✨From Burnt-Out to Bestseller, and It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams—Friday Inspiration from Jesse Q. Sutanto and Kath Jonathan✨

Plus, our hosts answer your burning questions, and more prizes for the Masana Literacy Project fundraiser revealed!

Happy Friday, writing friends!

Here at The 💩, we know that wrestling with self-doubt is one of the biggest struggles emerging authors face. Rejection (or even just the anticipation of rejection; we are, after all, a sensitive lot) can really take it out of a person, and a lot of us set specific deadlines for ourselves (“I will be published by the time I’m X years old”) that add to the pressure, so that when it feels like things just aren’t progressing quickly enough, it can be very tempting to throw in the towel. Why not? Nobody’s forcing us to do this, right?

Believe it or not, today you’re being given permission to give up. But before we explain, let’s take a look at what you might have missed over on this week’s podcast…😉

We’re VERY excited to be sharing Bianca’s interview with Kath Jonathan about her historical fiction novel, The Resistance Painter (out now!). For several reasons, including (but not limited to) the fact that Kath has just published this beautiful debut at the age of 70! 🎂📕Tune in to be inspired by Kath’s resilience (she faced so many obstacles on the road to publishing this book) and to learn from the advice her editor gave her that helped Kath get past a writing block—and be prepared to rethink whether or not it really is too late for you to achieve your own writing dreams!

Our author Q&A this week is with Jesse Q. Sutanto, whose name you likely recognize from (among other things) her bestselling Aunties series, starting with Dial A for Aunties. With her latest (and ninth!) novel, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) coming April 1, it might surprise you to know that Jesse once didn’t just consider giving up writing, she actually quit. After writing seven novels and receiving hundreds of rejections, Jesse stopped writing because, as she puts it “no dream is worth sacrificing your mental health over.”

We know we’re fond of saying that the ones who succeed are the ones who don’t give up, but we’re also fond of saying every rule has an exception, and this right here is what we’re talking about. The key is to really look at what’s making you feel like giving up. Is it some arbitrary reason, like you wanted to be published by 40 but don’t have an agent yet and want to cut your perceived losses, or is it having a more serious impact on your mental health? If the latter, if sitting down in front of your computer has become painful and unproductive, it could be a sign that you need to take a step back. And that’s okay. It doesn’t have to be forever. Jesse did, and she certainly doesn’t have any regrets: “I would not change a single thing about my publishing journey.” So be kind to yourselves, writing friends. You can step away. You can come back. The words will wait.❤️

And for a little additional motivation…it’s the last Friday of the month, and we know you’re all looking forward to what our hosts have to say in response to your burning questions in this month’s video with Bianca, Carly and CeCe. They cover a lot of ground, from breaking out when you don’t have a traditional publisher, to interiority, to the scoop on hybrid publishers. Watch it below!

And don’t forget to check out the latest prize announcement for Bianca’s Masana Literacy Project fundraiser—any one of them could be the thing that helps set your writing journey on the path to success!

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading! ❤️

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team

P.S. Still not sure about upgrading to paid? Check out our Tuesday Teaser below to see what you’re missing!

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This Week’s Podcast✨🎙️✨

In this inspiring author interview, Bianca interviews Kath Jonathan, whose debut novel, The Resistance Painter, intertwines historical and contemporary narratives. They discuss Kath’s journey as a writer, the significance of historical fiction in understanding present-day issues, the emotional journey of writing, and the transformative power of collaboration with editors.

Take a listen here or watch it on YouTube!

“As is the case with all novels, when you get to the end, it gets harder in terms of what the characters are enduring…And so I was writing about my character in Ravensbruck concentration camp for women, and part of my process of writing was avoidance. I think it was fear, fear of going to those dark places. And so I brilliantly and very cleverly and very ornately wrote all kinds of ways around it. And then came a time where I couldn't avoid it, and my editor, Laurie Grassi, said to me, ‘Kath, you don't have to write about this place. You have to write about your character’s experience there. Who are they meeting there? What are we seeing through their eyes?’

And that limitation made the experience so much easier for me.”

-Kath Jonathan

More information about Kath Jonathan can be found on her website. She’s also on Instagram!

You can purchase The Resistance Painter on our Bookshop.org affiliate page here. Buying books through this link supports a local indie bookstore, as well as The Shit No One Tells You About Writing 📚❤️

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Q&A with Bestselling Author, Jesse Q. Sutanto 🤩📖

Jesse Q. Sutanto is the award-winning, bestselling author of Dial A for Aunties, Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, Well, That Was Unexpected, The Obsession, and Theo Tan and the Fox Spirit. The film rights to Dial A for Aunties were bought by Netflix, and the TV rights to Vera Wong were bought by Warner Bros, with Oprah and Mindy Kaling attached to produce.

TSNOTYAW: Do you have a go-to mantra or pep talk for the days when writing feels hard?

Jesse Q. Sutanto: Yes! I tell myself to treat writing as a proper day job, which means even on the days when it's extra hard, I still need to show up and do my job. All I have to do is clock in, squeeze out 2000 words, and I'm done. The words don't even need to be good, they just need to be done. Once I learned to take away the myth of creating only when I feel inspired, I found it much more manageable to write every weekday.

Were you ever close to giving up on writing and, if so, what stopped you?

Yes. I gave it up after my seventh book failed to sell to a publisher. I told myself that enough was enough, and that no one could call me a quitter after I completed seven full-length manuscripts. I quit writing for almost a year and focused my efforts on other things like my then day job and my hobbies. Eventually, I healed from the hundreds of rejections and started to miss writing again, which was when I returned to it. I am so glad that I did this because no dream is worth sacrificing your mental health over.

What would you say you’ve done right to build a strong and supportive writing network?

I've reached out to fellow writers in the same boat as I am! Every step of the way, there will be writers who are further along or newer in their journeys compared to yours. I think it's so valuable to find people who are at a similar part of their journey because these are the people who you can hold hands with and traverse the tricky journey together.

Writer’s block: myth or unfortunate reality? If you experience it, how do you overcome it?

I think there are so many valid reasons for experiencing writer's block, but I have always convinced myself that it is a myth because if I don't believe in it, I can chug along on my merry way and pretend it doesn't exist. Ha! But really though, because I tell myself: "There is nothing mysterious about writing a book, it's all about habit and discipline," this means that on the days I struggle with plotting, I fall back on habit and discipline. I rely on my tried and true methods, namely of pacing up and down the hallway muttering to myself, to create more plot out of thin air. I don't allow myself to believe in writer's block, and so far, it's working... fingers crossed.

How important do you think it is for writers to be on social media?

As a reader, I really don't care if a writer is on social media. Most of the time, when I enjoy an author's book, what I do is check out what other books they have. I don't spend time trawling social media to see what they're like or what their opinions are. But as a writer, I definitely feel the pressure to be on social media, mainly because I've seen the success stories from authors who are also big social media stars. So...I'm really torn on this subject, and all I can say is, it's as important as how good you can be on it. If you have a knack for it, then it could be a valuable marketing tool! But if you're hopeless at social media, then I wouldn't worry too much about it.

What is something you’ve learned about yourself later in your writing career that would have surprised your younger self?

That I love writing humor! When I first started out, I was writing dark fantasy and then dark suspense books, and all of them were YA. It wasn't until my seventh book that I ventured into a more humorous thing, and now I love it, but if you'd told me this ten years ago, I would've had a really hard time believing you.

Do you have any regrets about your journey so far? Do you wish you had done anything differently?

I would have very different answers to this question depending on which point in my career I'm at! If you'd asked me during that year I took off from writing, for example, I would've said YES, I have a million regrets, and they all have to do with how much life I missed out on because I chose to write instead. Lol! But if you're asking now, after all of the wonderful things that have happened to me in the last four years, then I would say no, I don't have any regrets and I would not change a single thing about my publishing journey.

You can purchase Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) on our Bookshop.org affiliate page here. 📚❤️

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Your Questions Answered!

Every month your hosts answer your burning questions. This month they share some hard truths (breaking out is hard when you have a traditional publisher behind you—when you don’t it’s even harder) along with helpful advice on how to address feedback about a lack of interiority…and more

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Fundraiser for Literacy in South Africa!

Would you like to do some good in the world, and at the same time be entered to win amazing (and we really do mean amazing🤩 ) literary prizes?

Trick question, of course, because who wouldn’t?!

And you’re in luck, because Bianca is hosting a fundraiser for a cause that’s close to her heart—literacy in South Africa—with a whole host of incredible literary prizes up for grabs, including developmental edits, coaching packages, manuscript critiques, Books With Hooks appearances…and so much more!

All you have to do to enter is make a donation to a wonderful cause: The Masana Library Project. By participating in this fundraiser, you’ll be helping supply a South African high school with the kind of basic resources we take for granted in North America, improving their education and making a brighter future for South African learners.

Entries close at 8am ET on April 10th. Until then, keep reading to meet three of our awesome sponsors and learn about their prizes, then head over to Bianca’s website to enter the draw!

Lisa Rivers worked in theatre education for 20 years, exploring improv, storytelling, plays, and musicals with children and teens. She created her own company, The Drama Playground, where she ran workshops in schools, afterschool programs, lunch classes, and drama camps. Throughout this time, she also studied writing and editing for novels and plays and finished her certification in Publishing from The Chang School of Continuing Education. Over the last four years, she has focused on developmental editing for novels where she helps authors structure and enhance their stories. She especially loves digging deep into character's motivations, goals, pacing, and scene work. Other than storytelling, she fills her days with pickleball, paddleboarding, and travel.

The prize Lisa has sponsored:
A developmental edit of the first 50 pages of your novel. This will include a Zoom meeting before and after the edits, along with written feedback.

Where you can find Lisa:
Instagram: @lisarivers.editorial

Elizabeth Held is a writer in Washington, D.C. who has contributed to Vulture,
The Washington Post, USA TODAY, Parade and Slate, among others. She writes a weekly book recommendation newsletter, What To Read If, with more than 9,000 subscribers.

The prize Elizabeth has sponsored:
One-Hour Substack Coaching Session. Elizabeth will dive into your publication and, if you're willing to share access your analytics, to develop a series of recommendations on how to grow your subscriber base.

Where you can find Elizabeth:
Substack: https://whattoreadif.substack.com/
Instagram and Threads: @theeheld

Karen Geiger is a licensed speech-language pathologist, certified book coach, and therapeutic journal writing facilitator. She helps midlife women gain clarity, find their voice, and write the stories they've always wanted to share. Her journey took an unexpected turn when she began teaching journal writing at the Erie Cancer Wellness Center. This experience deepened her belief in the power of language and stories. Today, Karen guides women through their personal transformations—from navigating hot flashes to finally writing the book they've dreamed about for decades. Beginning in March, she will have the honor of working with Dr. Heather Hirsch as the creative consultant for her online Collaborative. As an Author Accelerator book coach, Karen specializes in helping midlife women create clarity, find their voice, and write forward, guiding them from initial idea to finished manuscript. This May, Karen will lead a session at the Pennwriters Conference on writing a character’s journal.
Her book, The Storied Life Journal, debuted as a #1 bestseller in midlife self-help on Amazon. When she’s not teaching or writing her cozy mystery novel, Karen can be found on the pickleball court, perfecting her dinks.

The prize Karen has sponsored:
A 1:1 Developmental edit program designed to help you: captivate readers from the first page; shape your scenes and characters to build emotional impact; ensure clear pacing and flow that keeps readers hooked; and weave patterns and themes throughout your story.

What’s Included:

• A full manuscript review and detailed critique.

• 1 in-depth 1:1 manuscript consultation calls.

• A comprehensive editorial letter addressing story structure, character arcs, and pacing.

• Scene-by-scene feedback on your first three chapters, with in-line critiques.

• A personalized revision strategy plan to guide your next steps.

Value: $850

Where you can find Karen:

Substack: https://substack.com/@karengeiger

Website: http://karenfgeiger.com/

Alecsandra Kakon is an English Literature professor at Concordia University and Dawson College, holding an MA in Hispanic Literature and a PhD in Comparative Literature. Her doctoral work explored the anatomy of silence in complex traumas through a feminist and decolonial lens. Alongside her academic pursuits, she published a weekly online blog entitled My Profile Projects, rooted in narrative therapy to dispel the myth of disconnection by weaving together the collective memoir of 52 womxn. An advocate for inclusion in both literature and life, Alecs leads an educational program based on her children’s book, Sometimes, an Amazon bestseller that provides continued training for K–11 teachers on how to create more inclusive environments in schools. Her debut novel, This is Why I Need You, will be published in 2026 with ECW Press. Alecs lives in Montreal with her three larger-than-life children.

The prize Alecs has sponsored:

A spot in one of her online writing workshops.
Every month, through her platform Cereal Creatives, Alecs runs small-group sessions tailored to different stages of the writing process:
Creative Pathways: For writers exploring their creativity and developing their craft (no experience required).
Plot & Polish: For writers working on partial or complete manuscripts,
focusing on structure, prose, character development, pacing, and more.

Where you can find Alecs:

https://cerealcreatives.com/workshops

Instagram: @alecskakon

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Tuesday Teaser 😉

In next week’s newsletter exclusively for our paid members, we’ve got Beth O’Leary (bestselling author of The Flatshare), whose excellent insights will especially appeal to anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to write Very Serious books, when what they really enjoy is entertaining and being entertained. Douglas Corleone calls bullshit on a piece of writing advice that can actually get in the way of your success, and Anu Kandikuppa shares her least favourite part of writing, and how she deals with it (hint: a LOT of writers struggle with this very thing, and her straightforward advice for what do about it is🎯).

Not yet a member? For just $8USD a month or $80USD a year you get:

• an exclusive newsletter on Tuesdays featuring bonus author Q&As and other exclusive content from industry experts

• access to Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra’s written notes on queries from the podcast’s Books with Hooks feature

• monthly bonus podcast episodes, AND

• regular Ask Me Anythings / Q&As with Carly, CeCe, and Bianca Marais.

If that doesn’t kickstart your writing journey, we don’t know what will!

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That’s all for this week’s news! If you enjoyed it, why not share the love? 🥰

Tune in again next week for more invaluable wisdom from our wonderful hosts! Until then, happy writing! 😍

❤️ The Shit No One Tells You About Writing Team

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Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work in this newsletter is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe in this newsletter are solely that of themselves and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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