Podcast Summary: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Episode Title: Success after 800 Rejections!
Air Date: November 6, 2025
Host: Bianca Marais
Guest: Jenna Satterthwaite (author, agent)
Cohosts (not present in this interview): Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

Episode Overview

In this candid and inspiring episode, Bianca Marais sits down with Jenna Satterthwaite—accomplished author and literary agent—to discuss her unconventional and deeply resilient path to publication, her views on writing and rejection, and the process behind her new novel, The New Year’s Party. Jenna’s journey included over 800 rejections before her first book deal, making her story both a reality check and a beacon of encouragement for writers navigating the challenges of publishing. The conversation delves into the power of writing as personal solace, the necessity of transparency within the industry, and technical craft lessons from Jenna’s work.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Jenna Satterthwaite’s Unconventional Journey to Publication

• Origins in Grief and Escapism
  • Jenna began writing after the loss of a pregnancy, inspired by cozy mysteries her mother-in-law shared. Writing became an anchor and source of escapism during a difficult emotional period.
    • “It was the most incredible feeling of leaving the world as we know it and entering into a perfectly safe space of my own creation where I could just forget my sorrows.” (Jenna, 07:38)
• Querying and Rejection
  • Jenna queried for four and a half years, writing multiple books and receiving approximately 700 agent rejections before landing representation. Over the next several years, five books died on submission before the sixth sold. The final tally: over 800 rejections, agent and editor combined.
    • “I think my hedonism drove me forward during the rejection. I like to have fun and writing was fun and it was again, escapist.” (Jenna, 09:16)
  • Celebrates tenacity but destigmatizes giving up, emphasizing individual mental health and personal fulfillment.
    • “I kind of have destigmatized the giving up because I thought about it a few times and then rejected it. … Everyone has to discover, how long do you want to keep going?” (Jenna, 10:31)

2. Transparency in Publishing

• Speaking Out About the Realities
  • Jenna believes in being open about the challenges, finances, and setbacks in writing and agenting—often considered taboo for fear of professional repercussions.
    • “I share exactly how much money I made as an agent last year. … And I just don’t feel any sense of risk. I don’t feel that there’s any connection between the money I make or don’t make and my value or worth.” (Jenna, 14:41)
• Why it Matters
  • By being transparent about option declines, advances, and author/agent income, she aims to demystify career decisions for new writers and agents.
    • “If no one is talking about it, it’s quite hard to make smart plans.” (Jenna, 15:44)

3. Crafting The New Year’s Party: Structure, POV, and Character

• Ambitious Structure: Seven POVs and Mixed Narrative Modes

  • The book uses a mix of first and third-person chapters, chosen instinctively to best capture each character's voice and depth.
    • “Some of the more challenging characters I wanted to do in first person because I wanted to understand them better. Some of the more average characters I felt third was fine. So I just, I don’t know, it happened.” (Jenna, 22:27)
  • Jenna identifies as a “plantser,” blending organic drafting with later-stage plotting, and allowing discovery of character/voice to inform plot direction.
    • “I really have trouble thinking about plot in the void if I don’t understand who is walking through this plot.” (Jenna, 18:57)

• Prologue/Epilogue Choices

  • The murder in the story unfolds late, so the prologue serves as a teaser and promise to the reader.
    • “It was pretty much just me knowing that the murder wouldn’t happen until quite deep in the book. … [The prologue] really was the murder didn’t happen until quite late in the night. So we need to give a little teaser up front, show some blood, and then proceed from there.” (Jenna, 24:36)

• Writing “Unsavory” Characters & Multi-Perspective Complexity

  • Each character is given a unique wound and secret; the narrative structure allows readers to see characters from varied perspectives, exposing subjective truths and unreliable narration.
    • “You’re looking at everyone again, but from a different place in the room and the person whose perspective you were just in, where you’re hearing their story, suddenly you’re doubting their story because now you’re seeing this other character…” (Jenna, 29:13)
  • Jenna believes in deep character work before worrying about plot, ensuring backstory and motivation drive believability.
    • “I cannot envision executing a plot if I don’t understand who’s doing it and why. … Knowing all those things helps it feel dimensional and tight and gives that profound sense of satisfaction when it all comes together.” (Jenna, 26:44)

• Class in Fiction: Shifting the Lens

  • Instead of defaulting to “rich people thrillers,” Jenna’s novel centers middle-class, working-class characters, inspired by real-life traditions and challenges.
    • “I do love me a good rich people thriller. … [But] in terms of the vibe, I really wanted to, I guess, explore the troubles of that area that I’ve seen in real life.” (Jenna, 30:23)
    • “I think the intense loyalty that you can find there and hopefully, hopefully some of the beauty of that did come through. Even though there’s also—the characters have a lot of damage and trauma—there is a sense of togetherness and community…” (Jenna, 32:54)

4. Agenting Update and Final Encouragement

• Agenting Side
  • Jenna is currently not open to queries as she focuses on current clients, but hopes to reopen before year’s end. Her tastes are wide-ranging across adult, YA, and nonfiction, with an emphasis on voice and story across genres.
    • “My taste is, is completely omnivorous. I’m a voracious reader across genres and there’s literally nothing I won’t look at. Yeah, except for picture books.” (Jenna, 36:09)
• Advice for Writers
  • Remaining connected to joy and self-assessment is vital. Perseverance is admirable, but knowing when to step back matters just as much.
  • Follow Jenna’s substack and social channels for ongoing transparency, resources, and industry discussion.

Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• On Perseverance and Joy:
  • “If you do not absolutely love it… People would have given up after 50 rejections. I know people who’ve given up after way fewer.” (Bianca, 10:13)
• On Craft Transparency:
  • “It was really fun to kind of build their backstory in this choral way with all the different voices participating and you know, who do you believe and where are you going to put your trust? That was an exciting challenge…” (Jenna, 29:13)
• On Writing as Escape:
  • “I am very happy that something finally happened. But even if it hadn’t, I don’t consider all that writing to be a waste. It was just a real anchor for me, like a life anchor.” (Jenna, 09:30)
• On Industry Realism:
  • “Rejections will always come on either side of being a published author. And I think it’s very healthy to let yourself consider walking away and ask, is this serving me? Does this make me happy? And for me, the answer was yes, but that won’t be the case with everyone.” (Jenna, 10:30)
• On Financial Transparency:
  • “Here’s how much they paid me. And it’s a lot more than some people get, and it’s less than others get. … For people entering careers as authors and agents, if no one is talking about it, it’s quite hard to make smart plans.” (Jenna, 14:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [05:02] Jenna Satterthwaite introduction and background
• [06:57] Jenna’s writing journey and dealing with rejection
• [12:59] On transparency—money, failures, and sharing the reality
• [17:57] Craft: Multiple POVs, structure, finding voice
• [23:35] Prologue/Epilogue craft choices
• [25:36] Writing character depth: wounds, multi-POV reliability
• [29:54] Class in fiction and setting in The New Year’s Party
• [34:27] Agenting update and advice
• [36:20] How to follow Jenna for submissions and resources

Actionable Takeaways

• For Writers:
  • Be prepared for rejection and consider what writing brings to your life beyond publication.
  • Be intentional with POV, structure, and voice for richer narrative impact.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions about your career path, mental health, and evolving your craft.
• For Aspiring Agents/Authors:
  • Seek out industry transparency and resources (like Jenna’s substack) to better inform your career decisions.
• For All Listeners:
  • The New Year’s Party is recommended as a model for multi-POV novels and real-to-life psychological suspense.

Follow Jenna Satterthwaite on Instagram and Substack for more practical, transparent publishing advice.
Purchase “The New Year’s Party” through bookshop.org to support indie bookstores and the podcast.

(End of summary. All times in MM:SS format. Direct quotations attributed.)