Your Job Is to Seduce, Not Explain
Bianca, Carly, and CeCe are joined by listener Yemeng Lu-Myers. Our hosts critique Yemeng’s upmarket novel, discussing the importance of specificity when discussing inciting incidents in queries, strengthening tension between a character’s obligations and their desire, as well as how comps and titles can be used to position your book for the right audience. Carly, CeCe, and Bianca also dig into Yemeng’s opening pages, emphasizing some of CeCe’s favourite things – interiority, emotionality, and curiosity! Listen to find out more about hooking and seducing readers… hint: don’t reveal all your cards right away! Note: CeCe Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates. If you’d like to query CeCe, please refer to the submission guidelines at www.wsherman.com. Carly Watters is a literary agent at P.S. Literary Agency, but her work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly on this podcast are solely that of her as a podcast co-host and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency. Find us on our socials: Threads: https://www.threads.net/@the_shit_about_writing https://www.threads.net/@biancamarais_author https://www.threads.net/@carlywatters https://www.threads.net/@cece_lyra_agent Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_shit_about_writing/ https://www.instagram.com/biancamarais_author/ https://www.instagram.com/carlywatters/ https://www.instagram.com/cece_lyra_agent/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TSNOTYAW Websites: www.theshitaboutwriting.com, www.biancamarais.com, www.carlywatters.com and www.cecilialyra.com Bookshop.org affiliate page: https://bookshop.org/shop/theshitnoonetellsyouaboutwriting To sign up for our Substack newsletter, head to https://theshitaboutwriting.substack.com Sign up for CeCe's course: https://learn-with-cece.thinkific.com/products/courses/cecescoachingcorner Our Sponsors: * Check out Quince and use my code TSNOTYAW for a great deal: https://www.quince.com * Check out Rosetta Stone and use my code RosettaStone.com/TODAY for a great deal: https://www.rosettastone.com * Check out The Comprehensive Copywriting Academy and use my code thecca.co/tspodcast for a great deal: https://thecca.co * Check out Wayfair: https://www.wayfair.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands