmentary-flash-beauty-from-the?r=4e5y2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Fragmentary Flash: Beauty from The Broken
Photo by Riho Kitagawa on Unsplash
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
litmatchcollective.com
Don’t forget! Sunday, Nov 16, we’re diving into craft with Freund Prize winner and @lambdaliterary.org finalist @1demerith.bsky.social and EPOCH editor @jrobertlennon.com 🔥

Pre-game by reading “The Best Man” in @epochliterary.com or this scorcher in @therumpus.net:

therumpus.net/2022/06/13/r...
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
litmatchcollective.com
Welcome to the editing workshop by Editor @stevexisxok.bsky.social!

On identifying common problems and solving them.

Featuring pre- and post-revision versions of work from @okaydonkeymag.com

First up: BSF winner "1000" by @robroensch.bsky.social

www.theforeverworkshop.com/p/editor-ins...
November 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
litmatchcollective.com
Our plans for November are here!

🔥$15 Basic memberships!
🔥Chats with residency directors & @1demerith.bsky.social!
🔥A monthlong Write-More challenge led by @okaydonkeymag.com associate fiction editor @heidimarjamaki.bsky.social!

And more👇
litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com/p/november-p...
November Plans!
Q&As w/Residency Directors & Meredith Talusan, $15 membership, monthlong Write-More challenge, and more!
litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
litmatchcollective.com
We love 3rd spaces and building community❤️‍🔥Better ways of life are possible!
ruthjoffre.bsky.social Ruth Joffre @ruthjoffre.bsky.social · Oct 24
thank you to everyone who came out last night to celebrate the opening of the Nightjar Arts Collective! the fact that a progressive third space in a deep red state had a packed house and so much community excitement fills me with joy. don’t let anyone tell you art is worthless!!
A packed room full of people who came out to support a new communal third space in downtown Columbia, MO. There’s art on the walls, Kansas City poet laureate Melissa Ferrer Civil is reading at the front That same packed room from the previous photo but from all the way in the back, where you can see the overflow into the hall
October 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
viktorwinetrout.bsky.social
When I was 6, my dad put stars on the ceiling of my room to make me feel insignificant
October 24, 2025 at 3:18 AM
litmatchcollective.com
While the vibe is still spooky here's one of our favorite ghost stories by @pintsncupcakes.bsky.social in @electricliterature.com

Is there actually a ghost in this story?
Well, that depends...

Is this thing haunted though?
Oh 100%

electricliterature.com/accidental-g...
You Can’t Come Back If Your Memories Are Missing - Electric Literature
"Accidental Girls" from PATTERNS OF ORBIT by Chloe N Clark, recommended by Juan Martinez
electricliterature.com
October 23, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
crobertcargill.bsky.social
The best advice I ever heard about this was "Maybe the reason the exec is asking for a car chase on page 38 is because the previous 20 pages of character development isn't working. They don't really want a car chase; they're just bored."
patcasey.bsky.social Pat Casey @patcasey.bsky.social · Oct 22
Writing tip on dealing with notes:

You always have to try to perceive the “note behind the note”. The thing that’s *really* bothering them that they can’t quite articulate

But the biggest unsaid note is always the same: “make this better”
October 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
litmatchcollective.com
Got work to share? Want to beat stage fright?

We host live community readings in Discord last Sundays of the month & the vibe is super warm & supportive❤️
And on Oct 26 @benloory.bsky.social will read too!

So pop in. Subscribe to our newsletter for a trial membership litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
litmatchcollective.com
This Sunday, Oct 19 at 8PM ET!

We'll be chatting with our favorite fabulist @benloory.bsky.social about clarity, craft, and caring in our members-only Discord server.

Not a member? Not a problem.

Just subscribe to our newsletter for a 1-month trial 🔥
litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Lit Match Collective
stevexisxok.bsky.social
We've been trying to figure out how Ben writes pieces that feel fun and sometimes even silly but also ultimately moving and profound.

Many hypotheses! But maybe the answer is just: magic.

Really looking forward to diving in deeper this Sunday
litmatchcollective.com Lit Match Collective @litmatchcollective.com · Oct 16
This Sunday, Oct 19 at 8PM ET!

We'll be chatting with our favorite fabulist @benloory.bsky.social about clarity, craft, and caring in our members-only Discord server.

Not a member? Not a problem.

Just subscribe to our newsletter for a 1-month trial 🔥
litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:44 PM
litmatchcollective.com
This Sunday, Oct 19 at 8PM ET!

We'll be chatting with our favorite fabulist @benloory.bsky.social about clarity, craft, and caring in our members-only Discord server.

Not a member? Not a problem.

Just subscribe to our newsletter for a 1-month trial 🔥
litmatchcollective.beehiiv.com
October 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
litmatchcollective.com
our editors @stevexisxok.bsky.social and @autumnwatts.bsky.social are obsessed with developing your pieces🧐

...and the waitlist to workshop with them is LIVE!
www.litmatchcollective.com/writing-work...
October 6, 2025 at 7:15 PM