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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
Query Letters
Publishing Industry
Character Development
Writing
Literary Agents
Publishing
Writing Process
Literary Fiction
Books With Hooks
Mental Health
Young Adult Fiction
Writing Craft
Creative Writing
Women's Fiction
Self-Publishing
Grief
Women In Literature
Psychological Thriller
Writing Advice
Family Dynamics

This is a podcast for emerging writers who want to improve the quality of their work and learn more about the publishing industry. Your one host, Bianca Marais (the bestselling author of 'The Witches of Moonshyne Manor') interviews authors, agents, editors and just about anyone and everyone who's involved in bringing a book to market. She's joined by her cohosts, literary agents Carly Watters and ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes422Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

In this special episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe are joined by bestselling thriller author and journalist Andrea Bartz for a wide-ranging conversation about publishing, AI, and the current state of the book industry. Andrea shares her per... more

In part one of this week’s double author interview, Carly Watters sits down with debut author Lara Stokes to discuss her novel ‘Midsummer Nights’ — a contemporary, theater-filled spin on William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. Lara opens u... more

In this milestone 225th Books with Hooks segment , Bianca, Carly and CeCe break down two wildly different submissions to dissect what’s working (and what’s not). First up is a high-concept Western horror with cannibals, ghosts, and immortal outlaws. ... more

In this week’s Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe tackle some of the biggest conversations shaping publishing right now. They discuss the recent consolidation of Simon & Schuster and what fewer submission opportunities could mean for authors and agent... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Andrea Bartz
New York Times bestselling author and lead plaintiff in the Bartz v. Anthropic case
Author
Episode: Shooting The Shit About Author/AI Pain Points With NYT bestseller Andrea Bartz
Camille Perri
Author of The Assistants and When Katie Met Cassidy; books editor background; discussed Social Animals
Camille Perri (author)
Episode: Writing Dialogue That Carries the Entire Scene and How Voice Can Make or Break Your Novel
Lara Stokes
Author of Midsummer Nights; discussed writing journey and collaboration with agent
Lara Stokes
Episode: Writing Dialogue That Carries the Entire Scene and How Voice Can Make or Break Your Novel
Abby Davidson
A northerner and a copywriter by trade; author of Never Enough Time
Abby Davidson (author)
Episode: Layers of Psychological Processing
Emma White
Research lawyer living in Toronto; debut novelist of Venom Lake
Author, Venom Lake
Episode: Successfully Pitching at Conferences
Courtney Preiss
Debut author of 'Welcome Home, Caroline Kline'
Episode: May Bonus Episode
Mikki Brammer
Australian journalist turned novelist, author of The Collected Regrets of Clover and Good Joy, Bad Joy
Treasure Island? (publisher discussions referenced); St. Martin's Press (publisher for Good Joy, Bad Joy)
Episode: Taking Big Risks That Pay Off & Breaking the Rules With Intentionality
Mai Nguyen
Vietnamese Canadian author, debut Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead
Author
Episode: Author Insights from Mai Nguyen, Lindsay Wong and Laurie Frankel
Lindsay Wong
Author of Villain Hitting for Vicious Little Nobodies
Author
Episode: Author Insights from Mai Nguyen, Lindsay Wong and Laurie Frankel

Hosts

Bianca Marais
Host and bestselling author; often leads interviews and oversees Books with Hooks segments.
CeCe Lyra
Co-host, literary agent; frequent Books with Hooks reader and critic.
Carly Watters
Co-host, literary agent; reads/edit queries and discusses publishing journeys.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Can’t recommend enough!

    A wealth of information and delivered in an entertaining manner. And free to listen! Haven’t noticed the things the negative reviews have mentioned with advertising breaks or audio quality. And some of the negative reviews are ridiculous, the podcast regularly promotes underrepresented voices and the informal conversational tone is one of the best aspects. Enjoy your writing journey and best of luck!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flygirlwest
    United States2 months ago
  • Anti-Capitalist

    “I don’t necessarily love that we live in a capitalist system.” Excuse me? Would you rather be starving? Maybe she’s worried about her weight? As my Venezuelan friends said: the only down side of living in America is the weight gain.

    They also are worried about book bans for children. Unless you’re writing smut and marketing it to children you don’t have to worry about a book ban. Or writing anything with a conservative message.

    And they spend most their time complaining about AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Richelle85
    United States2 months ago
  • Great show

    I love the podcast but what is Cece’s problem. Why is she so rude to Carly? She speaks over her and talks down to her frequently. It’s very awkward

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Tahmeka
    United States3 months ago
  • Amazing! Incredibly Helpful!

    I am thrilled I discovered this podcast. I am a few years late to the party, but I am binge listening their back catalogue and loving every episode and learning so much. Truly, if you are trying to break into traditional publishing, this is a must-listen. A goldmine of helpful advice. I recommend it to all my writer friends! Thank you, Cece, Bianca and Carly for all the energy you pour into this. Your insights and encouragement have helped me so much.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoyceElizabethN
    United States5 months ago
  • Excellent!!

    I love all the wonderful writing advice!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather LAD
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience feedback praises practical writing advice and around-the-topic depth.
Guests and hosts are considered knowledgeable and generous with industry insights.
Listeners note audio quality and ad placement as common areas for improvement.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#21
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#59
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#18
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#29
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#43
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#79
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

When Intrigue Turns Into Confusion
Q: How does the team view the balance between interiority and plot in literary fiction?
They agree that interiority is crucial but must be complemented by enough plot points and clear narrative drive to keep readers turning pages, especially in longer works.
When Intrigue Turns Into Confusion
Q: What was the word count of the sample pages?
The pages read about 428 words in the sample, considered short but with a strong interior focus, suggesting depth but a need for more action or plot elements to sustain longer reads.
Insights from Beth O'Leary and Kate Hilton
Q: What's your advice on balancing research with storytelling?
The guest suggests avoiding overloading readers with facts; instead, use the research to create momentum and payoff, letting the reader learn enough to feel informed but not overwhelmed.
Insights from Beth O'Leary and Kate Hilton
Q: How do you differentiate voices between two protagonists across timelines?
She emphasizes hearing the voices and using distinct narrators (first person for the past, third person for the present) and crafting unique verbal quirks for each character.
Insights from Beth O'Leary and Kate Hilton
Q: How did you decide on the dual timeline structure from the start?
Kate explains she always envisioned a dual timeline because it lets present-day investigation unfold alongside older discoveries, with the past feeding the present and keeping momentum alive.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

What is The Shit No One Tells You About Writing about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, writer-focused show where a bestselling author hosts candid conversations with authors, agents, editors, and publishing professionals. The discussions regularly cover query letters, opening pages, and submission strategies through in-depth Books with Hooks critiques, practical publishing career insights, and real-world market dynamics. Listeners can expect hands-on editing tips, honest industry commentary, and actionable guidance on pitching, drafting, and navigating the publishing journey. A standout element is the trio's chemistry and their willingness to dissect manuscripts while also sharing personal publishing experiences, making it especially helpful for aspiring writers and indie authors seeking concrete steps to move to... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Shit No One Tells You About Writing:

1. Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice
2. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
3. Helping Writers Become Authors
4. Writing Excuses
5. Writer's Routine

How many episodes of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing are there?

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing launched 6 years ago and published 422 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Recent guests on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing include:

1. Andrea Bartz
2. Camille Perri
3. Lara Stokes
4. Abby Davidson
5. Emma White
6. Courtney Preiss
7. Mikki Brammer
8. Mai Nguyen

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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