Podcast Summary: "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing"

Episode: November Bonus Episode: Comps Title Segment
Release Date: November 25, 2024
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra
Guest: Emily Summer from East City Bookshop

Overview

In the November Bonus Episode of "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing," hosts Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra delve into an extensive Comps Title Segment, where they address 19 comp requests from emerging writers. This segment serves as a valuable resource for authors seeking comparable titles to bolster their query letters and pitch their manuscripts effectively. Emily Summer from East City Bookshop joins the hosts to provide insights and engage with the writers' requests.

Segment Breakdown

1. Introduction to the Comps Segment

• Bianca Marais (00:00): Opens the segment with enthusiasm about the Deep Dive Virtual Retreat, highlighting the impressive lineup of authors, editors, and agents. She emphasizes the retreat's value for writers at any stage of their journey.

• Hosts Welcome Emily Summer: Bianca introduces Emily, who brings an expert perspective to the comp suggestions, enhancing the segment's credibility.

2. Comp Requests and Recommendations

The segment features a series of authors presenting their manuscript summaries and seeking comparable titles. The hosts, alongside Emily, provide tailored comp suggestions to assist each author in refining their pitches.

a. Hazel Deevey's Good Goodbye

Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Summary: Follows Hazel, a coffee shop owner with high masking autism, navigating the end of her lease and rekindling feelings for her best friend, Seamus.

• Carly Watters (02:30): “I love the title ‘Good Goodbye.’ It captures the emotional essence perfectly.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
  • Flying Solo by Linda Holmes
  • Works by Helen Hoang and Chloe Hoeks (noted for neurodivergent protagonists)

b. Protocol for Lost Souls

Genre: Commercial Fiction with Paranormal Speculative Twist
Summary: Centers on Casey, who discovers her newborn is the reincarnation of her late wife, drawing the family into a government conspiracy.

• CeCe Lyra (05:45): “‘Protocol for Lost Souls’ explores profound themes of parental love and legacy.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Where the Forest Meets the Stars by Glendy Vanderhoof
  • Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore
  • Works by Matt Haig for their commercial appeal and speculative elements

c. Contemporary Crime Novel in Dartmoor

Genre: Crime/Mystery
Summary: A mentally ill protagonist with damaged memory must solve a murder in Dartmoor before being framed herself.

• Bianca Marais (08:15): “The snappy narrative voice is what makes this book stand out.”

• Suggested Comp:

  • Listen to the Lie by Amy Tintera

• Additional Insights: Emphasis on the protagonist’s unreliable memory and first-person POV.

d. Speculative Thriller Seeking Comps

Genre: Speculative Thriller
Summary: Follows Wren, a drifter with supernatural abilities, as she navigates protecting her loved one amidst dark forces.

• Carly Watters (12:00): “‘Sense8’ and ‘The OA’ vibes are strong here.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Girl One for speculative thrills
  • Bridge by Lauren Bukis for multiverse elements and friendship dynamics

e. Literary Suspense with Speculative Elements

Genre: Literary Suspense
Summary: Three estranged friends receive cryptic emails from a deceased classmate, prompting a reunion to uncover the past.

• CeCe Lyra (16:20): “Dark humor blended with literary depth makes this a compelling narrative.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Long and Far Away Gone by Louie Lopez Pena
  • The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers

f. YA Mystery Novel Featuring Gemma Black

Genre: Young Adult Mystery
Summary: Gemma Black investigates a stalled police case regarding her classmate's murder, believing the wrong person was convicted.

• Bianca Marais (20:45): “‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ is a perfect match for this narrative.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson
  • Books by Karen McManus and Maureen Johnson

g. Women's Fiction with Themes of Emotional Trauma

Genre: Upmarket Literary Fiction
Summary: A successful woman grapples with resurfacing family issues when an estranged sister re-enters her life.

• Carly Watters (25:10): “Emotional depth and family healing are central themes here.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Tell by Amy Griffin (Memoir-style but reads like a novel)

h. Literary Speculative Novella About Books

Genre: Literary Speculative Fiction
Summary: A conservator is blackmailed into authenticating a forged book, facing moral dilemmas in a world where books are out of print.

• CeCe Lyra (29:30): “‘Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell’ vibes with a dark academia touch.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke
  • Novellas by Seanan McGuire

i. YA Speculative Western

Genre: Young Adult Speculative Western
Summary: Brett, a 15-year-old with a unique shadow-casting ability, escapes a puritanical leader to find a new home while navigating friendships and romance.

• Bianca Marais (34:55): “Blending Western tropes with speculative elements is a fresh approach.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan
  • The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsai by Tom Lin
  • Outlawed by Anna North

j. Adult Dark Fiction - Cult of Serial Killers

Genre: Dark Fiction/Thriller
Summary: Tracks a cult of serial killers who create art from their victims, told through multiple POVs including the detective hunting them.

• Carly Watters (40:20): “The anti-hero perspective adds complexity to the narrative.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • You by Caroline Kepnes
  • Dexter series
  • Love Letters to a Serial Killer by Tasha Corbeil

k. Adult Hard Sci-Fi - Colonizing Alien Planet

Genre: Hard Science Fiction
Summary: Scientists colonize a planet inhabited by alien dinosaurs, focusing on coexistence with the planet's biosphere.

• CeCe Lyra (45:00): “Optimism in sci-fi brings a fresh narrative perspective.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Works by Connie Willis and John Scalzi for their hopeful and witty sci-fi approach

l. Women's Fiction with Romance and Adventure in Alaska

Genre: Women's Fiction/Romance/Adventure
Summary: A successful woman confronts her troubled past and seeks reinvention while dealing with climate change themes in rural Alaska.

• Bianca Marais (50:15): “Combining romance with environmental themes offers depth to the story.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Whiteout by Adrianna Anders
  • Something Wilder by Christina Lauren
  • Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaughey

m. Historical Murder Mystery Set in Cape Verde Islands

Genre: Historical Mystery
Summary: In the 1800s Cape Verde islands, a young woman must solve her friend's murder amidst colonial conflicts and natural history collecting.

• Carly Watters (55:40): “Balancing light and dark tones creates a compelling mystery.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Murder in Old Bombay by Nev March
  • The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey

n. Historical Fiction with Romantic Undercurrents

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Summary: Spanning dual timelines, the story explores complex family dynamics and identity in early 20th-century Newfoundland and 1970s London.

• CeCe Lyra (60:05): “Dual timelines enhance the depth and richness of the narrative.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
  • Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead

o. Middle Grade Fantasy in a Climate-Adapted Future

Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Summary: In a future balancing natural world with preternaturals, a 12-year-old with failing missions teams up with a typical to expose a climate disruption plot.

• Bianca Marais (65:20): “Grounded character voices make heavy themes accessible.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet
  • The Marvelers by Dhonielle Clayton

p. Feminist Retelling of Ancient Mesopotamian Legend

Genre: Historical Fiction/Feminist Retelling
Summary: Inspired by Mesopotamian legends, it follows Amata, a weaver fighting patriarchal constraints to protect her family and her own voice.

• Carly Watters (70:35): “Empowering female protagonists resonate deeply with readers.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Wayward by Amelia Hart
  • Works by Jennifer Saint, Natalie Haynes, Genevieve Gornicek, and Pat Barker

q. Upmarket Fiction with Humor and Suspense in the 1970s

Genre: Upmarket Fiction/Humor/Suspense
Summary: Lou, a college dropout, navigates the counterculture of the Pacific Northwest while grappling with personal relationships and social activism.

• CeCe Lyra (75:50): “Blending humor with activism offers a unique narrative tension.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer
  • Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

r. Contemporary Novel Tackling Gun Laws and Moral Dilemmas

Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Drama
Summary: An Olympic biathlete faces legal and emotional turmoil after shooting an armed intruder in her classroom.

• Bianca Marais (80:05): “Courtroom drama intertwines with personal moral crises.”

• Suggested Comps:

  • Evvy Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
  • We Are the Light by Matthew Quick

Community Engagement and Final Thoughts

Throughout the segment, the hosts encourage writers to engage via their Instagram page, fostering a collaborative community where authors can contribute and receive feedback on their comp requests. Bianca emphasizes the importance of submitting working titles for better comp alignment, while CeCe highlights the value of community input in shaping authors' suggestions.

Bianca Marais (95:30): “Our community thrives on crowdsourcing and shared insights.”

The episode concludes with a reminder to listeners about the upcoming break in December and instructions on how to submit comp requests moving forward. Finally, Bianca reiterates the promotion of their Deep Dive Virtual Retreat, celebrating its lineup of esteemed literary figures.

Notable Quotes

• Bianca Marais (02:30): “I love the title ‘Good Goodbye.’ It captures the emotional essence perfectly.”

• CeCe Lyra (16:20): “Dark humor blended with literary depth makes this a compelling narrative.”

• Carly Watters (40:20): “The anti-hero perspective adds complexity to the narrative.”

• Bianca Marais (50:15): “Combining romance with environmental themes offers depth to the story.”

Conclusion

This bonus episode serves as an invaluable toolkit for writers seeking to enhance their query letters and market their manuscripts effectively. By providing tailored comp suggestions across a diverse range of genres and themes, Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra, with the assistance of Emily Summer, empower emerging authors to position their work within the literary landscape confidently. The episode not only offers practical advice but also fosters a sense of community and shared growth among its listeners.

Stay Connected:
For ongoing support and resources, writers are encouraged to visit theshitaboutwriting.com and follow the hosts on their Substack newsletter for weekly updates, bonus content, and more.