Podcast Summary

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Episode: Shooting The Shit About Auctions, That Post, and The Right Resources
Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Bianca Marais (bestselling author), Carly Watters & CeCe Lyra (literary agents)

Main Theme

This episode is an informal yet insightful conversation between literary agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra. They “shoot the shit” about current happenings in publishing—from gossip and bestseller list trends, to navigating industry layoffs, the reality (and misconceptions) of book auctions, a controversial publishing thinkpiece, and advice for writers seeking resources. Their banter is laced with honesty, humor, and a candid look at life behind the scenes both as agents and publishing professionals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Catch-Up and Vacation Mode (01:04–06:52)

• Evening recording: The hosts mention this is their first time recording in the evening, leading to amusing discussion about wine and travel fatigue.
  • Carly shares her travel woes: She recounts a 24-hour ordeal getting home from vacation: “I had 240 emails waiting for me” (02:24).
• Vacation reads: Carly lists the books enjoyed on her trip, including The Correspondent, Heart of the Lover, The Irish Goodbye, and The Long Game.
• Balancing work & breaks: Both discuss learning to actually take vacations, put on out-of-office messages, and trust their teams—a big adjustment for agents used to constant availability.

Memorable Quote

“I got multiple starred reviews for clients. I got to announce a book deal...all this other stuff kind of coming in that was just really nice.”
— Carly Watters (04:30)

2. Book and TV Talk (06:52–09:39)

• TV series bingeing: CeCe shares her enjoyment of "Ponies," a Cold War spy series, and "Stolen," featuring actors from Game of Thrones.
• Heated Rivalry TV discussion: CeCe gives her honest take: “I watched the first episode...I didn’t fall in love with it.” (06:52) Carly explains the pacing is true to the book and encourages a second episode, noting that “the choppiness starts to kind of relax” (07:13).
• On reader’s pull: CeCe uses the “pull” test for stories—if she’s not eager to return to a book or show, it’s unlikely she’ll continue.

Memorable Quote

“Yearning is why we watch these shows.”
— CeCe Lyra (07:05)

3. Book Signing Anecdotes (09:39–10:16)

• CeCe recounts facilitating a friend’s request for several signed books by Bianca Marais as a heartfelt birthday gift—emphasizing how much authors appreciate genuine enthusiasm for their work.
  • “Find me an author who doesn’t love it when someone’s gifting their book in this milestone birthday.” (09:39)

4. Industry News: Layoffs & Promotions (10:18–10:53)

• Layoffs at major publishers: Early-year tradition includes news of both promotions and layoffs—unfortunately, the latter at some major publishers. “SNS is the one that we have some more firm knowledge about” (10:53).
• The hosts take a measured approach, noting the cyclical nature of such news but expressing hope there won’t be mass layoffs.

5. Bestseller List Analysis – Canada vs. U.S. (10:53–15:44)

• Canadian bestseller trends:
  • Of the top 10 bestselling fiction books in Canada (2025), only one author is Canadian.
  • Nonfiction is a little more diverse: “Number six, a Book of Lies by Margaret Atwood, the other Canadian. So that’s the third Canadian.” (13:13)
• Discussion touches on the impact of multinational publishing and questions about declining Canadian representation.
  • “I mean, there’s going to be lots of really great books out this year,” Carly notes, hinting at optimism despite the grim stats (15:30).
• They also debate the citizenship of certain authors and the “fluid” nature of publishing identity.

Memorable Quote

“I just think it’s definitely worth talking about...I guess I was just bummed there wasn’t more Canadian authors.”
— Carly Watters (14:04)

6. The “World’s Whiniest Article”: NY Publishing and Formulaic Books (15:44–20:37)

• Ted Gioia’s thinkpiece: The hosts discuss (and mock) the article “The Day NY Publishing Lost Its Soul,” which laments formulaic, corporatized books and bland cover designs.
• Both strongly criticize the argument, with CeCe quipping: “The world’s most boring man writes the world’s whiniest article...Oh my god. Wine, wine, wine, wine, wine. Not the fun kind like red wine, white wine. The boring kind.” (15:44)
• Their big issue: The article claims books are formulaic without defining or backing it up.
  • “He hasn’t read the books so he assumes they’re all the same.” — CeCe (19:31)
• They do agree on the dangers of consolidation and how many imprints used to be independent publishers—offering a more nuanced critique than the original article.
• Importantly, they emphasize the need for evidence and critical thinking, not just doomsaying.

Memorable Quotes

“Can we just be critical about what we’re being critical about, instead of just...woe is me?”
— Carly Watters (20:01)
“All storytelling has formulaic elements, but...they’re not all following the same formula.”
— CeCe Lyra (18:53)

7. Publishing Auctions & Preempts Demystified (20:43–26:43)

• Listener Q&A: How do auctions and preempt offers actually work? What does “private” mean if editors don’t see each other’s bids in person?
• CeCe outlines the auction process:
  • Agents submit a manuscript to multiple editors.
  • If there’s interest, they “get everyone on the same page” via auction rules (e.g., floor bid, best offer, round robin).
  • Editors are often aware of who else is bidding due to industry familiarity, even if bids are private.
• Carly emphasizes the agent’s job is to orchestrate the process to best serve the client, and editors always want to know: “How do I win the auction?” (25:18)
• Both stress that past auction losses can build relationships, leading editors to be hungry for future submissions.

Notable Segment

Detailed auction explanation (23:13–25:55)

8. Navigating the Sea of Writing Resources (29:40–38:52)

• Listener Q&A: With so many classes, programs, and workshops (often expensive), how should emerging writers navigate what’s worth it?
• CeCe’s advice:
  • Acknowledge inequity—scholarships help, but the industry is not perfectly equitable.
  • Instructor experience matters: Prioritize courses taught by people actively in publishing.
  • Community feedback: Research previous student experiences, rely on trusted writing circles.
  • Accept some risk: “You kind of have to take a leap of faith...I have paid for courses I did not love.” (33:31)
• Carly warns writers not to fall into decision paralysis or think the “next course will make me a bestseller.”
  • Writers should clarify what knowledge they’re seeking (craft vs business), and use critical thinking.
• Both clarify: Taking an agent’s class has no bearing on their willingness to consider a query—slush piles remain open and accessible. “If I signed everyone who took my courses, I’d have hundreds of clients.” — CeCe (38:25)

Memorable Quote

“Publishing actually is quite accessible compared to others.”
— CeCe Lyra (38:52)

9. On Social Media Controversies ("That Post") (39:38–40:34)

• The hosts acknowledge the numerous listener DMs about a now-deleted controversial post circulating in the publishing world.
• They intentionally refrain from discussing it on air: “We don’t want to add fuel to the hate fire.” (40:04)

10. Substack Newsletter Highlights & Community Building (40:34–43:22)

• The hosts preview exclusive upcoming newsletter content:
  • Author Q&A: Christina Hammonds Reed on the love story of writing a book.
  • Essay: Libby Page on self-doubt and the non-linear path to writing perfection.
  • Video: Jane Ward discusses the advantages of hybrid publishing.
• CeCe invites non-subscribers to let them know what would make them sign up, building on a community of “over 70,000 Substack subscribers.”

Memorable Quote

“The writing itself is the love story.”
— Christina Hammonds Reed, quoted by Carly (41:14)

Notable Quotes

• “Yearning is why we watch these shows.” — CeCe (07:05)
• “I just think it’s definitely worth talking about...I guess I was just bummed there wasn’t more Canadian authors.” — Carly (14:04)
• “The world’s most boring man writes the world’s whiniest article.” — CeCe (15:44)
• “Can we just be critical about what we’re being critical about, instead of just...woe is me?” — Carly (20:01)
• “Publishing actually is quite accessible compared to others.” — CeCe (38:52)
• “The writing of the book is like its own little love story with these complicated little fictional people in my head.” — Christina Hammonds Reed (quoted at 41:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Personal Updates & Vacation Reads: 01:04–06:52
• Book & TV Talk: 06:52–09:39
• Author Anecdotes & Signed Books: 09:39–10:16
• Industry Layoffs & News: 10:18–10:53
• Bestseller List Analysis (Canada/U.S.): 10:53–15:44
• Discussion of “That” Publishing Article: 15:44–20:37
• Demystifying Book Auctions & Pre-empts: 20:43–26:43
• Q: Navigating Writing Resources: 29:40–38:52
• On Social Media “That Post”: 39:38–40:34
• Newsletter Highlights & Listener Engagement: 40:34–43:22

Tone & Style

• Warm, candid, and occasionally irreverent: The hosts are open about industry realities, laugh at themselves, and don’t shy from saying when they’re tired, honest, or have an unpopular opinion.

• Practical advice with “real talk”: Both agents emphasize transparency and empowerment, from handling auctions to choosing writing courses and querying.

• Community-centric: They always circle back to their audience—encouraging engagement, welcoming critiques, and fostering connections for both writers and publishing insiders.

Conclusion

This episode is a rich blend of publishing shop-talk, honest critique, industry news, and reader/writer Q&A, with a continuous thread advocating for transparency, self-reflection, and writer empowerment. It’s particularly valuable for emerging writers trying to understand the realities behind the curtain of publishing—and for anyone who enjoys the witty, lived-in banter of two industry pros who aren’t afraid to call out both the nonsense and the magic in their field.