Podcast Summary: "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing" – May Bonus Episode

Release Date: May 26, 2025
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra
Episode: May Bonus Episode

1. Interview with Anna Mitchell

Guest: Anna Mitchell, Author of They Will Tell You the World Is Yours

Overview: Bianca Marais and co-host Carly Waters engage in an in-depth conversation with Anna Mitchell, exploring her journey from a copywriter in advertising to a published author. Anna shares insights into her transition to magazine work, her love for vignette-style storytelling, and her experiences with ghostwriting.

Key Discussions:

• Writing Background and Career Transition ([03:00]):

  • Anna Mitchell: Discusses starting as a copywriter and transitioning to freelance writing and eventually working for Magnolia Journal.
  • Quote: “Advertising kind of trained me in always wanting to write books on the side. That was always kind of the dream.”

• Vignette Format and They Will Tell You the World Is Yours ([07:45]):

  • Explains the inspiration behind using vignettes to convey complex life phases.
  • Quote: “Vignettes are like a slice of life story. It’s about taking a scene from your life and presenting it with a lyrical quality.”

• Ghostwriting Experiences ([13:13]):

  • Shares her entry into ghostwriting through connections and collaborative work.
  • Quote: “Ghostwriting can be just working on a proposal, helping organize thoughts, and translating them into words.”

• Overcoming Creative Blocks and Fear ([16:12]):

  • Discusses strategies to manage anxiety and stay true to one’s creative vision.
  • Quote: “This book has taught me that it’s about learning to live with discomfort and deciding to write no matter what.”

• Reading and Critiquing Query Letters ([23:33]):

  • Anna reads her original query letter, receiving constructive feedback from Carly.
  • Quote: “Have you read it out loud? It’s so easy to skip that step.”

2. Interview with Noreen Nunja

Guest: Noreen Nunja, Author of Uprooted

Overview: Bianca Marais welcomes Toronto-based author Noreen Nunja, who discusses her experience refining her query letter, navigating the publishing industry, and the importance of mentorship and editing in crafting her debut novel.

Key Discussions:

• Querying Process and Securing an Agent ([40:46]):

  • Details how joining the Word as Diversity Mentorship program and networking led to securing representation.
  • Quote: “Having friends who are ghostwriters threw me jobs and recommendations that helped me get started.”

• Importance of Editing and Rewriting ([49:27]):

  • Emphasizes the necessity of rigorous editing and being open to significant rewrites.
  • Quote: “My fatal flaw is that I like to kill my darlings. I love excavating my characters and story, making them more intentional.”

• Dealing with Rejection and Persistence ([54:54]):

  • Shares her feelings about receiving an R&R (Revise and Resubmit) and how it ultimately strengthened her manuscript.
  • Quote: “Deciding to trust the feedback and make the necessary changes made the book much better.”

• Navigating the Publishing Timeline and Contractual Obligations ([57:25] - [59:33]):

  • Discusses the challenges of deadlines and the emotional toll of waiting for publication.
  • Quote: “Knowing where you stand in the process and not getting swayed is crucial to not becoming a miserable person during the cycle.”

3. Interview with Laura Loeffler

Guest: Laura Loeffler, Author of Tell Them You Lied

Overview: Laura Loeffler delves into her writing journey, the evolution of her novel Tell Them You Lied, and the intricacies of dual-timeline storytelling. She also shares her experiences with revisions, dealing with tough feedback, and the emotional aspects of publishing.

Key Discussions:

• Writing Journey and Dual Timelines ([40:57]):

  • Explains how dual timelines enrich the narrative by exploring character development across different periods.
  • Quote: “One timeline portrays the past, allowing readers to understand the foundation of the present circumstances.”

• Revising Based on Feedback ([43:15] - [46:24]):

  • Describes how mentorship and editorial feedback led to significant changes in her manuscript.
  • Quote: “Receiving feedback that I needed to up the tension and make it more of a thriller gave me permission to let go and focus on the story.”

• Handling Rejections and Persistence ([48:22] - [52:18]):

  • Reflects on the non-response from her initial agent and the resilience required to find the right representation.
  • Quote: “I realized that nobody has a cakewalk. It’s just not that kind of industry.”

• Incorporating Feedback and Structural Changes ([53:05] - [56:09]):

  • Discusses refining the dual timelines with the help of editors and beta readers to maintain pacing and relevance.
  • Quote: “Strengthening the past by ensuring every scene shines without repetition was key to maintaining momentum.”

• Publicity and Emotional Challenges ([110:06] - [112:22]):

  • Shares her apprehensions about publicity and the unexpected decision to offer both hardcover and paperback formats.
  • Quote: “Holding the book in my hands felt surreal. It’s a culmination of so much hard work and anticipation.”

4. May Comps Segment with Emily Summer

Contributor: Emily Summer, East City Bookshop

Overview: Emily Summer assists listeners in finding comparable titles ("comps") for their manuscripts across various genres, offering recommendations based on descriptions provided by callers. This segment includes tailored suggestions for genres such as theatrical thrillers, mystical mysteries, contemporary romance, and more.

Notable Comp Recommendations:

• For Theatrical Thrillers:

  • If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
  • Murder Takes the Stage by Colleen Cambridge
  • The Appeal by Janice Hallett

• For Comedic Mysteries:

  • Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson
  • The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

• For Multi-POV Literary Thrillers:

  • We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter
  • Correspondent by Virginia Evans

• For Gritty Historical Novels and Wilderness Survival:

  • Antidote by Karen Russell
  • One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig
  • One of Us by Dan Shawn

Key Insights:

• Selecting Appropriate Comps: The importance of choosing titles that closely match the tone, setting, and thematic elements of one's manuscript.
• Balancing Genre Elements: Ensuring that recommended comps align not just in plot but also in stylistic and tonal nuances.

Quote:
Emily Summer emphasizes the role of comps in understanding market positioning:
"It's like finding the right piece of the puzzle that fits your story's unique blend of genres and themes." ([116:37])

5. Additional Segments and Announcements

While the primary focus of the episode is on guest interviews and the comps segment, there are periodic announcements related to upcoming courses and events hosted by CeCe Lira, such as her upcoming course Writing Emotion and Relationships.

Note: Advertisements, introductory remarks, and other non-content segments have been omitted in accordance with the summary guidelines.

Conclusion: The May Bonus Episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing offers a wealth of insights from established authors navigating the complexities of the publishing industry. Through candid interviews, discussions on writing techniques, and tailored comp recommendations, listeners gain valuable knowledge to aid their own writing and publishing journeys. The episode underscores the importance of resilience, constructive feedback, and strategic planning in achieving success as an author.

For those who wish to delve deeper into the topics discussed, listening to the full episode is highly recommended.