The podcast discusses topics such as crafting compelling query letters, creating morally ambiguous characters, exploring complex themes in YA literature, the power of strong female representation, and the challenges of losing control of the narrative.

Guest Jean Kwok, NYT Bestselling Author, discusses her journey to publication, the importance of choosing the right agent, rejections as doorways, imposter syndrome, preserving integrity, and reverse outlining favorite books.

In today's Books with Hooks, Carly and CeCe critique two query letters. During which, they discuss how specificity can make your novel seem more realistic; the challenges with switching between different types of narration; a prologue that CeCe likes; the depth that interiority adds to dialogue; and the difficulty with relying on a character's memory to create a plot.After which, Bianca interviews Nicolas DiDomizio, author of Burn it All Down and The Gay Best Friend. The two discuss the story behind James Patterson blurbing Nicolas' debut novel and how that helped a book with zero comps get published; the marketing strategy for The Gay Best Friend; what Nick learned from adapting his latest novel to a screenplay; how he took a crash course in screenplay writing; deciding what scenes from the novel had to be kept or removed from the screenplay; and the differences in writing a screenplay versus a novel.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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAWMore information about Nicolas can be found at: https://nicolasdidomizio.com/He is also on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/nicdidomiziobooks/?hl=enOur 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 bumper October Bonus Episode, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop kicks us off with suggested comp titles.After which, Jessica Knoll joins Carly to talk about Bright Young Women. They also discuss opening pages and prologues; the book vs the audio version; violence on the page; the power in naming things we typically shy away from; the internet and social media as a tool for authors; influences and inspiration; being a part of screen adaptations and filming; and being in a healthy creative space. After which, we do a deep dive in memoirs!Bianca interviews Tove Danovich, journalist and author of the chicken-keeping memoir and animal welfare reporting book, Under the Henfluence. They discuss Tove's journey in publishing a book that encompasses two very difficult genres to market and sell (non-fiction and memoir); writing a proposal for a book that is largely unique and difficult to comp; blending anecdotal humour with animal welfare reporting; the structure of Tove's memoir; and Tove's advice for memoirists.Bianca then chats with Natalie Maclean, journalist and author of the memoir, Wine Witch on Fire. They discuss what inspired Natalie to write a memoir about such a difficult time in her life; starting with the "inciting incident"; how to balance writing your truth with still being mindful of the potential legal ramifications of doing so; when to consult with lawyers and who covers that cost; and the witch-related structure and theme of the book.Finally, in the Q&A segment, Carly and CeCe answer all your burning questions!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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAWTo 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 Jessica Knoll can be found athttps://www.jessicaknoll.com/. She's on Instagram @jessicaknollauthor and TikTok @jessicaknollauthor.Tove Danovich is on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/tovekdanovich/?hl=enHer chickens can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/bestlittlehenhouse/More information about Natalie Maclean can be found at: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/ and https://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/books/wine-witch-on-fire/Her newsletter can be found at: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/newsletters/archive/She’s also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nataliemacleanwine/Our 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 bumper October Bonus Episode, Emilie Sommer of East City Bookshop kicks us off with suggested comp titles.After which, Jessica Knoll joins Carly to talk about Bright Young Women. They also discuss opening pages and prologues; the book vs the audio version; violence on the page; the power in naming things we typically shy away from; the internet and social media as a tool for authors; influences and inspiration; being a part of screen adaptations and filming; and being in a healthy creative space.After which, we do a deep dive in memoirs!Bianca interviews Tove Danovich, journalist and author of the chicken-keeping memoir and animal welfare reporting book, Under the Henfluence. They discuss Tove's journey in publishing a book that encompasses two very difficult genres to market and sell (non-fiction and memoir); writing a proposal for a book that is largely unique and difficult to comp; blending anecdotal humour with animal welfare reporting; the structure of Tove's memoir; and Tove's advice for memoirists.Bianca then chats with Natalie Maclean, journalist and author of the memoir, Wine Witch on Fire. They discuss what inspired Natalie to write a memoir about such a difficult time in her life; starting with the "inciting incident"; how to balance writing your truth with still being mindful of the potential legal ramifications of doing so; when to consult with lawyers and who covers that cost; and the witch-related structure and theme of the book.Finally, in the Q&A segment, Carly and CeCe answer all your burning questions!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 w ww.cecilialyra.comBookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAWTo 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 Jessica Knoll can be found athttps://www.jessicaknoll.com/. She's on Instagram @jessicaknollauthor and TikTok @jessicaknollauthor.Tove Danovich is on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/tovekdanovich/?hl=enHer chickens can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/bestlittlehenhouse/More information about Natalie Maclean can be found at: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/ and https://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/books/wine-witch-on-fire/Her newsletter can be found at: https://www.nataliemaclean.com/newsletters/archive/She’s also on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nataliemacleanwine/Our Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Johnny Hobson, a podcast listener, joins Carly and CeCe to discuss query letters and writing techniques. They talk about avoiding a synopsis-heavy query, showing the protagonism of a main character, breaking down love scenes, starting a novel in a non-ideal situation, and writing alternate history. Karma Brown, author of What Wild Women Do, discusses the novel's idea, outlining, getting feedback, epistolary elements, dual POV structure, and positive self-talk.

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 @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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingTo ask a question, go to: https://sayhi.chat/TSNOTYAWMore 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/@chantelguertinOur Sponsors:* Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Author Hannah Mary McKinnon, pen name Holly Cassidy, discusses writing an opening chapter, tips for balancing dialogue and disposition, setting up stakes for the protagonist, and approach to negative reviews. Hosts critique submissions, discuss including hooks in queries, personifying the antagonist, and polished scene-level pages. They also discuss power dynamics in storytelling, changing genres, and balancing information in the opening chapter. Additionally, they address reader reactions to explicit content and promote upcoming events and websites.

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 @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/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwritingMore information about Heather can be found at www.ramonaausubel.com. She's on Twitter @hdixonwriter and Instagram @heatherdixonwriter.Our 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 podcast, Carly and CeCe critique and discuss a listener's query letter and pages, offering feedback on plot, character setup, and word choices. They also analyze the debut novel 'The Christmas Orphans Club,' praising the author's ability to subvert expectations and craft engaging humor. The hosts explore developing non-POV characters and the importance of striking the right balance of humor in writing. The episode ends with discussions about future projects.