Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
December Bonus Episode (Aired December 26, 2025)
Overview
This special year-end episode offers writers an exclusive peek into the workings of a literary agency meeting—specifically, the Wendy Sherman Associates (WSA) team. Host Bianca Marais (author and literary agent) gathers a powerhouse panel: veteran founder Wendy Sherman, Vice President Charisse Fisher, west coast editor Laura Mazer, and agent Callie Dietrich. Their open conversation covers trend-spotting, author-agent-editor relationships, the evolving demands in publishing, professional predictions, and heartfelt advice for writers heading into 2026. Plus, with the signature Books with Hooks comp-title segment and a rollicking game of “Never Have I Ever,” the mood is both insightful and inviting.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Welcome & Agency Introductions
Bianca Marais sets the stage for a unique, "fly-on-the-wall" agency meeting:
“I want all our listeners...to be able to say that you got to listen in on a literary agency's meeting.” (03:33)
- Each WSA agent introduces themselves, sharing tidbits and teasing team dynamics.
2. Market Trends: Romantasy, Genre Diversification, and Editor Nuance
Callie Dietrich raises the Romantasy trend:
- Will it soon saturate or is there still space for growth?
- Charisse shares student excitement and loyalty for fantasy, emphasizing,
“The actual people who read it are very attached to the genre and to the whole idea of world building.” (06:12)
- Wendy Sherman: Industry professionals must predict two years ahead; trends evolve, so agents should diversify and follow their instincts.
- Laura advocates trying only “one new category at a time” for agent growth and focus. (08:35)
Wendy Sherman:
“You can't put all your stock in one thing, because then if that thing is over, you're stuck with the wrong basket.” (10:01)
3. Agent Collaboration & Whisper Networks
- The WSA team values internal and external collaboration.
- Laura describes the wider agent/editor “whisper network”—where friendship helps match projects to editors, supplementing formal research:
“The rest of us, I think are very share and share, like with information.” (13:12)
4. Expanding Author and Agent Roles in Marketing
Charisse Fisher details the pre-order campaign and cover reveal process:
- Authors now shoulder more responsibility for marketing and visibility, with agents frequently coaching them on strategy, self-presentation, and more:
“There’s so many more expectations on our authors in terms of marketing than…before.” (15:51)
- Agents are now also ‘set designers’ and coaches, adapting to the changing landscape.
Wendy Sherman:
“It’s where we get to be all things to all people. The authors have to do the same. And I think, frankly, the editors have to do the same thing.” (16:35)
Laura Mazer on support:
“If we don't have visibility for the book, people can't buy it…It used to be that publishers...could get visibility for it...Today...there’s no guarantee.” (17:18)
5. What Makes a Good Agent–Author Relationship?
- Consensus: Good agents don’t disappear after the sale.
- Laura, a former acquisitions editor, reveals she saw many agents drop off post-sale—unwise in a world where so many decisions get made after the contract is signed:
“That can work. But there's a little bit of luck involved...It's unlikely the author will catch it on their own.” (25:17)
- The ideal agent stays looped in, anticipates problems, and is ever-available to advocate.
Bianca:
“I always tell my clients, CCing me is my love language.” (27:01)
6. The Harsh Realities: Orphaned Books, Editorial Shifts, and Team Advocacy
- If an acquiring editor leaves before publication, agents act as the author’s permanent advocate.
- Multiple agents stress the importance of having the full imprint behind a book, not just one editor.
Charisse:
“If you have the support of the entire imprint...there’s still a foundation.” (29:57)
7. End-of-Year Pressures and the Myth of the "Publishing Slowdown"
- Despite beliefs that publishing slows down in December, WSA agents describe packed schedules.
- Biancas: “We are supposed to be slowing down. Okay? Meanwhile, we're each super busy...” (31:58)
- Warm anecdotes about editor lunches and networking as the fun side of publishing.
8. “The Old Days” and Publishing Nostalgia (Audience Q&A, 36:53–43:20)
One-liner answers:
- Wendy: “I would bring back time—a more luxurious pace.”
- Charisse: “Being able to pick up the phone and talk spontaneously.”
- Laura & Callie: “Bring back Book Expo America (BEA)!” (39:36)
- Bianca: “More media outlets for books, with actual budgets.”
9. Editor Turnover Explained (Audience Q&A, 43:41–47:20)
- Editors move jobs constantly— Laura attributes this to profit instability (“follow the money”):
“Editors live with that instability...If you’re a smart editor...you might want to make a little leap where it looks like the ground is a little more stable.” (44:07)
- Career growth also typically demands a move.
- Publishing’s long book timelines worsen the impact.
10. On Agent “Frenemy” Dynamics (Q&A, 49:50)
- Wendy: Agents can be friends; slight competitive edge is natural but not the same as being frenemies.
11. Never Have I Ever: Agents’ Honesty Time (60:30–65:00)
A light-hearted, revealing rapid-fire segment. Sample confessions:
- All have made friends with clients.
- Most have submitted “unsellable” books—against the odds.
- Universal cringe at client social media posts.
- Two millennials admit AI-related anxiety (61:51)
- Several have been “tempted” to poach another agent's client (62:21)
Bianca (tongue-in-cheek):
“Temptation is defined by a desire in your heart. A strong desire in your heart. I am calling bullshit on everyone. Anyone who's not drinking. I don't believe you.” (62:33)
12. Writer Guidance for 2026 (66:05–70:20)
Each agent shares a message for authors:
- Callie: “Follow submission guidelines. It only takes one person to believe in you.”
- Laura: “Being here already puts you head and shoulders above most submissions.”
- Charisse: “Thank you for showing up for yourselves and doing the work.”
- Wendy: “You don’t need validation from agents... Putting in the effort is beautiful.”
Bianca: Suggests making a specific investment in writing in 2026, something within your control.
13. Big Bets: Publishing Predictions for 2026 (54:07–58:28)
- Callie: Publishers will pay more attention to Substack, follow engagement over sheer numbers, crave “uplifting” escapism.
- Laura: Books with “big, noisy, urgent” drama will thrive; ‘quiet’ books will be harder to place.
- Charisse: Predicts a wave of “quirky” books shaped by young, nostalgia-seeking readers.
- Wendy: Publishing’s core truth: “Good quality will always rise to the top.”
14. Book Recommendations for the New Year (72:29–77:18)
- Wendy: The Correspondent – “Word of mouth still works. You don't have to get launched out of the gate as a bestseller.”
- Charisse: Sorry in Advance for Making Things Awkward by Disappointing Affirmations creators—“Perfect for a gift or party.”
- Laura: Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell – “Read it before seeing the film adaptation.”
- Callie: Blair Horton's Mocktail Cookbook – “Great for dry January and gorgeous photography.”
- Bianca (cheeky plug): A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais – “Glass Onion meets Succession.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On collaboration and support:
“Publishing is not a zero sum game. We're all in it together. There's always room for more good books.” – Laura Mazer (12:13)
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On agents disappearing post-sale:
“The agents sell a book and then they come back when the book is ready to [publish]…It was very common, I’m sorry to say, very common, that agents would sell the book and then disappear.” – Laura Mazer (20:04)
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On industry change:
“There’s so many more expectations on our authors in terms of marketing than there ever has been before… And consequently, there’s so much more we as agents are expected to do.” – Charisse Fisher (15:51)
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On trend prediction:
“Good books are good books, and will always find a way to the marketplace.” – Wendy Sherman (56:58)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 03:33: Start of agency meeting, team intros
- 05:05: Romantasy trend and genre diversification discussion
- 13:12: Collaborative “whisper network” insights
- 15:51: Discussion of increased author/agent marketing responsibilities
- 20:04–27:36: The agent’s post-contract role
- 29:57: On imprint enthusiasm and book “orphaning”
- 36:53: “Old days” nostalgia roundtable
- 43:41: Why do editors move jobs?
- 49:50: Agent friendships vs. frenemies
- 54:07: 2026 predictions
- 60:30: Never Have I Ever (fun/confessional game)
- 66:05: Messages to writers for 2026
- 72:29: Book recommendations segment
Tone & Language
The conversation is candid, collegial, and supportive—alternating between sage advice and playful banter. The WSA team demystifies agenting and publishing, offering tough truths but with warmth and humor. The “Never Have I Ever” game brings in lighthearted confessions, affirming the team’s openness and trust.
Books with Hooks: Comp Title Segment (77:23–100:08)
Emily Summer (bookstore pro) delivers personalized “comp title” recommendations for listener works-in-progress, offering up-to-date suggestions and commentary on finding market-appropriate comparisons for YA, romance, upmarket, historical, and even horror manuscripts.
Closing Reflections
- Writers are reminded to persevere, network, and invest in their craft—success is about resilience, learning, and professional relationships as much as writing itself.
- The episode closes with heartfelt thanks and a call to stay engaged for more insights in the coming year:
“Remember, it just takes one yes.” – Bianca Marais (101:30)
Want more? Find each agent’s top manuscript wishlist items pinned at @wsaliterary on Instagram or via wsherman.com.
For emerging writers seeking a blueprint for the creative journey—and an unvarnished look inside the machinery of “the business”—this episode delivers inspiration, strategy, and a few much-needed laughs.