Rephonic
Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

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

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 weeklyEpisodes457Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsEducationHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

Bianca sits down with author Jonathan Edward Durham to talk about Winterset Hollow, his genre-bending novel that went from self-published hidden gem to cult favourite—and eventually landed a traditional publishing deal. Jonathan shares the unconventi... more

Will Carly have a serious case of FOMO after this Monday’s Shooting the Shit episode?! In this special episode, CeCe was supposed to fly solo—but instead, she twisted the arms of her former colleagues turned besties, literary agents Eric Smith, Nour ... more

It’s Books with Hooks week on the podcast! This week, CeCe and Bianca are joined by acquiring editor Elizabeth Hitti Musicant from Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. As they critique two queries, they break down choosing strong comps, cr... more

It’s the first Monday of the month, which means Carly and CeCe are back for another Shooting the Shit! This week, Carly and CeCe unpack the latest from the People of Publishing Conference, from shifting reader habits and publishing trends to what’s h... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Writing Excuses
Writing ExcusesMary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler
Writers on Writing
Writers on WritingBarbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

Recent Guests

Adria Goetz
Guest on episode; fellow literary agent
Episode: Shooting the Shit With CeCe's Former Co-Workers Turned Bestie
Nour Sallam
Guest on episode; fellow literary agent
Episode: Shooting the Shit With CeCe's Former Co-Workers Turned Bestie
Eric Smith
Guest on episode; fellow literary agent and former coworker
Episode: Shooting the Shit With CeCe's Former Co-Workers Turned Bestie
Claire Harris
Guest on episode; fellow literary agent
Episode: Shooting the Shit With CeCe's Former Co-Workers Turned Bestie
Elizabeth Off The Page
Acquiring editor at Dial Delights
Dial Delights
Episode: Delivering on the DNA of the Book
Imbolo Mbue
Author of Behold the Dreamers, How Beautiful We Were, Every Story Is a Love Story
Author
Episode: Insights From Imbolo Mbue and Patrick Ryan
Patrick Ryan
Author of Buckeye and The Dream Life of Astronauts; editor
Author/Editor
Episode: Insights From Imbolo Mbue and Patrick Ryan
Nina Simon
Author of Mother Daughter Murder Night
Episode: September Bonus Episode
Isabelle Allende
Renowned author discussing storytelling craft and Storytelling
Episode: Writing Insights From the Greats: Isabelle Allende and Jodi Picoult

Hosts

Bianca Marais
Bestselling author and podcast host focused on helping writers through practical advice, author interviews, and editing/process insights.
Carly Watters
Co-host and literary agent at PS Literary Agency; reads and critiques queries and pages in Books with Hooks.
CeCe Lyra
Co-host and literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates; participates in Books with Hooks and industry analysis.

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 States6 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 States6 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 States7 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 States9 months ago
  • Excellent!!

    I love all the wonderful writing advice!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather LAD
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Production and ad placement receive mixed feedback, but content quality and generosity of hosts are frequently highlighted.
Listeners praise practical writing advice and industry insight; guests are a strong draw for those seeking representation or better publishing understanding.
Craft-focused discussions and author interviews are cited as valuable and accessible for new writers.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#40
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#117
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#43
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#54
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#113
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#152
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Delivering on the DNA of the Book
Q: What makes a strong internal vs external plot in a query?
A strong query should balance internal character emotional arc with external plot events; external plot specifics provide clarity on stakes and action, while the internal arc keeps readers invested in the character's growth.
Delivering on the DNA of the Book
Q: Is romantic fantasy the same as romantasy or are they distinct genres?
They are distinct: romantasy tends to foreground romance within a fantasy setting, while romantic fantasy can keep romance as a strong thread but balances it with broader fantasy elements; the label should reflect where the emphasis lies.
When Hell Freezes Over
Q: Can you briefly describe your MFA experience and its value for writers?
Olivia explains that MFAs can be life-changing but are not essential; funded programs are preferable, and the right fit matters more than simply attending. She emphasizes focusing on identity as a writer and choosing a program that aligns with that identity.
When Hell Freezes Over
Q: Where are you in the process of finalizing the manuscript and preparing to query?
Olivia explains she has finished a first draft after two years of editing; she has one more edit to go and believes she is close to ready to query, though she is still refining structure and POV clarity.
Insights From Imbolo Mbue and Patrick Ryan
Q: What has short stories taught you about writing a novel?
Ryan argues that short stories teach economy of scene and clarity, while a novel allows more space for texture; he discusses how a narrative can be sculpted to balance showing and telling across large canvases.

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?

- This show centers on practical craft for writers and deep-dives into the publishing industry, featuring hands-on critique of query letters and opening pages (Books with Hooks) alongside author interviews and industry analysis. Episodes regularly cover market trends, agent/editor dynamics, and real-world publishing scenarios, often weaving in educational courses, sponsor reads, and behind-the-scenes storytelling from agents and authors. A notable strength is its accessible, candid approach to navigating submissions, representation, and market signals, with a mix of debut and established authors across genres. The format blends craft feedback with strategic career guidance, making it a strong resource for aspiring authors seeking actionable... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Shit No One Tells You About Writing get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Shit No One Tells You About Writing have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Shit No One Tells You About Writing has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Writing Excuses
3. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
4. Writers on Writing
5. Helping Writers Become Authors

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 457 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

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. Adria Goetz
2. Nour Sallam
3. Eric Smith
4. Claire Harris
5. Elizabeth Off The Page
6. Imbolo Mbue
7. Patrick Ryan
8. Nina Simon

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days