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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
Grief
Self-Publishing
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 weeklyEpisodes434Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

In this month’s bonus episode, Rachel Hochhauser joins CeCe Lyra to discuss her debut, Lady Tremaine, an untelling of Cinderella from the infamous stepmother's perspective. Rachel shares how personal tragedy reignited her writing career, why she beli... more

In this week’s episode, Bianca Marais interviews, bestselling author Molly Fader, to discuss her latest novel, ‘Lady X’, and shares the surprising publishing journey behind it—including parting ways with a longtime agent, refining the perfect logline... more

In this week’s episode of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe are back and here to unpack a thought-provoking article on the future of reading, discussing how declining literacy, AI, and changing media habits are reshaping the publishing world. They ta... more

This week’s Books with Hooks features two very different manuscripts. Carly, CeCe and Bianca discuss a dual-timeline second-chance romance that struggles with stakes, emotional depth, and page-one vulnerability, before diving into an upmarket novel a... 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

Jacqueline Faber
Author and freelance writer with a PhD in Comparative Literature.
Episode: July Bonus Episode
Molly Fader
Author of Lady X, host of Day Drinking with Authors
Author (Lady X)
Episode: The Writing Trick That Landed Five Agent Offers
Ruth Newton
Writer and campaign producer working with charities and NGOs
The Carrier/The Carriers
Episode: The First Guest on Books With Hooks is Publishing! & The Protagonist as an Outsider
Jackie McMahon
Author of The Cloak and Dagger Club
Berkeley
Episode: The First Guest on Books With Hooks is Publishing! & The Protagonist as an Outsider
Lucy Foley
Bestselling author known for her contemporary murder mystery thrillers.
Episode: June Bonus Episode
Haili Blassingame
Producer for NPR program 1A; writer and editor
NPR; American University (MFA candidate)
Episode: It's the Rewriting That Makes You an Author
Andi Bartz
Author and activist discussed in prior episode
Author; advocate in Anthropic case
Episode: Shooting the Shit About AI Reading Companions and Debriefing Last Week's Episode
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

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 States3 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 States4 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 States4 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 States6 months ago
  • Excellent!!

    I love all the wonderful writing advice!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heather LAD
    United States6 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
#28
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#89
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#27
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#50
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#69
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#141
United Kingdom/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The First Guest on Books With Hooks is Publishing! & The Protagonist as an Outsider
Q: Why start the story with the protagonist arriving at the club, and how does that outsider perspective serve the narrative?
Starting with the protagonist as an outsider helps readers learn the world through fresh eyes, builds character empathy, and allows the audience to understand the club's politics and dynamics as the murder unfolds, increasing tension and stakes.
The First Guest on Books With Hooks is Publishing! & The Protagonist as an Outsider
Q: What was the process like after signing with an editor—were there major rewrites or shifts in genre?
There were substantial rewrites and a shift toward thriller elements; the editor sought a more thriller-oriented approach, prompting not only structural edits but also a reframe of the book to fit a thriller market while maintaining the story's core themes.
The First Guest on Books With Hooks is Publishing! & The Protagonist as an Outsider
Q: How did Ruth land her agent and move toward publication given the early rejection in the querying phase?
Ruth landed her agent through consistent cold querying and leveraging earlier wins from query letters and festival shortlists, which helped her stand out; these milestones also reinforced the importance of deadlines and feedback in shaping the manuscript for submission.
Finding the Heart of the Story
Q: What was in the opening pages?
The pages begin with a sensory issue and a hospital/clinical setting, then move into the pregnancy test and early ultrasound sequence, establishing the protagonist's frame and the stakes from the start, though the critique notes a need for stronger interiority and a clearer disruption to hook readers.
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.

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. Writing Excuses
4. Helping Writers Become Authors
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 434 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. Jacqueline Faber
2. Molly Fader
3. Ruth Newton
4. Jackie McMahon
5. Lucy Foley
6. Haili Blassingame
7. Andi Bartz
8. Andrea Bartz

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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