Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Episode: Shooting the Shit About The Easiest Genres to Sell and How Agents Impact The Outcomes of Book Deals
Hosts: Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, CeCe Lyra
Date: January 12, 2026

Overview

This lively, insightful episode sees agents Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra reconnecting after the holidays to chat industry news, discuss which genres are currently easiest (and hardest) to sell, and take a hard look at just how much difference an agent makes in the trajectory of a book deal. With humor, honesty, and seasoned insider knowledge, Carly and CeCe break down myths, share candid opinions and personal experiences, and spotlight current Substack essays shaping conversations in publishing. Writers looking to understand market trends and the business side of writing will find this a must-listen.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming the New Year & Personal Catch-Up (00:40–09:18)

• Post-Holiday Check-in: The hosts open with warm wishes, a candid update on Carly’s family loss, and reflections on self-care, goals, and habits for 2026.
• New Year's Resolutions & Habits:
  • Carly’s “word of the year” is ease – not seeking easy paths, but “not forcing things. Not that things have to be easy, it’s ease.” (Carly, 04:29)
  • CeCe sets goals based on habits rather than achievements — focusing on daily practices, e.g., starting exercise inspired by fellow agent Wendy.
• Lighter Moments: Banter about their newsletter’s baby photo guessing game, with CeCe chiding listeners for mixing up black-and-white vs. color photos as clues.

2. What’s New in Publishing: Public Domain Day & the Value of Retellings (11:20–15:22)

• Public Domain Day Musings: Each January 1, new works enter the public domain. This year, the early Nancy Drew books are highlighted, which means increased opportunities for new editions and retellings.
• Retellings in the Market: Discussion on why and when retellings work, including the challenge: “But why do I want to read a retelling?” (CeCe, 14:45).
  • Carly recommends a recent episode interviewing Katie Burnett about her novel "Beth is Dead," a Little Women murder retelling.

3. Substack Spotlight: Which Genres Are Hardest and Easiest to Sell? (15:22–24:00)

A. “450 Decisions or the Serendipity of an Editor and their Submissions” (Sean Delone)

• Key Takeaway: By the time an editor sees a submission from an agent, quality is already vetted. What matters most is PRAGMATISM and EASE of selling, not just excellence.
  • “It’s pragmatism that determines what he buys... it’s not excellence that often determines if an editor likes to take on a project, but ease.” (CeCe, 17:51)
• What makes something less difficult to sell?
  1. No bad sales record
  2. Publisher already experienced in the genre
  3. Minimal editorial work needed
  4. Pitch that reads like jacket copy
  5. Early blurbs
• Quote: “Nothing is easy in publishing.” (CeCe, 17:55)

B. Genre Rankings (Hardest → Easiest to Sell)

Fiction: (Carly reading, 18:55)

1. Short story collections
2. Poetry
3. Literary fiction
4. Action adventure
5. Horror
6. Science fiction/fantasy
7. Mystery/thriller
8. Romance

• Short story collections are “the hardest according to many people.” (CeCe, 20:25)
• Carly notes in 15 years she’s sold just one short story collection.

Nonfiction: (CeCe reading, 21:13)

1. Memoir (non-celebrity)
2. Essay collection
3. Academic
4. Narrative nonfiction
5. Journalism
6. History
7. Self-help
8. How-to/practical
9. Memoir (celebrity)

• “If Martin Scorsese were to write on a napkin ‘I want to write a book’ and submit it to editors, I would be putting an offer together tomorrow!” (CeCe quoting essay, 21:45)
• Both agents note they’ve sold nearly every category except poetry.

4. Substack Spotlight: Literary Romance vs. Romance—Why the Divide? (27:12–30:35)

"Where Are All the Literary Romance Writers?" (Hailey Blasingame)

• Key Points:
  • Romance is a genre; love stories “transcend genre.” (CeCe, paraphrasing, 27:12)
  • Sally Rooney’s books (e.g., "Normal People") are often labeled as literary or “sad girl lit” instead of romance, despite centering on romantic relationships.
  • Memorable Quote:
    “Let’s stop disguising romance as literary fiction.” (CeCe, 28:13)
  • The stigma around romance leads to “snobby” or “silly” attitudes that prevent greater commercial and critical embrace.
  • Both hosts agree: if romance is the A-plot, “then it’s a romance or a love story.” (Carly, 29:33)

5. Listener Question Deep Dive: Do Agents Really Affect Book Deals? (30:35–40:45)

• Listener asks: Does the agent actually matter in book deal outcomes, or does a solid manuscript sell itself, regardless of representation?
• CeCe’s passionate response:
  • “Of course it matters!” Reputation, trust, and editor relationships are everything.
  • Editors may read certain agent submissions first (or at all) based on that agent’s reputation for quality and professionalism.
  • "There are some agents [editors] just won't work with, no matter how great a book is." (CeCe, 34:46)
  • Agents know which editors are primed for which projects, build buzz, and often keep fighting for projects for years.
  • Excellent pitching, navigating auctions/preempts, and contract negotiating are all highly variable—agent to agent.
  • Editorial agents—those who revise with clients—can hugely affect saleability.
  • Carly adds: “The way an agent pitches the book is very unique to that agent. …So, the outcome will always be different depending on the people that do it.” (37:36)
• Bottom Line: The manuscript matters, but so does the messenger.
• Extra Insight: Editors value agents who stick around to help when problems arise, not just those who "sell the book and run."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Publishing “Ease”:
  • "It's not that things have to be easy. It's ease." (Carly, 04:29)
  • "Nothing is easy in publishing." (CeCe, 17:55)
• On the Literary vs. Genre Divide:
  • “Let’s stop disguising romance as literary fiction.” (CeCe, 28:13)
• On Agent Importance:
  • “An agent matters…on how quickly an editor’s going to read something, in some cases whether they’ll even read it, or whether they’ll give something a good chance.” (CeCe, 32:30)
  • "If you're looking back in your life and you're not thinking, 'I would have done things differently,' then it's like, have you even learned anything?" (CeCe, 37:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:40-09:18: New Year’s greetings, habit/goals discussion, baby photo challenge laughs
• 11:20-15:22: Public domain chat, retelling trend analysis
• 15:22-24:00: Genre difficulty rankings, Substack essay review
• 27:12-30:35: Literary vs. genre romance, Sally Rooney debate
• 30:35-40:45: Listener question—Does the agent matter?
• 40:45-end: Wrap-up, plans for future episodes and guests

Tone and Style

Conversational, occasionally witty and self-deprecating, but always grounded in industry practicality and hard-won wisdom. The hosts are encouraging, honest about the struggles and joys of publishing, and often inject warmth and humor into their professional insights.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a clear-eyed, nuanced understanding of today’s publishing realities—from which genres agents and editors view as "impossible sells," to how deeply agent reputation alters a manuscript's fate. It's packed with honest advice—and a touch of tough love—for writers looking to better navigate the business of books and advocate for their work.

Recommended action for listeners:

• Browse Substacks discussed for deeper reading (Sean Delone; Hailey Blasingame’s "Touch Her and Die").
• Follow the show’s newsletter, especially for community Q&As.
• Writers: Reflect on your own genre choices, the “ease” factor, and the agent partnership you seek!