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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
Literary Fiction
Books With Hooks
Publishing
Young Adult Fiction
Mental Health
Creative Writing
Self-Publishing
Psychological Thriller
AI In Publishing
Grief
Writing Advice
Women's Fiction
Short Stories
Artificial Intelligence

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 weeklyEpisodes463Founded6 years ago
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BooksArtsEducationHow To

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Artwork for The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Latest Episodes

Literary agent CeCe Lyra is joined by Editorial Director Bhavna Chauhan, at Doubleday Canada, for a special Books with Hooks episode. They dig into two query letters and opening pages, covering everything from choosing strong comps and clarifying gen... more

It’s Carly’s turn to give CeCe FOMO! Carly is back in the hot seat with special guest Regina Brooks, founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency and President of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), for a firsthand look at the evolv... more

This week on the podcast Bianca sits down with Cherokee Nation member, USA Today bestselling author Vanessa Lillie to discuss her gripping new thriller, The Bone Thief. Vanessa shares her long road to publication, navigating rejection and the busines... more

It’s the last Monday of the month and that means it’s Bonus Episode week! Back in the hot seat is Emilie Sommer from East City Bookshop to answer all your comp questions. But first, join Bianca Marais and #1 international bestselling author Sir Ian R... more

Key Facts

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

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Recent Guests

Bhavna Chauhan
Associate publisher at Doubleday Canada who edits and oversees its commercial program
Doubleday Canada
Episode: An Editorial Director on Books with Hooks
Regina Brooks
Founder and CEO of Serendipity Literary Agency and president of the Association of American Literary Agents
Serendipity Literary Agency
Episode: Shooting The Shit With Special Guest Regina Brooks
Vanessa Lillie
Cherokee Nation member and USA Today bestselling author of suspense novels
Cherokee Nation
Episode: Believing in Your Worth Despite Being Rejected Over 250 Times
Amber McBride
Author of 'The Leaving Room.'
Episode: October Bonus Episode
Yemeng Lu-Myers
Practicing surgeon and writer whose work has appeared in the BMJ, JAMA, and Harvard Business Review
Episode: Your Job Is to Seduce, Not Explain
Ashley Lopez
Literary agent with over a decade of publishing experience and an MFA in Fiction from Sarah Lawrence College
Massie McQuilkin & Altman Literary Agents
Episode: Shooting the Shit Featuring Guest Literary Agent Ashley Lopez
Jonathan Edward Durham
Author of Winterset Hollow and former screenwriter
Episode: Everything You Write Is Both a One-Star Review and a Tattoo
Claire Harris
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

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 States7 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
#35
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#98
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#26
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#34
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#88
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#95
Canada/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

An Editorial Director on Books with Hooks
Q: Would you be able to use these comps? Are they too ambitious? Are they too old? Or would they be great? Or do you need to use PRH?
Chauhan said she generally seeks about three comp titles, prefers one published by Penguin Random House and ideally one with a Canadian sales track, checks sales performance in Canada, and favors titles published within the previous three years.
An Editorial Director on Books with Hooks
Q: If you had gotten this as a pitch from an agent or if you were at a conference talking to a writer, what would be the wonderful thoughts that you would share with them?
Bhavna Chauhan found the premise intriguing but said the genre description created confusion, the boat setting needed clarification, and the opening should reveal information more gradually while staying close to the protagonist's feelings.
Shooting The Shit With Special Guest Regina Brooks
Q: How are you thinking about this challenging time with AI, in terms of the agent being the middleman?
Brooks says the AALA's AI committee is seeking transparency from publishers, sharing information with agents, and working with the Authors Guild. She encourages agents to understand AI use, explain their policies, and ask authors about their use of AI, especially given questions about copyright and the distinction between AI-generated and AI-assisted writing.
Shooting The Shit With Special Guest Regina Brooks
Q: How do you think that the changes to the canon, and the agenting landscape at large, can benefit authors?
Brooks says writers can use the AALA website to research agents and agencies, and can submit an ethics complaint if an AALA member does not follow the Canon of Ethics. She also recommends asking clear questions about paid services, referral fees, and whether services are separate from representation.
Believing in Your Worth Despite Being Rejected Over 250 Times
Q: How do you balance the storyteller who just wants to entertain with the person who I assume must feel so much rage?
Lillie uses fiction to investigate colonialism and the removal of Indigenous remains, creating a thriller and characters that let her explore the issues and encourage readers to question accepted practices.

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

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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. Writers on Writing

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 463 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. Bhavna Chauhan
2. Regina Brooks
3. Vanessa Lillie
4. Amber McBride
5. Yemeng Lu-Myers
6. Ashley Lopez
7. Jonathan Edward Durham
8. Claire Harris

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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