What’s more important—the first line of a book, or the last? This week on the pod, we took this question head-on by breaking down the first and last lines of our own novels (including a guessing game that you can play along with us).

Plus, we made the first lines of iconic books battle to the death with the ultimate first line bracket. Check it out in our Instagram story highlights, along with a blank bracket to fill out yourself.

Want to join our first and last lines guessing game? Follow along here:

* Crunch.

* Something like five thousand people die abroad every year. Only a handful of them happen in Wales, but even still, I’ve planned for that.

* In the depths of the forest that lies beyond the house of Murtagh, there lives a girl and her Lady mother. The girl has been dead for a very long time.

* The body was bloated, thick veins of black running beneath the sun-dark skin, branching out from the missing chunk of flesh in the dead man’s shoulder.

* “She called herself Eithne.”

* “Not tonight,” I say. “Tonight’s about her.”

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

How can authors stay on the good side of publishing (and the internet)? This week we’re digging into the bad and the ugly of author behavior, and how to avoid common pitfalls along the trad pub journey.

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

No two agents have the same style, and the right agent for one writer won’t be the right agent for everyone. We’ve crowd sourced statistics about agent styles for editing, submission, communication, and more, to help you find your best possible partner.

Referenced articles:

https://stdennard.substack.com/p/magical-cookies-or-dont-write-the

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/05/ai-generated-stories-rated-better-quality-than-human-written-ones-study-finds

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

Whether you call it fantasy romance, romantic fantasy, or romantasy, join us on our tirade as we defend this hotly-debated genre blend, its place in the market, and throw more than a little shade on those who use it to tear down other writers’ success.

Referenced Craft Book: Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass.

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

Join us for a special emergency tell-all broadcast as we take you through the journey of the very first With Series Potential book deal!

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

Do you really need to blow up on BookTok to get a book deal? This week, we’re digging into publishing’s hottest topic—your author platform—and dishing our hottest takes on the subject.

Referenced Articles and Videos:

* Do you need social media as an aspiring author/debut author/writer in 2026? • Meredith E. Phillips

* I Spent $44,000 Launching My Book. Three of Those Dollars Worked.

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

We crowdsourced for the juiciest beta reader horror stories, and you delivered in spades. This week, we’re digging into the good, bad, and ugly of beta readers and critique partners, and how you can learn to be a better beta yourself.

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.

We’re kicking off season 2 with a discussion on our expectations vs the reality of author milestones. Join us as we dig into everything from starting your very first draft to signing with an agent and beyond. Plus, stick around to the end for our hot takes on the dreaded form rejection.

With Series Potential is a weekly podcast for writers trying to break into traditional publishing, by writers trying to break into traditional publishing.

Hosted by Anna Hirsch, Ivy T. Woods, and Zilla Writes (writing as RJ Hawthorne).

This podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All information presented is the personal opinions of the show hosts and is based on publicly available information.

Music by The Cysquatch.