The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique three query letters. During the segment, they discuss the need for physicality of movement as well as inner life in opening pages; 'wrong shoe theory' to emphasize the importance of making surprising choices as a storyteller; causality when writing about plot points in a query; and the need for character depth.

After which, Bianca interviews Chantel Guertin, author of It Happened One Christmas. The two discuss the various genres in which Chantel writes; how her holiday romcom came about; keeping your characters' perspectives in line with who they are as people; breaking common rom-com genre expectations; tips for balancing genre tropes with putting a unique spin on them; the difference in mindset when writing YA versus an adult novel; and determining whether a novel should be YA or adult fiction.

 Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/

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

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

To ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAW

More information about Chantel can be found at: https://www.chantelguertin.com/

She's on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/chantelguertin/?hl=en

 and TikTok at: https://www.tiktok.com/@chantelguertin

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two submissions, discussing how to include enough of a hook in a query without spoiling the story; burying the lead; making it obvious how an author wants readers to feel about certain things; longer query letter word counts; personifying the antagonist; and polished pages on a scene level.

After which, Bianca interviews Hannah Mary McKinnon, the author of The Christmas Wager (written under her pen name, Holly Cassidy). During their interview, they discuss Hannah's use of a pen name; the first chapter of The Christmas Wager as a master class in first chapters; the difference between writing a thriller first chapter and a romance first chapter; tips for balancing disposition and dialogue; setting up the stakes for the protagonist; how to approach back story opening pages; and how Hannah approaches negative reviews about her novels.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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 ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAW

More information about Hannah can be found at: https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/home-holly-cassidy/ and https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/

She's also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmarymckinnon/?hl=en

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique three query letters during which they discuss the 'hook, book, cook' method; the importance of layering emotionality and depth; writing a narrator that starts as a child and becomes an adult; and the line between emphasis when writing, and not being confident in what you're writing. They also critique a query that was previously submitted to the podcast and discuss the changes that the author made.

After which, Bianca chats with Heather Dixon about her debut novel, Burlington. They discuss the various paths to publication; Heather’s querying process; how she found her indie publisher; pitching your book in a 3-line social media pitch event; the query letter that got her requests for fulls; incorporating the personal universal element; beta reader feedback and revisions; the intentionality behind POV choice; the emotional rollercoaster of debuting; managing contracts without an agent; and her advice for writers currently in the query trenches.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Heather can be found at www.ramonaausubel.com. She's on Twitter @hdixonwriter and Instagram @heatherdixonwriter.

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by listener, Jessica, while they critique and discuss her query letter and pages. They discuss the need for the level of external plot to match the level of interiority; specificity to create an 'atmosphere' around your novel; how women's fiction readers feel about swearing in a novel; and creating a sense of believability and plausibility in your work.

After which, Carly interviews Becca Freeman, author of The Christmas Orphans Club. During the segment, the two discuss the origins of Becca’s prologue and her reasoning behind having one; she discusses her use of contextual cues in writing a historical setting and explains her choice of an 'A' plot; fitting friendship stories into commercial fiction genres; the integration of cellphones and the internet into a novel; and Becca’s own experience podcasting.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra 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

Becca can be found on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/beccamfreeman/ and at

https://badonpaperpodcast.com/about

In today's bumper September Bonus Episode, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop kicks us off with suggested comp titles.

After which, Bianca interviews Nina Simon, author of Mother-Daughter Murder Night, a debut that was chosen for Reese’s Book Club. They discuss Nina’s nightmare-turned-dream debut experience; the trend of the cozy murder mystery; picking the right agent; the query letter that landed Nina her agent; and how plotting and brainstorming constitute "real" writing.

Finally, in the Q&A segment, Carly and CeCe discuss telling potential agents that you've already received a full request; querying so-called 'dead' genres; when to consider a novel historical fiction; some common reasons agents don't pick up a non-fiction proposal; why there's so much hype around supporting women writers; query response rates; changing details in historical events; and publishing excerpts of your novel through contests.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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 connect with Emilie Sommer go to https://www.instagram.com/emiliegsommer/ and you can find East City Bookshop at https://www.instagram.com/eastcitybookshop/

More information about Nina can be found at: https://ninaksimon.com/

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique three submissions, in the process discussing intentionality with regards to timelines; how novels with certain types of themes need to get 'messy'; the importance of specificity; showing rather than telling; and using active emotions.

After which Bianca interviews LaToya Watkins, acclaimed author of the short story anthology Holler, Child. They discuss LaToya's unorthodox road to publication; how changing political and social climates can affect publication; writing 'voicey' stories; using the method writing technique; putting your characters in therapy; viewing your entire literary world through the lens of your characters; and not needing to wrap everything up neatly in endings. 

Find us on our socials: Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about LaToya can be found at: https://www.latoyawatkins.com/

She’s also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/drlwatkins/

In today's episode, Carly and CeCe are joined by Maya Golden, author of The Return Trip. During the episode, they discuss a query that was previously submitted to BWH; the need for balance between bio and plot in a query letter; memoirists writing their query letter plot/body paragraphs in first person rather than third; and cautioning against focusing on questions when writing plot paragraphs. Maya then discusses the structure and inspiration of her memoir; and she outlines the differences between writing fiction and memoir.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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 More information about Maya can be found at: https://www.goodasgolden.com/about/

She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/goodasgolden/?hl=en

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique three submissions and cover topics like having escalating plot in the plot paragraphs; having only one POV character; weaving in setting in historical fiction, interiority; character names in query letters vs synopses; ensuring dual timelines connect; passivity and coincidences; using statements instead of questions in the query; short frame narrative prologues to ground the reader; two arcs for two timelines; major dramatic questions; and a character being self-aware vs dissociative.

After which Bianca interviews Kerry Clare, author of Asking for a Friend about the concept of circling the building in relation to deciding on who a novel’s characters will be; using a particular setting to help define character; the layering method of writing; social commentary in fiction; and advice for those writing novels that span decades.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Kerry can be found at: https://picklemethis.com/aboutme/

She's also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/kerryreads/

In today's episode, Carly and CeCe are joined by Kelly S. Thompson, author of the memoir Still, I Cannot Save You. The three discuss: POV lending itself to emotionality in pages and the importance of choosing the right POV to fully exemplify that emotionality; the two required elements of a memoir and the importance of a thematic singular thread through it; remembering what your reader knows vs what you know; Kelly’s journey to publication; mapping out the memories and moments in memoirs; and Kelly’s advice for fellow memoirists.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Kelly can be found at: https://kellysthompson.com/

She's on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kellysthompsonwriter/

In today's bumper August Episode, we have two amazing author interviews as well as a Q & A and Comp Title segment.

Bianca first chats with bestselling and award-winning author, Emma Donoghue, about her latest novel, Learned By Heart. During the segment, the two discuss quieter novels; waiting for the right time to write a particular novel; the limitations of playwriting vs novel writing; the amount of research that goes into writing historical fiction; and choosing a POV character.

After which, Carly and CeCe answer various questions, including the acceptability of comping with a very popular novel; whether one needs to reach out to experts when it comes to writing historical fiction; the pros and cons of various forms of publishing; whether to label a novel as a series in a query letter; having a synopsis prepared when querying; and when your essays in a collection should be shared with the public before officially publishing.

Carly then chats with Lisa Jewell about her latest novel, None of This Is True. The two discuss how Lisa came up with the idea of her novel's antagonist; how Lisa changed her novel from being a 'slow-burn' to being more fast-paced; subverting readers' expectations of genre conventions; what differentiates this book from Lisa's previous novels; and Lisa's rationale about the importance of a positive relationship with your readers.

Finally, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop gives you suggested comp titles!

Find us on our socials:

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Emma Donoghue can be found at https://www.emmadonoghue.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/e_donoghue/

More information about Lisa Jewell can be found at https://www.instagram.com/lisajewelluk/ and at https://twitter.com/lisajewelluk?lang=en

To connect with Emilie Sommer go to https://www.instagram.com/emiliegsommer/ and you can find East City Bookshop at https://www.instagram.com/eastcitybookshop/

In today’s episode, Fiona Davis joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about her latest novel, The Spectacular. During the episode, they discuss achieving NYT Bestselling status several times over; having messy story setups and high stakes; interiority and emotionality; ensuring there are obstacles in the main character’s way right from the start; knowing what the main character wants; passive query letters; why having more plot and less talk of themes in a query letter matters; not starting in an obvious place; having description accomplish more than one thing; researching and choosing a setting; outlining and reverse outlining; and using peripheral characters brilliantly.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Fiona can be found at https://www.fionadavisbooks.com/. She's on Instagram http://instagram.com/fionadavisauthor, and  Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/FionaDavisAuthor

Today's episode is sponsored by June's Journey. Find the link to the glamorous hidden object game here: https://www.wooga.com/games/junes-journey

Today, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe chat with Jessica Hamilton, author of Don’t You Dare, while also critiquing listeners' query letters. They discuss Jessica's experience with going on submission and publishing during the start of Covid; examples of a successful depiction of anxiety in submission pages; the importance of starting a novel at the beginning, and not immediately jumping to flashbacks; plausible details in pages and breaking rules with intentionality; writing a so-called unlikeable protagonist; and receiving negative feedback from readers.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Jessica can be found at: https://www.jessicahamilton.org/

She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jhamiltonwrites/

Today's episode is sponsored by June's Journey. Find the link to the glamorous hidden object game here: https://www.wooga.com/games/junes-journey

In today's episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique query letters and chat with Lauren JA Bear, author of Medusa’s Sisters. During the show, they discuss being 'on trend'; writing counter-narratives; being inspired by mythology; Lauren's inspiration for her latest novel; doing a deep dive when it comes to research; prologues that work; an excellent query letter; and tips for creating the right tone for your novel.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Lauren can be found at: https://www.laurenjabear.com/

She is also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/laurenjabear/?hl=en

In today’s episode, Byron Lane joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about Big Gay Wedding. 

During the episode, they discuss a character’s why’s; being too on the nose/predictable with plot points; the use of a foreign language; the element of surprise; weaving humour into the story; prologues that have got to go; moving between different POVs (i.e., third-person close and omniscient); choosing the biggest sucker punch POV for each scene; literary devices; jolting the main character into action; writing competitive pages; heightening conflict; and challenges between first and second books.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Byron can be found at www.byronlane.com/ He's on Instagram @byronlanedotcom, Twitter @byronlane, Facebook @byronlane, and TikTok @byronlanedotcom.

In today's bumper Bonus July Episode, we have three amazing interviews!

Bianca first chats with bestselling and award-winning author, Ann Patchett, about her latest novel, Tom Lake. During the show, the two discuss how and why Ann wrote past and present as 'bleeding into one narrative' in her latest novel; when to show vs when to tell backstory; testing different ways of beginning a story before settling on the best place to start; breaking the writing rule of starting with a character desperately wanting something; causality and reflecting real life accurately; using specificity to intrigue the reader; and planting curiosity seeds at the right time and place.

After which, Tina and Renee of Book Talk, etc. podcast, join Bianca to talk about books they love and what they found to be so compelling about them. During the episode, they discuss Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys; Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas; Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi; The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton; Miracle Creek by Angie Kim; and Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta.

Finally, Ramona Ausubel joins Bianca to talk about her latest novel, The Last Animal. They also discuss story inspiration; the emotional truth of a story; plausibility and suspending disbelief; the personal universal element; intentionally choosing POV; writing a teenage protagonist for an adult novel; the relationship between a writer and their work; the evolution of a project, using Fortunately/Unfortunately for story structure; and how to avoid info dumps when trying to convey very technical information.

Find us on our socials:

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Ann can be found at http://www.annpatchett.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/parnassusbooks/

More information about Book Talk, etc. can be found at booktalkpodcast.com. They’re also on Instagram @booktalketc, Twitter @booktalketc, and Facebook @booktalketc.

More information about Ramona can be found at www.ramonaausubel.com. She's on Twitter @ramona_ausubel and Facebook @ramonaausubelauthor.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today's episode, author and agent Jennifer Herrera joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions, and to discuss Jennifer's debut novel, The Hunter.

In the episode, they discuss the challenges of starting your pages with a character waking up and being alone; the struggle of holding yourself back when sharing information about your plot or characters; how to plant curiosity seeds successfully; the difference between describing something so you can picture it and describing something in a way that reveals character and sets a tone; the trend towards shorter pieces of writing; and how Jennifer's debut novel became a series.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Jennifer can be found at: https://www.jenniferherrerabooks.com/ and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jennifer_herrera_books/

This episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. Go to www.hellofresh.com/tsnotyaw50 and use the code tsnotyaw50 for 50% off plus free shipping!

In today’s episode, Kirthana Ramisetti joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions, while also talking about her latest novel, Advika and the Hollywood Wives. 

During the episode, they discuss the importance of the 'why' behind plot points; the need for external as well as internal plot points; 'seducing' the reader; mastering the rules before you break them; starting with a ‘there I was, minding my own business’ opening; how to make an opening compelling and page turning when you don’t begin with high stakes; varying your chapter lengths for a very specific reason; and how genre-blending books get pitched.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Kirthana can be found at https://kirthanaramisetti.com/

She's on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kirthanaramisetti/

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s episode, M. Evelina Galang joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about her short story collection, When the Hibiscus Falls. During the episode, they discuss how to connect short stories and arrange them into a collection; using setting to inform the story; zooming into plot points in a query; clever ways to world build; meeting a character other than the protagonist in the opening pages; using a personal universal element to connect readers with characters and what this means in the short story format vs a novel; introducing a story’s question in the first line; authenticity of foreign languages that are not foreign to the character; context clues and missing details in query letters; the importance of selecting the right comps; using swear words in women’s fiction; how working in the film industry can inform your writing in terms of attention to detail; line level writing; and starting in media res.

If you’re in the Los Angeles area this month, check out Carly’s in-person event at North Fig Bookshop in Los Angeles on July 19th at 7pm PDT!

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/

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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

More information about Evelina can be found at mevelinagalang.com. She's on Instagram @mevelinagalang and on Twitter @HerWildAmSelf.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today's episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe kick it back old school using the old classic 'Books with Hooks' format during which they discuss leaning into specificity in query letters; stating where you live when writing a query; needing a major dramatic question in a memoir; the importance of protagonist observations in a relationship-driven story; the need for a meaty hook in a memoir written by a non-famous person; and why you have to have curiosity seeds.

After which, CeCe interviews NYT bestselling author, Andrea Bartz, author of The Spare Room, about her latest novel; writing about the pandemic; using a psychology background to develop characters; and how the intentionality of verbs and language choices can elevate your work.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Andrea can be found at www.andreabartz.com. She's on Instagram and Twitter at @andibartz

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s episode, Sara DiVello joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about her upcoming novel, Broadway Butterfly. During the episode, they discuss why Sara wanted to include certain themes, and the importance of sensitivity readers; avoiding info dumping; common social media mistakes that authors make; where to start if you're intimidated by social media; taking your social media to the next level; keeping query letters succinct; and the importance of specificity.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Sara can be found at www.saradivello.com. She's on Instagram at @saradivello.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today's Bonus Episode, we have two amazing author interviews!

Bianca chats with returning guest Julie Carrick Dalton, author of The Last Beekeeper, about dual timelines vs flashbacks; POV strategy; writing from a place of rage vs a place of fear; including hope in your story while confronting fears; having readers absorb important information while you’re still entertaining them with your story; and balancing what you believe in vs preaching to your readers.

After which, Bianca and Kerryn Mayne, author of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder (which has since sold in the US market to St. Martin’s Press) chat about Kerryn's experience querying; publishing in markets outside the US; writing in a genre that relates to her career; and Kerryn's take on writing groups.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

Kerryn can be found at www.kerrynmayneauthor.com. She’s on Instagram at @kcmwrites

Julie can be found at https://juliecarrickdalton.com/ She's on Twitter @juliecardalt and Instagram @juliecdalton.

Today's episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. Go to www.hellofrresh.com/tsnotyaw16 and use the code tsnotyaw16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! 

In today’s episode, Bryn Turnbull joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about The Paris Deception. During the episode, they discuss being unlucky in publishing; story inspiration; not having things too neat and tidy (coincidental); morally ambiguous women in history and writing morally ‘grey’ female characters; specificity in query letters; maintaining action in the opening pages; grounding the reader with location and time stamps; layering interiority and sharp specifics; connecting readers experiencing current events with those in historical fiction; and advice for writers from a creative writing instructor.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

More information about Bryn can be found at brynturnbull.com. She's on Instagram @brynturnbullwrites and on Twitter @BrynTurnbull.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s episode, Hazel Gaynor joins Bianca, Carly, and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about The Last Lifeboat. During the episode, they discuss different book titles in international locations; the order of paragraphs in a query letter; line-level writing with specificity and varied sentence lengths; how to achieve the right voicey-ness and what that means; opening with a chaotic and dramatic prologue; advice about where to start stories; fact vs fiction in historical fiction; withholding context and backstory; relatability in world building; and how to keep readers invested in both timelines in a dual-POV novel.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Hazel can be found at hazelgaynor.com. She's on Instagram @hazelgaynor and on Twitter @HazelGaynor.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s episode, Laura Barrow, joins Bianca, Carly and CeCe to critique Books with Hooks submissions while also talking about Laura's debut novel, Call the Canaries Home.

During the episode, they discuss doing the wrong things in a manuscript; standalone vs series novels; including too much detail in a query letter; character motivations and stakes; how to position a book that’s not easy to define; showing vs telling in various drafts; reading to find out if your hypotheses are right; threading action beats into dialogue, and Laura’s advice for writers.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

Laura is on Instagram @Laura.barrow.writer.

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s episode, we’re rolling out a new format wherein our guest authors will help Bianca, Carly, and CeCe critique submissions. We’re starting with Carly’s client, Mai Nguyen, author of Sunshine Nails. In this episode, we discuss great query letters; YA word count ranges; world building and personal experience with the built world; creating conflict for characters; character motivations; passion vs ambition; creating books that can cross borders in terms of setting; the right place to start; emotionality vs narration; knowing where to add lots of detail and where it’s not necessary; and anticipation in the character.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

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

More information about Mai can be found at https://www.mainguyen.ca/. She's on Instagram @bymainguyen and Twitter @bymainguyen.

Go to HelloFresh dot com slash tsnotyaw16 and use code tsnotyaw16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping! 

Today's episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh dot com slash tsnotyaw16 and use code tsnotyaw16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping!

In today's bumper Bonus Episode, we chat with two internationally bestselling authors in the romance genre before taking your questions and giving you comp titles.

CeCe kicks us off by interviewing Carley Fortune, author of Meet Me at the Lake, about planting curiosity seeds; the editing process; the struggle with negative self-talk when writing; the development of Carley's characters; and creating chemistry amongst characters.

After which, Carly chats with Emily Henry, author of Happy Place about dialogue; facets of success; masculinity in literature; healthy conflict with characters; her book covers; and her potential involvement in the film adaptations of her books.

Carly and CeCe then take all your questions!

Finally, Bianca chats with Emilie Sommer from East City Book Shop and RJ Witherow of Parnassus Books as they give comps recommendations.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

More information about Carley can be found at www.carleyfortune.com. She’s on Instagram @carleyfortune

More information about Emily can be found at www.emilyhenrybooks.com. She's on Instagram @emilyhenrywrites.

Parnassus Books can be found at www.parnassusbooks.net and on Instagram at @parnassusbooks

Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at www.eastcitybookshop.com.

Today's episode is sponsored by HelloFresh. Go to HelloFresh dot com slash tsnotyaw16 and use code tsnotyaw16 for 16 free meals plus free shipping!

In today’s Books With Hooks segment, Carly and CeCe each critique two submissions, discussing query length; having enough of a hook; writing style in a query letter; confusion vs curiosity in a query letter; explanatory vs curiosity seeds; putting the hook up higher in a query; starting with dialogue; and fantastic first lines and opening pages. 

After which, CeCe chats with Chanel Cleeton, author of The Cuban Heiress, about POV; being a plotter or pantser; Chanel's different phases of writing; the research process; and writing successful dream sequences.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Chanel can be found at www.chanelcleeton.com and on Instagram at @chanelcleeton

Today's episode is sponsored by Riverside.fm. Using the promo code TSNOTYAW offers you a 15% discount on all individual plans! Click here for more info!

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe are joined by special guest, Traci Thomas from The Stacks podcast for a special segment focusing on non-fiction. During the segment, they discuss surprising readers in the first chapter; specificity in memoir; comping non-fiction and memoir; the use of humor in an overview; and the general layout of an overview.

After which, Bianca chats with Meg Tady, author of Super Bloom, who reads the query letter that landed her own agent. Meg also reads and critiques a listener's query, discussing stakes and specificity; making main character's likeable enough for readers to root for them; the art of description; writing a book within a book; and telling yourself 'yes' every day.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Traci can be found at www.thestackspodcast.com and on Instagram at @thestackspod

Meg can be found at www.megantady.com and on Instagram at @megtady

In this short bonus episode, Bianca pays tribute to the bravery of Coceka Lubobo, a young woman who ended a serial killer's reign of terror in Orlando, Soweto.

Special thanks go to:

• the immensely talented English actress, screenwriter and film producer, Katharine McEwan, for narrating this episode.
• the brilliant singer and songwriter, Daphne Willis, for composing the music for the piece.
• the incredible South African artist, Manuela Gray, for composing the art work.

You can find them on Instagram at:

@kathatinemcewan

@daphnewillismusic

@manuelagray

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WRITING and get on your way to being your best self.

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each critique two submissions and cover topics like voice-y queries; using direct and specific terms in a query letter; selecting the right comps for the right reasons; having the query letter match what’s in the opening pages; close third-person POV; having a short and tightly written query; dual timelines vs backstory/flashbacks, series; sneaky prologues; passive framing of the hook; activating your story; and synopsizing the manuscript in the query letter,

After which, CeCe chats with Jenny Jackson, bestselling author of Pineapple Street and Vice President and Executive Editor for Knopf. During the segment, they discuss Jenny's choice of POV characters; writing backstory; the use of a prologue and an epilogue; being an editor and an author; and Jenny's advice for emerging writers.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Jenny can be found on Twitter at @JennyeJackson and on Instagram at @jennyjacksonpineapple

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, Bianca and guest agent, Rachel McMillan, discuss the importance of social media presence; tailoring your queries to specific agents; putting your best content forward; and word count expectations.

After which, Bianca chats with Caroline Kepnes, author of the YOU series, about the charming façade of serial killers; how she created her own major in college; how Joe Goldberg is a fascinating contradiction; getting inside Joe’s head; the intentionality of setting; making a villain vulnerable; how to feel what your character would feel; writing physicality; early readers and unlikable characters; and giving a villain backstory to make readers empathize.

 Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Rachel can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @rachkmc and at www.rachelmcmillan.net

Caroline can be found at www.carolinekepnes.com, on Instagram @carolinekepnes and on Twitter @carolinekepnes.

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, Carly and CeCe discuss descriptive specificity; comping to famous writers; sensitivity when describing mental health and mental illness; picking the correct comps; the importance of interiority to dual narrative experience; and choosing titles that work best for you.

After which, Bianca chats with J Ryan Stradal, author of Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, about his path to publication; being a good literary citizen; standing your ground with setting; having setting inform plot elements and character; outlining multi-POV and multi-timeline novels; flashback vs separate timelines, starting a book with a theme; knowing the ending and starting far away from it; how you learn from each book that you write; and advice for emerging writers regarding querying agents.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

More information about J Ryan can be found at www.jryanstradal.com. He's on Twitter @jryanstradal and Instagram @jryanstradal.

In today's bumper Bonus Episode, in an incredibly emotional interview, Bianca talks with Carol Major, author of the memoir The Asparagus Wars, about the difference between cerebral writing and visceral writing; the reliability of memory; the importance of being intentional; allowing the reader to become a part of the story; creating meaning for the reader (not just the memoirist); why people read memoirs; the journey of finding the meaning of your story while writing it; dealing with the potential fallout after publishing a memoir; writing with integrity; and the awards Carol has won.

Carly and CeCe are joined by Andrea Guevara, an author branding expert, to take your questions, and in the process discussing acceptable word count; social media presence; the concept of stakes; querying for feedback; examples of novels that excel in interiority; red flags for agents; the journey to publication; defining your genre; and pen names.

Bianca chats with Patti Callahan Henry, bestselling author of Surviving Savannah, Becoming Mrs. Lewis, and The Secret Book of Flora Lea, about how much heavy lifting the first line, paragraph, and pages need to do; omniscient POV in the opening chapter; knowing how to open a book; drawing on myths and legends to spark a story; writing on a line level; the gardening vs architecture of writing a story; ensuring both past and present timelines have a story-forward plot; and writing a book within a book.

Finally, Bianca chats with Emilie Sommer from East City Book Shop and RJ Witherow of Parnassus Books as they give comps recommendations.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Carol can be found at https://www.writingtable.space/

Andrea can be found on Instagram at @brand.strength and @theandreaguevara

Patti can be found at https://www.patticallahanhenry.com/ She's on Twitter @pcalhenry and Instagram @pattichenry.

Parnassus Books can be found at www.parnassusbooks.net and on Instagram at @parnassusbooks

Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at www.eastcitybookshop.com.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WRITING and get on your way to being your best self.

In today’s Books with Hooks segment, Carly and Cece each critique two submissions, discussing pitching literary vs upmarket fiction; naming non-POV characters in a query letter; head-hopping, interiority and emotionality; mentioning sensitivity/authenticity readers; writing about cultures that are not your own; world building in historical fiction, world building and specificity in a fantasy query letter; having surprise in the opening pages, quiet novels, upmarket fiction, and line-level writing; and Carly suggests a prologue!

In today’s Books With Hooks segment, we try something different! Bianca critiques query letters while guests Maggie Giles, author of The Things We Lost, and Lindsay Maple, author of Not Your Basic Love Story, critique opening pages of romcoms which are the genres they write in. In between, they discuss their own work and advice for writers. They also share their successful query letters with our Kofi monthly supporters!

Topics covered include genre blending; the hook in a query letter; skipping over the mundane; turning a trope around to surprise the reader; misfired meet-cutes; surprise in the opening chapters; mentioning character names in opening pages; having the protagonist alone in the opening pages; how to figure out the central conflict; how to keep raising the stakes; carrying conflict into act II; starting out as an indie author and then getting an agent; a shoutout to Rising Action Publishing Co.; and advice for emerging authors about community and indie publishing.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Lindsay is on Instagram @lindsayraemaple and on Twitter @LindsayRaeMaple

Maggie is on Instagram @maggiegiles_ and on Twitter @maggiegiles_

In today’s Books With Hooks segment, Carly and Cece each critique two submissions, discussing tongue twister titles; putting a fresh spin on feminist issues; first lines that could be doing more; differentiating your own writing from original stories in retellings; ensuring important details are clarified in a query letter; making sure there’s a reason for having two heroes in a story; what happens when interiority and emotionality are missing from the pages; setting a story against the backdrop of a major world event; ensuring the plot points are in a dominos set-up; making sure the storyline is about the protagonist, not the major world event; and weaving in emotionality to offer context on characters in a subtle, superb, organic way. And CeCe requests a full manuscript!

After which, Bianca chats with Bonnie Garmus, internationally bestselling author of the publishing phenomenon, Lessons in Chemistry, about her “overnight” success; the almost 100 rejections she got during querying; why not to write a 700-page novel for your debut, the grieving process during querying; writing a love letter to science and scientists; the universal appeal of a novel like hers, structure, timeline and the opening pages; writing omniscient POV well and including an animal’s POV; knowing when to listen to critique and when to stand your ground; and the difference between curiosity seeds and pause pebbles.

 Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Bonnie can be found at https://www.bonniegarmus.com/. She’s on Twitter @BonnieGarmus and Instagram @bonnie_garmus_author.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WRITING and get on your way to being your best self.

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca, CeCe, and Carly discuss a successful prologue; 'showing' weather rather than telling; being specific about your genre in order to find the right agent; the concept of a 'telling' prologue; breaking the 'fourth wall'; the need for an antagonist in a memoir; and storytelling as seduction.

After which, Bianca interviews Ella Berman, author of Before We Were Innocent, during which they discuss Ella's latest novel; balancing focus on the plot and the characters; writing dual timelines; being intentional with your POV choices; making your reader theorize; and knowing your characters' psyches.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Ella can be found on Instagram at @ellamberman 

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss keeping names in a query to a minimum; an 'excellent' query with opening pages that have almost no notes; the importance of having movement in opening pages; a three POV query letter; CeCe meets a prologue that she likes; using a third person bio; and the effective use of weather in opening pages.

After which, Carly chats with her client, Jane Healey, author of Goodnight From Paris. They discuss her path to representation and publication; winning writing contests and anonymous pitching; having a long-term relationship with editors at one publishing house; how much is too much research in historical fiction; keeping the plot moving forward while building a historical world; knowing where to start the story when writing a real person’s life into your novel; author’s notes; her advice for writers seeking to publish; and historical happy hour!

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Jane can be found at janehealey.com and on Instagram @healeyjane. 

In today's bumper Bonus Episode, Bianca chats with Amy Tector, author of three novels which have all been released in the last year, including Speak for the Dead, now available this month. They discuss finding and prioritizing writing time; rewarding ourselves for hitting our goals; working on Scrivener; respecting your work as a writer (and having others respect it); setting brain boundaries; how not writing can help your writing; how to get un-stuck when the words aren’t coming; and the importance of accountability.

After which Carly and CeCe take your questions, discussing submitting parts of a WIP to journals; finding an editor; Goodreads reviews for comps; how much to share about one's career goals in a query; having a novel concept that is very similar to something that is already a bestseller; social media when querying; writing characters involved in well known institutions; advances for debuts; and deciding on the 'right' POV.

Bianca then chats with Jennie Nash, CEO of Author Accelerator, about wise investments in the writing process; writing goals and the “getting picked” skills; the core reasons why people write; the Blueprint Method; when to get a book coach; how to find the right book coach; and book coach fees and options.

Finally, Bianca chats with Emilie Sommer from East City Book Shop as Emilie gives comps recommendations.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Amy can be found at www.amytector.com, on Twitter @amy_tector, and on Instagram @amytectorwrites.

Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at www.eastcitybookshop.com

Jennie and Author Accelerator can be found on Instagram @authoraccelerator, Facebook @authoraccelerator, and on Twitter @authaccelerator. The website is www.authoraccelerator.com

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe discuss the line between YA and adult historical fiction; category mashups; plausibility of plot points; mentioning side characters in query letters; considerations when writing for younger kids; and the importance of emotionality in the pages rather than the query letter.

After which, Carly chats with her client, Andrea Dunlop, author of Women Are the Fiercest Creatures, about shapeshifting manuscripts; cutting passages and the battle with backstory; the realness of characters; how to know when your book needs a prologue; exploring different stories and forms; empathy in writers; the challenges of writing nonfiction; what is valued in a publishing partner; and some rapid-fire questions. Then we get to hear an excerpt from the audiobook for Women Are the Fiercest Creatures!

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Andrea can be found on Instagram at @andreadunlop and her website is www.andreadunlop.net

In today's Books with Hooks segment, Dongwon Song, an agent at Howard Morhaim Literary Agency who specializes in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, joins Bianca to look at four query letters. The two discuss the difference between sci-fi, fantasy, and speculative fiction; the very specific sub-genre of magical realism; the length of queries in sci-fi/fantasy genres; being deliberate with the limited real estate in a query, even when world building; driving forward plot at all times; the concept of looking through a 'keyhole' when writing a query; when to italicize foreign words; the importance of using stakes to pull in an agent in the query; starting with grief in a query; and the importance of using author names when comping.

After which, Bianca chats with Kristen Bird, author of I Love It When You Lie, about how to choose your characters; multi-POV stories; subverting the mystery genre; interviewing your characters to understand character motivations; basing characters on people IRL; using setting as a tool to develop characters; and factoring in a character’s misbelief.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Kristen can be found on Instagram @kristenbirdwrites and on Twitter @kbirdwrites. Her website is www.kristenbird.com.

In today’s Books With Hooks, Carly and Cece co-critique two queries, discussing showing how the protagonist is propelled on their journey; dealing with major dramatic questions and stakes; dense query letters for well-worn tropes; surprises and predictability in the opening pages; line edits and synopsis-like queries; reactive protagonists vs giving your protagonist agency; “soft” women’s fiction; movement in the opening pages; and having an obviously bad love interest in the beginning of a story.

After which, Carly talks with author Rebecca Makkai, author of I Have Some Questions For You, about creating a fictional podcast for her story; dealing with social media as an author and in your book; chapter lengths; judgement of authors and of characters; boarding school settings, adding real life trauma situations to fiction; and tackling the messiness of life in novels. We also play you an excerpt from the I Have Some Questions for You audiobook.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WRITING and get on your way to being your best self.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Rebecca can be found on Instagram @rebeccamakkai and on Twitter @rebeccamakkai. Her website is www.rebeccamakkai.com.

In today’s Books With Hooks, which is our 100th segment, Carly and CeCe each critique two queries, discussing comps; clear and compelling inciting incidents; plausibility; interiority and emotionality; the beginning, middle and end of memoirs; balancing tension and the mundane in a memoir; including social media handles with signatures; YA vs Adult; the right type of prologue; using swear words; and a request for a full manuscript!

After which, Bianca chats with Eden Boudreau, author of Crying Wolf: A Memoir, where they discuss writing about trauma; emotional support for writers of trauma; her unconventional path to publication; creative writing mentorship; the beauty of small presses; adding the moments of light when writing about traumatic experiences; structuring a memoir; and finding the right place to start a memoir.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Eden can be found on Instagram @edenboudreau and on Twitter @edenboudreau

In today's jam-packed Bonus Episode, Bianca, Carly, and CeCe answer questions about whether dark novels and WWII novels have a place in the current market; when it's okay to pitch an unfinished book; how to evaluate comps through number of reviews; about liking your own comps; submitting through query tracker; writing outside of genre conventions; following up with agents; and how to distinguish omniscient POV from third person POV.

After which, Carly chats with Lindsay Wong, author of Tell Me Pleasant Things About Immortality, about her inspiration for her short story collection; the themes explored in her body of work; why she likes being a creative writing instructor; the challenges of pitching as a BIPOC author and filling a gap in the market; her experiences as a woman of color at conferences; and some pros and cons of working with a big publishing house vs a smaller one. We also play an excerpt from Lindsay’s audiobook.

Then, Bianca chats with Jennifer Wilson, author of Grant Us Tomorrow, about what caused Jennifer to finally get writing; the act of beginning; forming a team to help you stay on track; protecting your voice when working with a team; trusting the reader; and Jennifer's path to publication.

Finally, Bianca chats with Emilie Sommer from East City Book Shop as Emilie gives comps recommendations.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Lindsay can be found at @lindsaymwong on Twitter and at @lindsaywong.m on Instagram and at www.lindsaywongwriter.com

Jennifer can be found at www.grantustomorrow.ca and at @grantustomorrow on Instagram

Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Book Shop can be found at www.eastcitybookshop.com

In today's Books with Hooks, Bianca speaks to guest agent, Emmy Nordstrom-Higdon, about five submissions including middle grade queries, a rom-com, and a graphic novel script. They discuss the best way to personalize your query letter to your specific agent; balancing narrative dialogue and action in a scene; content warnings; non-fiction book proposals; overwriting in non-fiction; and the need for an illustrator when submitting graphic novel queries.

After which, Carly chats with her client, Karen Katchur, author of The Greedy Three. They discuss the fun and difficult parts about writing a 'closed door' mystery; the process of writing dark humour; Karen's use of a specific setting for this novel; her choice of epigraph; her path to finding Carly; her experience working with different publishers; being a woman in a male-dominated genre; and Karen's words of wisdom for aspiring authors. We also play a snippet from Karen’s audiobook!

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Karen can be found at www.karenkatchur.com

Emmy can be found at @emmy_of_spines on Twitter and Instagram

In the latest Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe each critique two queries and discuss pitching only one genre; having a solid reason that a story takes place in near-history; POV changes within a single chapter; when a query sounds more like a synopsis; opening with a daydream; sucking the agent in with curiosity and tension; needing to be the best in a busy category; using an elevator pitch; dialing down the setup and characterization details in a query; and which character readers connect to first in a multi-POV novel.

After which, Bianca chats with Grady Hendrix, author of How to Sell a Haunted House, about the horror genre; how horror can open up conversations about the darker side of death and how we process it; what it is about the south that lends itself to gothic novels; horror genre conventions and tropes; establishing a stasis; writing what you know; writing the antagonist; and why it’s important to have humour infused along with the dark stuff.

This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/WRITING and get on your way to being your best self.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Grady can be found at www.gradyhendrix.com, on Twitter @grady_hendrix, and on Instagram @gradyhendrix.

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe, and Bianca are joined by listeners Marnie and Karisa. In the process, they discuss the importance of stakes in a query letter, even if it's literary; immersing yourself in place; the concept of 'historical' YA; the difference between YA and coming of age; how to set a scene; connecting specific plot points with the hook; and why interiority is important.

After which, Bianca chats with, Deepti Kapoor, author of Age of Vice, about building buzz for a book ahead of time; planting curiosity seeds and leaving them hanging for many pages; a story’s structure and experimenting with form; her drafting process; letting characters develop naturally; when plot devices feel artificial; social commentary in novels; using different POVs to give more information about other characters; and introducing a bit of humour to balance the challenges characters face.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Deepti can be found on Instagram @deeptikp. 

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two queries each, discussing strong hooks; coincidences; describing a character indirectly; grief, day-to-day, and voicey-ness in the pages; submitting polished queries, character observations tying in with their story-forward intentions, characterization, covering a long time period in a story, what a frame narrative is, clarifying genre, vagueness, having a protagonist who’s both observant and self-aware, and plausibility. Plus a serious attempt is made at making someone sing.

After which, Bianca chats with Hank Phillippi Ryan, author of The House Guest, wherein, they discuss succeeding in an industry that is increasingly difficult to thrive in; the importance of a thick skin and taking constructive criticism; the pacing in Hank's novels; a non-linear timeline within chapters; Hank's starting of her novel with a solitary character; and Hank's advice for reframing your query letter.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Hank can be found at @hankpryan on Instagram and Twitter, and at www.hankphillippiryan.com

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two queries each, discussing catchy titles; voice-y and specific details in queries; using line breaks; grounding readers in the scene; using opportunities for interiority; the emotional entryway technique for any genre; ensuring a unique hook to make your story stand out in a sea of similar stories; the web effect of characters and plot points; and strong pacing.

After which, Bianca chats with Charlene Carr, author of Hold My Girl, on getting representation and the journey to publication; self-publishing; the worthiness of non-Giller winning writing; Charlene's latest novel; the Canadian setting of Charlene's novel; and having an agent from a different country.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Charlene can be found at @charlenecarrauthor on Instagram and at www.charlenecarr.com

In today’s jampacked Bonus Episode, Carly and CeCe answer all your questions, tackling the difference between trade and academic publishing; using a title that already exists; the use of historical slang in historical YA; using comps from self-published authors; the difference between the various genres of suspense novels; the potential mistakes that make it past the revision stage; the use of domain names for author websites; resubmitting a refurbished novel to the same agent; querying with a co-writer; and the difference between women's fiction, upmarket fiction, and book club fiction.

After which, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop give all the phone-in listeners various suggested comp titles.

Finally, our guest interviewer, Femi Omotade chats with Onyi Nwabineli, author of Someday, Maybe, about the inspiration behind the grief and loss in the book; writing difficult subject matter; adding humour and light and love to balance out the grief and loss and despair; her writing and publication journey; her writing process; and the main messages Onyi wants readers to take away.

Support us at https://ko-fi.com/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Onyi can be found at onyi-nwabineli.com, on Instagram at @onyiwrites, and on Twitter at @OnyiWrites

Emilie can be found at @emiliegsommer on Instagram and East City Bookshop can be found at @eastcitybookshop and at www.eastcitybookshop.com

Femi can be found at @thebookalert on Instagram

In today’s Books with Hooks, Carly, CeCe and Bianca look at two queries, in the process discussing a metafiction query letter; the idea of having characters written by other authors being used in your novel; digging deeper on a line level; originality and tropes; and the importance of specifics in interiority.

After which, Bianca chats with Audrey Burges, author of The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone, about writing humour in a darker book; how she found her agent; having connections in the writing community; not losing momentum during drafting; working with her editor after her book deal; and having a mentor through the WFWA mentorship program.

Find us on our socials:

Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyra

Instagram: @biancamarais_author @carlywatters @cece_lyra_agent @ the_shit_about_writing

Facebook: @tsnotyaw

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

Audrey can be found at audreyburges.com, on Twitter @Audrey_Burges, and on Instagram @audreyburges.