Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Episode: Shooting the Shit About How Much Agents Share

Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, CeCe Lyra
Date: December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the behind-the-scenes of literary agenting, specifically how much agents share with each other about submissions, queries, and client projects. Hosts Bianca, Carly, and CeCe discuss the nuances of agent communication, confidentiality, the dynamics of querying agents who represent your comps, and how writers can best interact with agents, especially via DMs. They also address listener questions, clear up misconceptions about the podcast’s dual agent/educational roles, and share advice for writers hoping to stand out in the querying process.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Agent Banter: Winter Blues & Sweet Treats

• Winter Sadzis: The hosts commiserate over seasonal depression ("winter sadzis") and the northern/winter experience.
• Brigadeiros Saga: CeCe passionately defends her integrity after “fake pre-recorded” accusations about opening an Advent calendar of authentic Brazilian brigadeiros, highlighting her love for sharing cultural treats.
  • "Brigadeiros are about sharing love, and I'm obsessed with them." – CeCe (05:12)

2. Industry News: Female-Led Publisher Growth

[09:00 - 11:20]

• Sherman Group invests in Entangled Publishing:
  Entangled, led by Liz Pelletier, is now valued at $400M, joining Sourcebooks and Xando as fast-growing, independent, female-led publishers rivaling the Big Five for market share.
• Discussion on Female Leadership in Publishing:
  • CeCe references David Steinberger’s Open Book interview with Dominique Raccah, CEO of Sourcebooks, who notes the difference between being hired for a CEO role and creating one as a founder.
  • “You’re not gonna get a seat at that table, then make your own table. You come to my table.” – CeCe (11:08)

3. Main Topic: How Much Do Agents Share About Queries?

[11:32 - 19:53]

Listener Question (Anonymous):

Do agents talk with each other about queries/offers? Does this help or hurt writers?

Carly & CeCe’s Responses:

• Neither Agent (Carly or CeCe) regularly shares queries with agents outside their agency.
  • CeCe: Prefers to “keep her cards close to her chest.” Considers taste highly individual and doesn’t want competition:
    • “If no other agent is going to bid on the thing that I want, I just like it. Doesn't make me want it less—not even a little bit less.” (13:05)
  • Carly: Sees “courting competition” as odd, likens it to “telling your friend about a house you're bidding on.” Expresses discomfort for confidentiality reasons:
    • “It feels kind of icky from a confidentiality point of view, to be perfectly honest with you.” (15:41)
• Complexity and Both Sides:
  Sometimes sharing may help writers (more eyes on their work), but can also create complications (e.g. taking away an author's choice about whom to query).
• When Might Agents Share?
  • Only with explicit author permission, especially if they personally want to “go to bat” for a project they love.
  • “I have done that, but only with full consent and only when I feel compelled to help someone specifically.” – Carly (19:41)

4. Querying Agents Who Represent Your Comps

[22:30 - 27:45]

Listener Question:

Should you query agents who already represent one of your comps, or will the agent see your project as competition?

Key Points:

• Carly:

  • It depends: If you’re comping to one of the agent’s “iconic” books, it raises the bar significantly for your submission (“That book… has to be as good as that book”).
  • If the comp is older or the agent is more of a generalist, it may be less of an issue.
  • “Just because I’ve sold a book in your space doesn’t mean I’m always looking for another—but sometimes I am!” (23:47)

• CeCe:

  • Notes that agents face similar dilemmas when submitting to editors who bought their comps.
  • It comes down to “whether the comp is really on-point and if the new project brings something fresh enough.”
  • Warns against using comps inauthentically (e.g., comping a book not yet published or apparently just to flatter):
    • “Please don’t do that. Seriously.” (26:32)

5. Submitting to 'Books with Hooks' and Querying the Hosts

[28:48 - 32:52]

Listener Question:

If my work has appeared on 'Books with Hooks,' should I still query you? Or is that a waste of time?

Responses:

• “Querying us is totally unrelated to the podcast… We’re always looking for our next bestseller. If the story has evolved, absolutely submit!” – CeCe (30:10)
• Both agents share queries internally within their agencies if a project seems fitting for a colleague.
• Bianca: “Just because you don’t hear me say, 'send it,' doesn’t mean you can’t send it to me… it can evolve into something else.” (32:31)

6. Guidance for Submitting Listener Questions to the Podcast

[35:22 - 48:39]

Good vs. “Bad” Questions:

• Good questions:

  • Not easily googleable.
  • Show the writer has researched or listened to prior episodes.
  • Invite strategic, nuanced answers—not binary or creative decisions only the author can make.
  • “I like questions that are more complex… strategy questions, behind-the-scenes questions, something agent-specific.” – Carly (36:38)

• “Bad” Questions:

  • Repetitive, have already been covered, or are too general (“Should I write in first or third person?”).
  • Look for external validation about purely creative decisions.
  • “No one can answer these questions, people. If I were to answer you, it would be completely irresponsible.” – CeCe (39:17)
  • Writers should build their decision-making ‘palette’—train their critical thinking.

• CeCe:

  • “When in doubt means you’ve already researched, and you actually hit a wall… you haven’t turned on that critical thinking that I think you need to.” (42:48)
  • Encourages aspiring authors to write and reflect before seeking external advice.

• Carly:

  • Warns that expecting agents to answer general questions isn’t realistic, especially as most agents are not as publicly accessible as podcast hosts.
  • “How I help is up to me… Sometimes I respond, sometimes I don’t, and that’s about time and job preservation.” (45:23)

Notable Quotes

• “You’re not gonna get a seat at that table, then make your own table. You come to my table.” – CeCe (11:08)
• “It feels kind of icky from a confidentiality point of view, to be perfectly honest with you.” – Carly (15:41)
• “Please don’t do that. Seriously.” – CeCe, on misusing comps (26:32)
• “No one can answer these questions, people. … If I were to answer you, yes, you should write… I would be completely irresponsible.” – CeCe (39:17)
• “I like questions that are more complex… strategy questions, behind-the-scenes questions, something agent-specific.” – Carly (36:38)

Memorable Moments & Lighter Notes

• Brigadeiros Advent calendar escapade, ASMR-style cookie unwrapping, and CeCe’s “justice for me!” thread (05:01 - 06:47)
• Bianca and CeCe joking about playing a drinking game every time they say “nuance” or “layered” (31:22 - 31:33)
• CeCe’s metaphorical Grinch hat moment when outlining “bad questions” (39:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Brigadeiros/Cultural Banter: 04:23 – 07:40
• Female-Led Publisher News: 09:00 – 11:20
• Do Agents Share Queries?: 11:32 – 19:53
• Querying Agents Who Represent Your Comp: 22:30 – 27:45
• Books with Hooks Querying Guidance: 28:48 – 32:52
• Listener Questions: What Makes a “Good” Question?: 35:22 – 48:39

Final Takeaways

• Most agents do not openly share active queries with agents at other agencies; process is individualized and rooted in both strategy and confidentiality.
• Querying an agent who represents your comp is situational—be authentic in comp usage and understand the nuanced implications.
• Writers should craft thoughtful questions after research and reflection—critical thinking is essential. Podcast DMs are open, but the best questions reflect effort and strategy.
• Above all, respect in the author-agent partnership remains paramount, as does a sense of gratitude and enthusiasm for the creative work on both sides.

Next Week’s Teaser:
Bianca and CeCe will tackle all things MONEY in publishing. Submit your anonymous questions for a deep-dive on finances, advances, agent fees, and more.