Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
Episode Title: Exploring the Critical to Compassionate Spectrum
Date: August 21, 2025
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, CeCe Lyra
Purpose: A deep-dive critique and compassionate analysis of writers’ query letters and novel openings, with actionable advice for emerging authors.
Overview:
This episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing focuses on the spectrum of critical to compassionate feedback in the world of fiction writing. Hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe, all seasoned industry professionals, discuss the importance of creating curiosity in storytelling, review two new query letters with their associated opening pages, and offer targeted advice on interiority, world-building, and pitching.
Key Discussion Points & Insights:
1. The Spectrum: Critique to Compassion in Writing Feedback
- Theme: Both query critiques and manuscript feedback sit on a spectrum from critical (pointing out flaws for improvement) to compassionate (building up confidence and fostering growth).
- CeCe Lira emphasizes: “The best way to get ahead in your writing career is to know how to make your reader curious. That’s what keeps us reading." (01:32)
2. Books with Hooks: Query Letter and First Pages Critiques
A. Query 1: “A Body at Rest” by Jesse Capel Tranto
(Historical Mystery, 1945, word count: 94,000)
Synopsis: Dr. Robert Franklin, a physicist ousted from the Manhattan Project, becomes the prime suspect in a university murder tied to Cold War paranoia and silent film secrets.
Query Discussion
- Title Doubts:
- Carly: “The title sounds a little bit like nonfiction to me… Like The Body Keeps the Score. It made me think I was going to get productivity advice.” (05:48)
- Comp Titles Lacking Recency:
- Carly: “None of these are within the past three to five years. ... Find your book’s contemporary cohort.” (07:44)
- Connection Issues:
- Carly: “I just don’t see the connection between the espionage, Cold War world and the silent film history. ... I definitely want to see the connection to get more excited about this project.” (06:26)
- Strengths:
- CeCe: “Fantastic first plot paragraph… You’ve really shown us the dominoes tipping over.” (08:43)
- CeCe: “Great job of focusing on plot points and escalating the stakes.”
- Query Weaknesses:
- CeCe: “Then you zoom out too much. What does the silent film history have to do with nuclear research and the murder?” (09:57)
- Advice: Focus on next complications, hold off on themes and zoom out less ("Delete that line and focus on the next complication… stop right before the climax." 10:55)
Opening Pages Critique
- Prologue effectiveness:
- Carly: “It was really atmospheric. I felt like I was there.” (13:40)
- Quote from the opening: “They found her just after sunset, sprawled at the base of Van Nattis Dam. Where Six Mile Creek runs wild.” (14:23)
- Missing Detective Interiority:
- Carly: “I just would have liked a little bit more internal tension from our hero… At the end, I wrote, truly, no one has another theory?” (15:21, 15:44)
- Character Nuance:
- CeCe: “He thinks about these officers in the exact same way. That is neither believable nor intelligent to the story... You want contrast.” (16:39)
- Interior Spectrum Tip:
- CeCe introduces: “The compassionate to critical spectrum... Show it in interiority, especially how the chief reacts to judgmental dialogue.” (16:39)
- Believability Detail:
- CeCe: “No way someone is noticing the fur-trimmed coat and not also the shoes… Maybe her feet could be covered—and uncovered later for a reveal?” (19:46)
B. Query 2: “Beneath the Waves of the Labyrinth Sea”
(YA/Adult Epic Fantasy, word count: 97,000)
Synopsis: Vesper scavenges underwater treasures to care for her comatose brother, gets involved in a treasure hunt for a magical artifact, and must navigate shifting alliances and betrayals.
Query Discussion
- Strong Story Setup:
- CeCe: “You have the diving accident, which establishes a vulnerable she needs to protect. That is an excellent storytelling hack.” (27:01)
- Clarity Issues:
- CeCe: “Why does Alexander need Vesper? I don’t get it... The framing of the twist is a little passive right now.” (27:32)
- CeCe: “She just met this crew. If the stakes are her brother’s life vs. theirs, why not just save her brother?” (28:27)
- Comp Titles:
- Carly: “Blood Heir is an older title... Pirates of the Caribbean is quite dated. With so many fantasy novels out now, there must be more current comps.” (30:47)
- Logline Praise:
- Carly: “Four criminals, four wishes, one artifact. That’s a really good logline.” (31:14)
- World Connection Needs:
- Carly: “Still not seeing how they need each other... What is it about this world and this situation that’s different than every other?” (32:32)
Opening Pages Critique
- Prologue Feedback:
- CeCe: “The prologue needs to go… Without interiority, we can’t connect. There’s a misconception that starting with action draws you in, but it’s depth and psychological acuity.” (34:59)
- Carly: “The thief was dying, but he still ran—great line. But if I can take or leave the prologue, maybe it should go.” (40:32)
- World Building and Mechanics:
- Carly: “I needed to know... what the relationship was between this world and technology. I couldn’t understand, was she part fish?” (41:49)
- Interiority Needs:
- CeCe: “I’m clear on the scene and mechanics, but not on Vesper’s psyche. Why does she need to sell something specifically—what is she catastrophizing?” (34:59)
- Advice: Reference A Court of Thorns and Roses for how to integrate stakes, emotion, and specificity from the start.
- Positive Worldbuilding:
- CeCe: “Your world-building is subtle and clear, not overwritten at all. That’s rare! Don’t over-explain.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On creating curiosity:
- CeCe Lyra (01:32): “As long as your story is making the reader curious, you’re good.”
- On balancing critique:
- CeCe Lyra (16:39): “The compassionate to critical spectrum... It’s really important to show where your protagonist falls on that—and to have diversity in your story when it comes to this spectrum.”
- On query structure:
- CeCe Lyra (09:57): “You've done this great job of really focusing in on the plot points... then you zoom out. Sometimes zooming out can be great, but I think you zoomed out too much.”
- Atmospheric writing praise:
- Carly Watters (13:40): “It was really atmospheric. I felt like I was there.”
- On prologues:
- Carly Watters (13:32): “Ooh, prologue. It’s like saying, ooh, Mufasa.”
- On subtle world-building:
- CeCe Lyra (34:59): “You’re not explaining too much. That’s amazing. But don’t forget to give us access to her psyche.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:29: CeCe introduces the theme of curiosity in storytelling.
- 03:23 – 12:06: “A Body at Rest” query read and detailed critique.
- 12:39 – 20:56: “A Body at Rest” opening pages discussion—atmosphere, interiority, plausibility.
- 24:50 – 33:02: “Beneath the Waves of the Labyrinth Sea” query read and detailed critique.
- 33:06 – 44:02: “Beneath the Waves…” opening pages discussion—prologue utility, world-building, character interiority.
Actionable Takeaways for Writers
- In queries: Be explicit about the connections between plot elements. Don’t zoom out too much; focus on domino-effect complications up to the climax.
- With interiority: Consistently show your protagonist’s internal reactions—especially against background dialogue and action. Use the “critical to compassionate spectrum” to add nuance.
- With prologues: Only keep a prologue if it offers emotional and psychological engagement, not just action or world history.
- With world-building: Strive for subtlety, but ensure readers have just enough information to feel grounded.
- On comps: Use recently published comp titles; showcase your knowledge of the current market.
Final Thoughts
This episode is a masterclass in blending sharp critical insight with practical, compassionate advice for fiction writers. Writers are encouraged not only to think about story stakes and atmosphere but also to open a window into character psychology, thus transforming good pages into gripping, memorable reads.