
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
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 411 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | How ToArtsEducationBooks | |||

On this week’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe talk about TWO standout queries hit the table this week—and the bar is high. One delivers a polished, compelling YA pitch with strong writing and commercial appeal, but raises a big question. The other ... more
In this week’s episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe dive into a viral story about ChatGPT allegedly derailing a $50M deal and unpack what it means for writers relying on AI—warning that outsourcing your thinking can cost you your creative pow... more
In part one of this week’s triple author interview, literary agent Carly Watters sits down with Mai Nguyen to discuss her deeply personal novel ‘Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead’. Mai shares the heartbreaking real-life loss that inspired the book and h... more
This week on Books with Hooks, Bianca CeCe and Carly unpack what makes a query actually work—and where things quietly fall apart. From a gripping friends-to-lovers premise with a dark past to a stranded-on-an-island YA romance, they dive into high-st... more
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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!
“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.
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
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.
I love all the wonderful writing advice!!!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
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Apple Podcasts | #56 |
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A candid, practitioner-focused show for emerging writers aiming to publish. Across episodes, listeners hear practical guidance on writing craft, querying, and agent dynamics, interwoven with interviews from bestselling authors, literary agents, and editors. Segments like “Books with Hooks” bring real query letters and first pages under the microscope, while episodes frequently tackle industry trends, timelines, and marketing realities with a sharp, no-nonsense viewpoint. The hosts blend actionable feedback with behind-the-scenes insights, including debates on AI in submissions, royalties, and author promotion, making it a go-to resource for writers navigating the path to publication. A notable strength is the long-running, collaborative dia... more
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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing launched 6 years ago and published 411 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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Recent guests on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing include:
1. Mai Nguyen
2. Lindsay Wong
3. Laurie Frankel
4. Miranda Shulman
5. Beth O'Leary
6. Kate Hilton
7. Holly Gramazio
8. JR Ward
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