✨It's Back-To-Back NYT Bestselling Authors This Week with Liane Moriarty and Hannah Nicole Maehrer✨
Plus, a Q&A with Marissa Stapley (aka Julia McKay), a video on writing for young audiences from Kern Carter, and our hosts answer your questions!
Happy Friday, writing friends!
It was a big week on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing with not one but two NYT bestselling authors—one of whom just happens to be one of our hosts’ idols!
First up, Bianca talks to Hannah Nicole Maehrer, who is one author we know wouldn’t break out in a cold sweat at the suggestion she get herself onto TikTok—Hannah’s Assistant to the Villain novels (the latest, Apprentice to the Villain, came out in August) actually started as a viral TikTok series. Also joining is Hannah’s agent, Brent Taylor, for a conversation that covers everything from whether Hannah's social media presence helped make her a bestselling author to the questions you should be asking potential agents. Want to know what they are? You’ll just have to tune in! 🎙️🎧
Next, CeCe is joined by New York Times bestselling author Liane Moriarty (Big Little Lies, Apples Never Fall), whose latest, Here One Moment, is out now. To say this interview was A VERY BIG DEAL for CeCe would be putting it mildly (she herself called it “life-changing”). Can she keep it together long enough to get through the interview? We sure hope so, because we’ve been given to understand Liane has advice for aspiring authors, including the craft books she most recommends, and a research process and tools we could all learn from, and we’d hate to miss out on that. 😉
In our newsletter today we’ve got a Q&A with yet another NYT bestselling author, Marissa Stapley, who has got to be the hardest working woman in the bookbiz—her alter-ego Julia McKay has a new romcom, The Holiday Honeymoon Switch, coming out October 8, and it seems like only last week we were attending the pre-launch party for Marissa’s The Lightning Bottles (Editor’s note: It was. When does she sleep?!). All that and a Reese’s Book Club pick, too? We’re interested in all the advice and insights Marissa has to share.
Next up, it’s the return of our monthly Q&A with Carly, CeCe and Bianca, where they answer questions from our audience. This month your questions covered topics ranging from exposition and querying, to what to do when you’ve had to change agents.
Our second video today is from Kern Carter, whose first middle grade novel, Is There a Boy Like Me? comes out October 1. Kern is another one of those authors who seems not to need sleep—he’s a repeat contributor to The Shit, who was here just last month when his YA novel And Then There Was Us launched. In today’s video, Kern talks about how to write mature themes for a younger audience, and breaks down his three-part process for writing this novel. 📺
And, last but not least, don’t forget to check out our course offerings!
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!
This Week’s Podcast✨🎙️✨
In this week’s podcast (listen to it here!), we have two epic author interviews!
First up, Bianca talks with NYT best-selling romance-fantasy author, Hannah Nicole Maehrer, and her agent, Brent Taylor. They discuss:
Hannah's unique, TikTok-related inspiration for her debut novel;
How Brent discovered Hannah;
The importance of chemistry in an author/agent relationship;
How Hannah comped her debut when querying;
What the editing process looked like;
The very long prologue in Assistant to the Villain; and
The use of trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel.
“From what I've observed of the industry, you don't need a huge platform to be traditionally published. The benefit of it is it exposes you to the readers that would be interested in your story. And I was really privileged in that regard because I had been doing these skits for so long and I had built up an audience that loved this story just as much as I did.”
— Hannah Nicole Maehrer
Next, CeCe interviews Liane Moriarty, NYT bestselling author of titles like Big Little Lies and Apples Never Fall. They discuss:
What inspired the premise of Liane's latest book, Here One Moment;
Liane's drafting process;
The concept of a skill being acquired rather than innate;
How she crafts the masterful endings to her novels, and her use of curiosity seeds;
Whether Liane's writing process has changed over the course of her career;
Her use of multi POV; and
How Liane gets into her characters' heads.
“I'm not somebody who writes one full draft and then says, okay, now I’ll have a go at doing my second draft. I sit down and pretend as if I'm just writing from start to finish, but in the end I'm always editing what I wrote yesterday and switching things around. .”
— Liane Moriarty
You can purchase Apprentice to the Villain and Here One Moment 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 📚❤️
Author Q&A with Marissa Stapley (writing as Julia McKay)
MARISSA STAPLEY is the New York Times bestselling author of Lucky, which was the first-ever Canadian Reese’s Book Club pick (December 2021), as well as bestsellers Mating for Life, Things to Do When It’s Raining, and The Last Resort. Her latest novel, The Lightning Bottles, a story of nineties rock and star-crossed love, was published by Simon & Schuster on September 24, 2024. She has also co-written the bestselling holiday rom-coms The Holiday Swap (a Book of the Month pick) and All I Want for Christmas under the pen name Maggie Knox. Three Holidays and a Wedding (September 26, 2023), is a collaboration with bestselling author and playwright Uzma Jalauddin. Many of her novels have been optioned for television and her journalism has appeared in publications across North America.
TSNOTYAW: Were you ever close to giving up on writing and, if so, what stopped you?
Marissa Stapley: My second book, THINGS TO DO WHEN IT'S RAINING, was a huge challenge, both to write and when it came to getting a deal. My first novel had underperformed and, to my shock, my US publisher didn't want anything to do with me. It was a really dark time for me professionally. I decided to apply to graduate school, give up on writing and become a librarian. Then, out of nowhere, there was an auction for the novel in Germany! That foreign deal renewed my hope and saved my career. The rest, of course, is history. But it's never simple, and so I always tell aspiring authors this career is a marathon, not a race. You need to be tough, you need to be motivated, and you need to understand that the struggle doesn't end when you ink your first deal.
What would you say you’ve done right to build a strong and supportive writing network?
I never forget that I was once just starting out, too. I remember the people who helped me along my way, and try to extend the same kindness and generosity to other authors. I've also really taken some advice Reese Witherspoon dispensed on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast to heart. She was sharing something a life coach told her: "Reese, you’re going to meet three different kinds of people in life. A third of the people are going to lift you up. They’re going to believe in your dreams. They’re going to encourage you. You’re going to encourage them. And a third of the people are going to be totally neutral. They’re just neutral. And you don’t care about them, they don’t care about you. No harm, no foul. And then the other third are going to try and drag you down actively, whether they know it consciously, unconsciously, they are here to pull people down. And they’re going to try and pull you down. Avoid the bottom third.” I'm getting good at identifying the bottom third, while embracing, encouraging, and loving the hell out of my top third people.
How do you ensure you have enough time to write amidst so many obligations competing for your time?
I make 'to do' lists so I can quickly check off the admin related tasks that might niggle at me as I'm trying to write. I also get up early when I'm on deadline--not at 5 am anymore, that's just too early for me these days, but I make sure to earmark my mornings for writing, because this is when I'm at my most creative. That's probably an important piece of advice: figure out what time of day you're most creative. Are you a night owl, an early bird? And try to carve out some of that time for your writing. Eventually, it will become a routine.
What is the most challenging part of being a successful author? And how do you mitigate its effects?
This is two-fold: I'm generally a down-to-earth person, but accolades and success can go to anyone's head! I remind myself, even at the highest heights of my career, to take a beat and recall who I was when I started this journey, so I can remember to keep extending a hand to others. But the other side is that imposter syndrome is real. I know I'm not alone in this! It's easy to fall into the trap of mentally asking myself 'Who do you think you are?' and convincing myself I don't deserve the success I'm experiencing because there are others who also deserve it but haven't received it yet. I'm constantly meeting the challenge of embracing my success and reminding myself that I worked hard for it, earned it through a combination of talent and tenacity--and deserve it! There's so much power in owning your success. I highly recommend it.
How important do you think it is for writers to be on social media?
It's such a time suck, a recipe for imposter syndrome, a procrastination potion ... I'm not sure I see the good in it, some days! But how can an author not be on socials? It's also such a great way to interact with readers, send out vital messages about book releases and events, and share and receive inspiration. A good trick, especially when on a deadline, is to set limits. When I'm at my busiest, I only let myself check my socials once or twice a day. But I would never tell any author, despite my love/hate relationship with social media, not to be on it.
How did you get your literary agent? What was the querying process like for you?
I got my literary agent the usual way: by going online, searching through all the agents (I only queried in Canada) who were open to submission, determining which ones might be the best fit for my work, crafting a good query letter, and then being patient. It took time but I ended up where I needed to be, with an agent I've had a wonderful relationship with for well over a decade.
What is something you’ve learned about yourself later in your writing career that would have surprised your younger self?
I never would have imagined I'd be writing in two genres! Or that I had the creative capacity to do so. But if anything, writing my regular stream of books as Marissa Stapley and then writing holiday romance now as Julia McKay has made me aware of creative muscles I didn't even know I possessed. I see the romance novels as a beautiful palate cleanser now, and would absolutely recommend trying a different genre to any writer! However, I do have a caveat: I know some authors who have had some roadblocks or frustrations with selling books in their chosen genre, so they say to themselves, "Well, fine, I'm just going to dash off a thriller/romance/mystery/fantasy because those are the only things that seem to sell!" Approaching any creative endeavour without care and respect for the genre you're planning to work in is not a recipe for success. Genre audiences are very dedicated. If you're faking it, they'll know! I genuinely love romance, and have a serious soft spot for holiday romance, which is why I find such delight in my side projects. I've never approached it with anything but joy, curiosity, and respect for my readers, which is why I think my books have done so well and why I don't think I'll ever want to stop writing them.
What question do you wish an interviewer would ask you? (And what’s the answer to that question!)
I wish I got the opportunity to talk more about exactly why I also write romances in addition to my other books. Last year, Emily Henry gave a great interview for Time where she talked about the depth of respect she has for her readers, and the weighty topics her books -- and the books of other romance novelists -- tackle. Fiction that is directed largely at female or female-identifying readers is always pushed into a sub-genre. Chick lit, women's fiction, romance, rom-com, etc. etc. But the overarching message has always seemed to be that it's not as important as 'real' fiction. I think authors like Henry, and Carley Fortune, and many others, are standing up and saying NO to that. That just because a book is fun to read, has a happy ending, is romantic, has some sexy scenes, doesn't mean it can't also deal with grief, abuse, depression, anxiety, you name it -- and then offer the beauty of hope at the end. I'm so on board with all of this. I want to make people feel happy and hopeful in a dark, complex world. I don't want to have to make excuses for why I do this, and I don't want my readers to have to make excuses for why they want to read books that are not considered to be serious literature. So much work goes into books that are considered easy reads. They are anything but easy to write, and I could talk about this forever.
You can purchase The Holiday Honeymoon Switch 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 📚❤️
It’s baaaack…Bianca, Carly & CeCe Answer Your Questions!
Our monthly Q&A feature with our hosts is back from summer hiatus! Your questions cover lots of ground this month, including and whether or not novellas are making a comeback (and no, it’s not a novella if you throw up your hands at the 40,000 word mark and say you’re done).
Got a burning question? Go to the submit a question page on our website to record your question. And please do it asap—the episode is recorded mid-month.
Kern Carter Takes on a New Challenge
With his upcoming middle grade novel, Is There a Boy Like Me?, Kern Carter would seem to know a thing or two about writing mature themes for a younger audience, but he’d actually never written for this particular age range before. So how did he do it? Watch the video for insights into using setting, relationship dynamics and balancing depth and accessibility.
Is There A Boy Like Me? will be available for purchase on October 1, 2024. 🥳
Tuesday Teaser 😉
If you’d been writing for a long time and had published 23 (!) novels, you’d feel pretty confident about this whole writing thing, right? We asked Jeffrey Scott Savage (author the upcoming graphic novel Quantum Interstellar Sports League), and his answer might surprise (and encourage you). You can read it and another great Author Q&A with Georgia Clark in next week’s newsletter exclusively for our paid members. Georgia (whose upcoming novel, Most Wonderful is out next month) talks about how she built her own writing community from the ground up (seeing as it includes people like Amy Poeppel, Fiona Davis, Hannah Orenstein, and Lexi Freiman, we are very much interested in what she has to say).
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
weekly 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!
Hacking Writing on a Line Level📝
No matter what genre you write in, knowing how to elevate your writing on a line level is an essential skill. But what does strong writing on a line level look like exactly? Are there rules and/or techniques that can help storytellers elevate their writing? And how can writers know if they’re improving this element of the craft? Join CeCe not just to unpack strong writing on a line level, but to learn how to *hack* it! This class will be jam packed with real-world examples of writing on a line level that work—and that don’t. All examples, all the time. For the first time ever, we're meeting for 3 days! November 7th at 8pm ET: First Craft Session November 11th at 8pm ET: Second Craft Session November 26th at 8pm ET: Live, cozy Q&A session (attendees will have the option of turning on their cameras and interacting with CeCe)
Come prepared to take lots of notes!
If you’ve taken this class before, then the First Craft Session on November 7th will feel familiar to you, but the Second Craft Session will include new techniques and workshops! Don’t worry if you have to leave early or if you can’t attend one (or more) sessions live: all sessions will be recorded and each recording will be emailed to everyone who is registered 24h later. Recordings will be available to the viewer for a limited time.
Be Part of Carly’s Masterclass 😍📝
Carly’s class includes 10+ hours of writing and publishing video lessons you have lifetime access to, monthly Q&A sessions, and fresh content every quarter.
Did we mention there’s an app, too? You can keep learning on the go. Don’t miss a minute of Carly’s top career advice for aspiring, emerging and published writers. Get the writing career you’ve always dreamed of.
Bianca’s Great Beta Reader Match Up!
Are you looking for beta readers, some of whom might potentially become writing group members down the line?
Are you wanting to be matched up with those writing in a similar genre and/or time zone, so they can critique your work as you critique theirs at the same time?
Your manuscript doesn't have to be complete to sign up for this 3000-word review!
Registrations are open from now until September 30, with the match emails going out on October1.
For more information and to register, click below!
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
Our work takes place on land now known as Toronto and Ottawa and we acknowledge that these are the traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat Peoples as well as the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. Toronto is covered under Treaty 13 and the Williams Treaties. We respect and affirm the inherent and Treaty Rights of all Indigenous Peoples across this land and acknowledge the historical oppression of lands, cultures, languages, and the original Peoples in what we now know as Canada. We invite you to learn more about the land you inhabit, the history of that land, and how to actively be part of a better future going forward together at Native Land or Whose Land.
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.