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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
Writing
Query Letters
Character Development
Publishing Industry
Publishing
Writing Craft
The Social Worker
Conflict In Storytelling
Police Procedural Genre
Middle Grade Fiction
Writing Contests
Partition Of India
Love Stories
Acts Of Forgiveness
Women's Fiction
Harvey
Voice In Writing
Middle Grade Fantasy
The Night Diary
Reparations

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 weeklyEpisodes374Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToBooksEducationArts

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Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

In our final bonus episode of 2025, we uncover what really happens inside a literary agency? This week, we’re giving you a fly-on-the-wall look at a real agent meeting.

CeCe is joined by fellow agents from Wendy Sherman Associates to talk trends, ro... more

In this festive episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe unwrap two juicy query critiques! First up: — a whodunit-meets-reality-TV mashup where The Bachelor collides with Death on the Nile. The trio dishes on comps overload, missing love stories, and why “co... more

Money. Advances. Royalties. Envy. Agenting. In this no-holds-barred part one episode, Carly and CeCe crack open the money conversations writers are told not to have—and answer your most anonymous, anxiety-inducing questions about the business of publ... more

On this week’s episode, Bianca chats with Belfast-born writer Gráinne O’Hare, author of the hilarious, tender, and irresistibly relatable debut novel ‘Thirst Trap’. They discuss the evolution of Thirst Trap—from messy drafts to its final form, captur... 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.

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Recent Guests

Sarah Lariviere
Author of The Bad Kid and Riot Act
Episode: December Bonus Episode
Gráinne O'Hare
Writer based in Newcastle upon Tyne, recipient of Northern Debut Award for Fiction
New Writing North
Episode: The Evolution of a Novel
Tracy Dobmeier
Co-author of "10,000 Light Years from OK"
Episode: Plotting With Fate
Wendy Katzman
Co-author of "10,000 Light Years from OK"
Episode: Plotting With Fate
Patricia Sands
An excellent literary citizen and a brilliant writer
Episode: November Bonus Episode
Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
Clinical psychologist, couples therapist and sought after relationship expert
Be Connected Digital
Episode: When Writing Gets Personal: Two Authors on Vulnerability and Voice
Jenna Satterthwaite
Author and literary agent
Storm Literary
Episode: Success after 800 Rejections!
Amber McBride
Author of 'The Leaving Room.'
Episode: October Bonus Episode
Hannah Mary McKinnon
Author known for her compelling storytelling
HannahMckinnon.com
Episode: For The Love of Writing

Hosts

Bianca Marais
Bestselling author and host with experience in guiding aspiring authors on navigating the publishing industry. Bianca's background also includes a focus on the emotional aspects of writing.
Carly Watters
Literary agent and co-host offering expertise in query letter critiques and the publishing process, ensuring a practical approach to getting published.
CeCe Lyra
Literary agent and co-host known for her insights into the publishing world and her role in critiquing aspiring authors' query letters.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1.3k ratings
  • Audio issues

    Good content with abrupt ad breaks. Please work on the audio issues. The latest episode is unlistenable because the audio is so tinny. It makes the podcast sound amateurish when it really isn’t.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sweetestgale
    United States18 days ago
  • Great pod with truly random ad breaks

    I love this podcast for some real talk about querying and writing.

    That said… it feels like the ad breaks are placed at random. Often it’s in the middle of a sentence or question. So strange for an otherwise relatively professionally produced product!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Podreviews1369
    United States22 days ago
  • Thank you!

    I have learned so much from only a few months of listening. Thank you for all the amazing content!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoyandStuff
    Canada2 months ago
  • Almost Five Stars

    Lots to love about this podcast and would give TSNOTYAW five stars if the advertising was done better. The ads are often cut in really abruptly, almost mid-sentence, and sometimes the hosts will say they are going to an ad break, and then just skip the ad. Additionally, the ads themselves make me want to tear my hair out. Grateful for the fast forward button, but still! I don’t think Rosetta Stone intended to ensure that I will never ever buy their product? They are really long, really repetitiv... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    EFM970
    United States3 months ago
  • Treasure

    Discovering this podcast was like opening a treasure chest. It’s packed with everything from basic, practical info to inspirational suggestions, salted with plenty of laughs and surprises. I love the welcoming atmosphere paired with simple facts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    burtsiebert
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some feedback points out issues with abrupt ad breaks that disrupt the listening experience.
Many enjoy the humor and relatability brought by the hosts, which enhances the learning experience.
Listeners praise the podcast for its valuable content aimed at emerging writers, emphasizing its practical advice, engaging hosts, and supportive environment.
Overall, the majority finds the insights shared on writing and publishing to be invaluable, with many referring to the show as a must-listen resource for their writing journeys.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#31
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#92
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#36
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#51
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#87
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#132
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Shooting the Shit About How Much Agents Share
Q: Is querying an agent who represents one of your comps a good idea?
Carly discusses how it depends on the specific agent's representation and competition for similar titles, suggesting that if the work is truly unique, it may still be acceptable to query those agents.
Shooting the Shit About How Much Agents Share
Q: Do agents do this all the time? Talk about our queries, asking each other if they like or are thinking of offering?
Carly mentions that she personally does not share queries outside her agency due to transparency and competition concerns.
The Evolution of a Novel
Q: Advice for our listeners in terms of capturing that kind of really authentic, organic dialogue?
Gráinne shared her process of using authentic tones and regional slang to enhance the character's authenticity in dialogue.
The Evolution of a Novel
Q: Take us through that.
Gráinne details her journey to publication, including mentorship and how her agent recognized her potential despite the novel being unfinished.
The Evolution of a Novel
Q: Could you please just read us a page and a half excerpt to set the scene?
Gráinne read an excerpt from the beginning of Thirst Trap, setting up the dynamics and humor among the characters.

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 podcast focuses on the journey of emerging writers, offering invaluable insights into the writing process and the publishing industry. Through engaging discussions and guest interviews with authors, agents, and editors, listeners gain practical advice on how to enhance their writing and navigate the complexities of getting published. The hosts bring a mix of expertise and humor, dissecting query letters and critiquing story openings while also shedding light on the emotional and technical aspects of the writing life. With its welcoming atmosphere, the show not only educates but inspires aspiring authors to refine their craft and pursue their publishing goals.

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

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

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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 | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
2. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
3. Writing Excuses
4. Writer's Routine
5. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

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

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing launched 5 years ago and published 374 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. Sarah Lariviere
2. Gráinne O'Hare
3. Tracy Dobmeier
4. Wendy Katzman
5. Patricia Sands
6. Dr. Tracy Dalgleish
7. Jenna Satterthwaite
8. Amber McBride

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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