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The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Auteur(s): Bianca Marais Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
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À propos de cet audio

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.© 2022 The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Art
Épisodes
  • Shooting The Shit About Auctions, *That* Post, and The Right Resources
    Feb 2 2026

    On this week’s segment of Shooting the Shit, Carly and CeCe talk about publishing layoffs, surprising Canadian bestseller stats, and a viral article questioning the state of publishing. They break down how auctions actually work, what “private” submissions really mean, and how writers can navigate paid resources without getting burned. Plus: vacation reads, TV obsessions, and why authors love signed books!

    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_writing

    https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author

    https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent

    Instagram: 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/TSNOTYAW

    Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

    Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting\

    To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw
    * 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
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    41 min
  • When the Past Won't Stay Buried: Building Dark Psychological Thrillers
    Jan 29 2026

    In this week’s author interview, Bianca chats with debut novelist Leodora Darlington about ‘The Exes’, a sharp, dark psychological thriller that asks how far the past can reach into the present. Leodora shares her unconventional (and accidental!) path to publication, what it’s like querying agents while working in publishing, and why choosing the right agent matters more than choosing the first yes. They dive into craft topics including dual timelines, unreliable narrators, planting twists that feel earned, and how deep editorial work can elevate a story. A must-listen for writers curious about suspense, structure, and the realities of debut publishing.


    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_writing

    https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author

    https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent

    Instagram: 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/TSNOTYAW

    Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

    Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting

    To 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
    Voir plus Voir moins
    31 min
  • January Bonus Episode
    Jan 26 2026

    In part one of this month’s bonus episode, Bianca sits down with longtime collaborators and best friends Liz Fenton & Lisa Steinke to talk about ‘The Naysayers’, a sharp, funny, and insightful satire about negative self-talk, toxic positivity, and the stories we tell ourselves. They open up about the realities of a long publishing career—success, setbacks, agent changes, and constant pivots—and share how a deeply personal moment sparked the idea for the novel. The conversation dives into worldbuilding, genre-blending, creative disagreements, editorial feedback, and why writing books you love matters more than chasing trends.

    Emilie Sommer, from East City Bookshop is back with her must-listen comps segment!

    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_writing

    https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author

    https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent

    Instagram: 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/TSNOTYAW

    Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com

    Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting

    To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com



    Our Sponsors:
    * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/tsnotyaw


    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
    Voir plus Voir moins
    54 min
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This is such an amazing podcast! As an emerging writer who can be very doubtful of her skills, the podcast is extremely informative and also very inspiring and uplifting. Definitely worth a listen.

amazing!

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