The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Amanda Peters, author of the short story collection *Waiting for the Long Night Moon*, shares her insights into storytelling. She reads a story from her collection and discusses her careful choices of point of view that create tension by letting readers know more than the characters. The conversation dives into writing emotionally weighted, quiet narratives and the problem-solving aspect of crafting a story. Peters also reflects on her journey oscillating between short fiction and novels, revealing the evolution of her storytelling process.

In this discussion, the hosts dive into the importance of cause and effect in plot points. They highlight the necessity for unexpected twists in opening pages to captivate readers. Delving into dark romance, they explore its complexities and the significance of clarity in queries. The panel also critiques character motivations and emotional stakes, stressing the balance between shock value and depth in storytelling. Practical tips for engaging dialogue and the art of delivering backstory are shared, making it essential listening for aspiring authors.

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment.After which Bianca interviews bestselling author, Coco Mellors, to discuss her latest novel, Blue Sisters. They discuss writing on the line level while using metaphor and similes to describe things in ways that no one else has expressed them before; the creation of Coco's extremely compelling prologue and how she approached writing it; writing characters who have agency and how their agency affects the plot; balancing showing vs telling, and how to make the telling feel like showing; how writing can be an act of blind faith; writing multi POV novels; the research process; and writing what you know. Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: 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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingYou can find out more information about Coco on her website at https://www.cocomellors.com/She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cocomellorsFor more information about the All About Fantasy virtual retreat, go to:https://www.biancamarais.com/all-about-fantasy.html Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15Our Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Fiona Barton, a bestselling author known for her debut novel The Widow, shares her transition from journalism to fiction and the unique journey of her latest thriller, Talking to Strangers. She discusses the importance of prologues and social commentary in her work. Jean Meltzer, a screenwriter and author of the rom-com Magical Meet Cute, dives into the significance of 'meet cute' moments, crafting authentic dialogue, and the role of secondary characters. They also explore the necessity of happy endings in romance literature and the balance between writing for oneself and for readers.

Lynne and Valerie Constantine, bestselling authors who collaborate under the pen name Liv Constantine, dive into fascinating insights on writing. They discuss their latest novel, the importance of character psychology, and the art of crafting compelling, unlikeable female protagonists. The sisters share tips on balancing suspense with originality while writing sequels and navigating high-stakes motivations that enrich storytelling. Their journey as plotters and pantsers adds an engaging perspective on character development and the craft of writing.

Claire Jiménez, an assistant professor and author celebrated for her work, *What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez*, discusses her journey in writing. She shares her unique experience of writing from multiple perspectives, revealing the complexities of character development. Claire likens publishing to a nightclub, shedding light on the surprising realities of the industry. Her pearls of wisdom for emerging writers tackle the concept of crafting the unwritten book, ensuring aspiring authors keep their creativity alive amidst the challenges.

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment.After which, Bianca interviews MK Pagano, author of the YA thriller romance, Girls Who Burn. The two discuss MK's journey to publication; the importance of knowing when to part ways with an agent, even if s/he is a good agent; MK's experience with beta readers and following your heart when it comes to editing; how MK pitched her 'romantic thriller'; deciding on characters' ages when writing YA; why MK chose first person POV for her novel; writing with a cast of characters; and MK's advice for debut authors.Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: 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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingYou can find out more information about MK on her website at https://mkpagano.com/She's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mk_pagano/ and Twitter at https://x.com/mk_paganoFor more information about the All About Fantasy Virtual Retreat, go to:https://www.biancamarais.com/all-about-fantasy.htmlCarly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15Our Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In today's Books with Hooks, we’re throwing it back to an early backlist segment.After which, CeCe speaks with her very own client, Anamely Salgado Reyes, author of My Mother Cursed My Name. They discuss Anamely's query letter to CeCe and CeCe's response to it; Anamely's experience with her first round of edits from CeCe; the inspiration behind her work; how she feels about family and friends reading a work that was loosely inspired by them; and what has surprised Anamely about publishing. Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: 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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingAnamely can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/anamelysalgado/To sign up for CeCe’s Writing Emotion Course on the 8th of August, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Aee9OAPbSNmQ8xOb52Yl4w#/registrationFor more information about the All About Fantasy Virtual Retreat, go to:https://www.biancamarais.com/all-about-fantasy.htmlCarly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15Our Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

In this month’s bonus episode, Bianca interviews Kern Carter, author of And Then There Was Us.  They discuss the different routes to publication and the differences between traditional and self publishing; how Kern worked to improve his craft while trying to land an agent; the challenges of writing from a perspective that isn’t your own, and why you might choose to do so; how he approached characterization; the importance of nailing emotionality in YA novels; the supernatural elements of And Then There Was Us; trusting your editor and agent; how Kern pitches new ideas to his agent; and all his upcoming projects. If you’re looking for our usual Q&A segment, that now gets published as part of our end of the month Substack newsletter. Subscribe to get access to that, and so much more, for free: https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com/Our Comps Segment with Emilie Sommer will return in September.Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency. Find us on our socials:Twitter: @TSNOTYAW @BiancaM_author @carlywatters @ceciliaclyraInstagram: 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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingYou can find out more information about Kern on his website at https://www.kerncarter.com/He's also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/kerncarterand Twitter at https://x.com/kerncarter Carly's course for writers, The Author's Publishing Playbook, is available at carlywatters.com/course. If you haven't grabbed it yet, podcast listeners can use discount code POD15To sign up for the Beta Reader Match Up, go to https://www.biancamarais.com/beta-reader-match-up.htmlTo sign up for CeCe’s Writing Emotion course on the 8th of August, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Aee9OAPbSNmQ8xOb52Yl4w#/registrationOur Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Join Alison Espach, a creative writing professor and author of 'Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance,' as she discusses the art of crafting characters with evolving desires. She shares insights on the pitfalls of falling into repetitive writing patterns and the genre framing of her works. The conversation delves into the unique challenges of writing a fast-paced narrative versus one over an extended time, plus the significance of a single POV in her latest book, 'The Wedding People.' Get ready for a masterclass in character development and narrative strategy!