The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Episode: Emotions—But Make It Messy
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Waters, CeCe Lyra
Guest: Casey Keira
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, host Bianca Marais welcomes author Casey Keira for a special session of the Books with Hooks segment. Joined by literary agents Carly Waters and CeCe Lyra from P.S. Literary Agency, the trio delves into Casey's debut novel, The Break of Light. The discussion centers around the intricacies of crafting authentic emotions in storytelling, ensuring plot clarity, and enhancing character development to resonate deeply with readers.
Query Letter Read and Initial Reactions
The episode kicks off with Casey Keira presenting her query letter, outlining the premise of her novel The Break of Light. The story follows Eve, a 17-year-old Irish teen with crippling anxiety, as she embarks on a perilous quest across worlds to rescue her best friend, Dani, from a realm filled with old gods and elemental magic.
Notable Quote:
"[Casey] ... 'I write this story as a reminder that being afraid doesn't mean you're not ready.'”
— Casey Keira [00:42]
Bianca praises the succinctness of the query, especially noting the effective world-building achieved in just 374 words.
Detailed Feedback from CeCe Lira
CeCe begins by commending Casey's ability to introduce information subtly, drawing parallels to professional sports where skill appears effortless.
Notable Quote:
"It would make it feel like seduction. And you have that gene, so it is very impressive."
— CeCe Lira [14:30]
However, CeCe points out that Eve's emotions appear "vanilla" and predictable, encouraging Casey to infuse more complex and "messy" emotions to add depth and intrigue.
Key Points:
- Emotional Depth: CeCe emphasizes the importance of portraying emotions that characters might not be proud of, such as envy or possessiveness, to make them more relatable and intriguing.
- Story Shift: She inquires about the shift in the story's direction, questioning whether the emotional beats lead to significant plot developments.
Detailed Feedback from Carly Waters
Carly commends the visceral and dramatic writing in Casey's sample pages but raises concerns about the scene's conclusion feeling "too bookendy," potentially reducing reader curiosity to continue.
Notable Quote:
"I couldn't wait to see what happens to her because I thought she's resilient. She just barreled down a hill on a bike and got up..."
— Carly Waters [19:46]
Key Points:
- Plot Progression: Carly suggests adding more surprising or consequential actions to maintain reader engagement.
- Character Motivation: She urges Casey to delve deeper into why Eve needs to save Dani, linking it to broader themes like anxiety and personal growth.
Author's Responses and Clarifications
Casey acknowledges the feedback, explaining that Eve's seemingly "vanilla" emotions are, in reality, underpinned by deep-seated anxiety and fear of losing her best friend. She clarifies the chosen one trope in her narrative, where Eve's initial goal to rescue Dani evolves into a more complex relationship with her guardians, who become minor antagonists.
Notable Quote:
"Her arc is somewhat learning to change, learning to embrace these things that terrify her in order to save her friend, and then probably making some major sacrifices along the way."
— Casey Keira [07:18]
Casey also reveals that additional narrative shifts occur later in the story, introducing speculative elements that signify a tonal shift in the narrative.
Discussions on Emotional Depth and Character Development
A significant portion of the conversation revolves around enhancing Eve's emotional complexity. Both CeCe and Carly advocate for portraying a range of emotions beyond anxiety, such as jealousy, possessiveness, and fear, to create a more multifaceted protagonist.
Notable Quotes:
"Messy emotions are non negotiable... You should dial up the messy emotions."
— CeCe Lira [28:51]
"There's so much happening inside this character's body that you have not unleashed in a way that I think she is too tidy."
— Carly Waters [30:40]
They discuss how messy emotions can stem from Eve's fear of change and losing her friendship, urging Casey to showcase these feelings to foster deeper reader connections.
Sample Pages Analysis
Casey provides an overview of the opening pages, depicting Eve and Dani riding bikes along an Irish cliffside. The scene establishes Eve's anxiety and her efforts to push her boundaries to keep Dani from leaving for college.
Notable Quote:
"As Dany readies to leave town for college, Eve will do anything to convince her to stay. But her plans place them in the path of a mysterious portal..."
— Casey Keira [02:51]
CeCe commends Casey's subtle introduction of characters and conflict but suggests enhancing Eve's internal reactions and power dynamics to add more depth.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
The hosts collectively agree that while Casey's writing exhibits strong foundational skills, incorporating more intricate emotional layers and ensuring plot causality will significantly elevate the story. They encourage Casey to revisit certain scenes to better showcase Eve's turmoil and motivations.
Notable Quotes:
"She did have a period of time where I was going to start the characters at the edge of the cliff and skip the bike scene entirely... But ... that bike scene portrayed all of the things that Eve loved about Dany."
— Casey Keira [31:11]
"Don't hold back, unleash your protagonist."
— CeCe Lira [32:41]
Casey expresses appreciation for the feedback, acknowledging the need to deepen Eve's emotional portrayal and consider previous drafts where Eve's frustrations were more pronounced.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with Bianca thanking Casey for her participation and acknowledging Carly and CeCe for their insightful feedback. Listeners are encouraged to engage with future segments and submit their work for critique.
Overall, this episode offers invaluable insights for emerging writers on the importance of emotional authenticity and the delicate balance of plot and character development. By highlighting the necessity of "messy" emotions and ensuring plot points drive the narrative forward, Casey Keira's journey serves as a practical example for writers aiming to craft compelling and relatable stories.
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