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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
Query Letters
Writing
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
Literary Agents
Harvey
Voice In Writing
Middle Grade Fantasy
The Night Diary

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 weeklyEpisodes393Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducationBooksHow To

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

Bestselling thriller author Lisa Unger joins the show to talk about longevity, creativity, and the craft behind writing dark, layered stories. From surviving industry shifts to protecting your creative “deep work,” Lisa shares what it really takes to... more

Carly and CeCe are back! This week they chat about audiobook double-dipping stats, the behind-the-scenes “fires” agents constantly put out (covers, contracts, timelines, leverage), and whether traditional media still moves the needle—or just feeds ou... more

In this episode of Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly workshop two anonymous submissions—a YA dystopian and an adult thriller—breaking down what’s working, what’s missing, and how to level both projects up for the slush pile. First up: a YA dy... more

In this week’s episode, Bianca connects with rising women’s-fiction author Mara Williams. Mara shares her winding road to publication, the Books with Hooks → beta reader → agent pipeline, and why community matters. They dig into writing emotionally c... 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.

Recent Guests

Mara Williams
Author of The Epicenter of Forever
Episode: The Anatomy of an Opening
Sarah Miller-Adams
Author of "Bilateral Breathing"
Episode: How to Make Agents Curious While Also Impressing Them With Your Line Level Writing
Marisa Walz
Federal Reserve Executive and author
Self
Episode: The Long Game of Publishing
Leodora Darlington
A writer from London with Ghanaian heritage, awarded a distinction for her Masters in Creative Writing.
Episode: When the Past Won't Stay Buried: Building Dark Psychological Thrillers
Jami Attenberg
New York Times bestselling author of the memoir "I Came All This Way to Meet You" and seven fiction books, founder of the hashtag #1000WordsofSummer.
Episode: January Bonus Episode
Simone St. James
New York Times best-selling author
Episode: The Mechanics of Great Storytelling
Rhiannon Harvey
Author of "Mara's Call" and a marine biology nerd whose stories feature the ocean.
Episode: Perfecting the Page One Experience
Katie Bernet
Author of Beth Is Dead, a modern reimagining of Little Women as a mystery thriller.
Episode: Big Auction Debuts and What Brings You Back to the Page
Sarah Lariviere
Author of The Bad Kid and Riot Act
Episode: December Bonus Episode

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
  • 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 Statesa month ago
  • Excellent!!

    I love all the wonderful writing advice!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather LAD
    United Statesa month 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Richelle85
    United States2 months ago
  • Wealth of information horrible audio

    Guys, I genuinely love this podcast and I’m learning so much but the audio quality is so rough it sometimes overshadows the content. There’s noticeable clipping, reverb and huge volume differences all in the same episode. Please, for the sake of everyone’s ears tighten up the audio. This show deserves it!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Cherished bones
    United States3 months ago
  • 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 States3 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
#24
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#81
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#14
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#41
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#42
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#109
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Anatomy of an Opening
Q: How do you know how to calibrate secrets that one character knows that another doesn't?
Mara explains that it involves natural integration into the character's behavior and providing hints without deceiving the reader.
The Anatomy of an Opening
Q: Can you take us through your journey to publication?
Mara shares her long journey of writing several novels and finally getting an offer on her sixth book, which was published as her debut.
The Long Game of Publishing
Q: Can you explain what digital first means?
Olivia Jackson explained that digital first means the book is released as an e-book and audiobook before the physical copies are available.
The Long Game of Publishing
Q: What was your journey to publication?
Marisa Walz described her journey from wanting to be an author since childhood, writing multiple books, to finally securing an agent and having her debut novel accepted for publication.
When the Past Won't Stay Buried: Building Dark Psychological Thrillers
Q: How did you choose the agent that would represent you?
Leodora explained she looked for an agent who was editorially hands-on and could prioritize submissions, as not all agents carry the same weight in the industry.

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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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. NPR's Book of the Day
4. What Should I Read Next?
5. The Writer Files: Writing, Productivity, Creativity, and Neuroscience

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 393 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. Mara Williams
2. Sarah Miller-Adams
3. Marisa Walz
4. Leodora Darlington
5. Jami Attenberg
6. Simone St. James
7. Rhiannon Harvey
8. Katie Bernet

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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