The Shit No One Tells You About Writing cover image

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

By: ETY
Listen for free

Season's Savings | 0.99 €/mo for 3 months

6.99 €/month thereafter - terms apply. Cancel monthly.
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 CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, who read and critique query letters as well as opening pages in their Books with Hooks segment. Expect good advice, honest insights, and a few laughs along the way.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Copyright ETY Art
Episodes
  • Shooting the Shit About Memoirs That Sell and The Publicity Delusion

    Shooting the Shit About Memoirs That Sell and The Publicity Delusion
    2 Mar 2026
    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 our very human need for validation. They also dive into buzzy memoirs, literary-agent characters in fiction, and why AI submissions are getting spotted instantly and what that means for writers who don’t trust their own voice. Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com

    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw
    * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com
    * Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    50 mins
  • Double Hooks & Power Imbalances

    Double Hooks & Power Imbalances
    26 Feb 2026
    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 dystopian about a society built on “modification,” where failure means servitude—and survival may depend on a dangerous twin-swap. Then they turn to an adult thriller about a woman who returns to her hometown, finds her missing sister’s diary, and uncovers links to a present-day disappearance. Packed with craft insights on hooks, openings, world-building, and psychological depth, this episode is a hands-on lesson in how to move from “good submission” to “I can’t stop reading.”Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com

    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw
    * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    47 mins
  • February Bonus Episode

    February Bonus Episode
    23 Feb 2026
    February’s bonus episode is packed with oodles of amazing writing tips from incredible authors. In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca, connects with bestselling thriller author Robyn Harding and breaks down how she builds slow-burn suspense in ‘Strangers in the Villa’—from sneaky prologues and curiosity seeds to power imbalances, inciting incidents, and structuring twists that keep readers guessing.In part two of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca chats with debut romance author and former professional editor Emily Ohanjanians about the winding, very human journey behind ‘The Book Tour’—from leaving in-house publishing to writing her first novel, querying in small batches, and the whirlwind of submission. Emily reflects on being edited as an editor, why fast pacing and early tension matter in romance, and why a guaranteed happy ending is a non-negotiable promise to readers. They dig into tropes (grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity), the joy of secondary characters, and how “spicy” scenes should deepen character and move the story forward. Along the way, Emily discusses second-generation identity, family expectations, and how social commentary can coexist with escapist, feel-good romance.And lastly, don’t miss out on Emilie’s comps!Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host ​and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writinghttps://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_authorhttps://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agentInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAWWebsites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com

    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw
    * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 23 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet