The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
May 11, 2026 • 41min
Shooting the Shit About Professional Development and the Power of the Agent "Fit"
They dig into how “fit” shapes agent-author relationships, list-building, and which projects agents make time for. They spotlight networking and festivals as unexpected classrooms for learning readers and market instincts. They debate anti-AI disclaimers and unpack the legal storm over AI training on books. They explore mentorship, professional development, and the messy measures of agent success.
12 snips
May 7, 2026 • 39min
The Craft of Specificity: Why Vague Kills Queries
Two standout queries are dissected, one with polished YA sparkle and one with literary voice that confuses. They dig into tone signalling, showing vs telling, and whether stakes feel internal or external. Sneaky prologues, unclear inciting incidents, and how query letters must crystalize plot and tone are highlighted.
11 snips
May 4, 2026 • 50min
Shooting The Shit About Expectations in Agent Author Relationships and Who Gets To Go On Book Tour
A sharp take on AI's limits after a viral ChatGPT story and why outsourcing creative decisions can cost writers their voice. A frank discussion on when and why industry relationships break down and what agents actually bring to the table. A clear-eyed look at who gets book tours, the logistics behind them, and how most authors navigate—or fund—their own publicity.
13 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 1h 39min
Author Insights from Mai Nguyen, Lindsay Wong and Laurie Frankel
Mai Nguyen, Vietnamese Canadian novelist who writes about grief and family; Lindsay Wong, author and professor exploring diasporic trauma and dark humor; Laurie Frankel, bestselling novelist probing family, morality, and rage. They talk about processing personal loss through fiction, blending horror and myth with social critique, and the craft of finding voice through revision and smart structural choices.
9 snips
Apr 27, 2026 • 1h 25min
April Bonus Episode
Canwen Xu, debut author of Boring Asian Female, shares how 25 drafts and a genre pivot turned personal failure into a razor-sharp psychological thriller. Rea Frey, best-selling author and book doula, reveals behind-the-scenes truths about rewriting, shelving manuscripts, and the business moves that actually matter. A candid, fast-paced conversation about obsession, timing, and getting a book right.
10 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 31min
When Intrigue Turns Into Confusion
They dissect what makes a query hook readers and where intrigue slips into confusion. They debate dual POV risks, withholding backstory, and when surprise needs context. They compare query promises to opening pages and weigh tone, momentum, and believability in both adult and YA premises.
11 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 39min
Shooting the Shit About What Agents Do All Day
They pull back the curtain on a day in the life of literary agents, from time-blocking and inbox triage to back-to-back editor meetings. They explore code-switching, boundary-setting, and how relationships and timing drive deals. They discuss how prior representation is viewed and how to frame submissions after a past agent. A quick market sales snapshot rounds things out.
10 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 45min
How to Build a Protagonist Who Actually Makes Sense
Miranda Shulman, debut novelist and former Planned Parenthood staffer, talks about writing Harmless. She shares how she wrote first drafts on the job and found an agent through a fellowship. Conversations center on obsession, messy female friendships, late‑20s existentialism, and the narrative choices that shaped her complex protagonist.
10 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 38min
Shooting The Shit About Changes to the NYT Bestseller List and Editors Allegedly Using AI
Big shifts in how bestseller lists are counted, with a surprising turn toward audiobooks and away from mass market paperbacks. Questions about editors allegedly uploading manuscripts into AI tools and the privacy and ethics that raises. A data-driven look at debut author advances and what writers are actually earning today.
20 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 38min
Plugging in Mental Modules
They dissect two real query letters and flag the biggest pitching mistakes writers make. They argue why subplots and vague “vibes” wreck momentum and why intros need character interiority. They call out performative openings, bloated author bios, and what agents actually want to see in a pitch.
