I read a lot. I also read reviews, though I tend to read reviews after I have read a book myself. Why? Well, I used to rely on reviews to pick books, but now I tend to rely on a trusted few (and my own gut) to pick and choose. Even so, my interest in… Continue reading When A Character Does Something You Dislike
Author: Shannon A Thompson
Hi! I'm Shannon. I'm a young adult author. Speaker. Librarian. Cat lady. I thrive on moonlight & coffee. I'd love it if you said hello! I am represented by Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.
Setting 2018 Writing Goals
Now that we’re a week into 2018, you’ve probably set new goals and you’re already striving after them. And that’s awesome! But I made a huge mistake while setting goals last year, and I thought I’d discuss it, so you don’t make the same mistake I did when you tackle your writing life this year.… Continue reading Setting 2018 Writing Goals
2017’s Top Ten Articles
Every year, I like to look back and see what everyone was discussing. I try to collect the best discussions and revisit them, so here's a list of this year's most popular articles. Normally, I would’ve made this list based on a combination of unique views, comments, and shares, but I didn’t track that as… Continue reading 2017’s Top Ten Articles
My Favorite YA Books of 2017
I’m judging this based on what I read in 2017, not necessarily books that released in 2017, and I’m only focusing on YA. If you want a complete list of books I read, check out my Goodreads challenge. A lot of these books could fall into more than one category, but I didn’t want repeats, so… Continue reading My Favorite YA Books of 2017
2018 YA Predictions
So I’m feeling a little crazy today, mainly because I write these posts every year…and yet I can’t find my post predicting 2017. Here’s my post predicting 2016, though. (Seriously, I wrote one for 2017, didn’t I? I could’ve sworn…) Anyway, I like to write these for fun. They aren’t supposed to really mean anything,… Continue reading 2018 YA Predictions
2017 Wasn’t My Writing Year
Last year, I wrote an incredibly positive article called, Dear Writers, 2017 Can Be Your Year! It summed up my 2016 accomplishments and how I got there by taking advantage of every opportunity I could and working hard, and how you can, too. (Oh, how I side-eye myself so hard now.) This year? I failed most… Continue reading 2017 Wasn’t My Writing Year
2017 Favorite Writing Tools
Toward the end of every year, I like to talk about my favorite books, but I thought I’d share my favorite new writing experiences, too. This list is based on tools I tried in 2017, not necessarily tools that released in 2017, but I hope you find it helpful anyway. Website: MSWL For those of… Continue reading 2017 Favorite Writing Tools
Balancing Writing During the Holidays
Most writers aren't able to write full time. That means we tend to work full time and write full time. Between writing, querying, editing, and marketing, our schedules can quickly feel crushing, especially if you’re working toward a very specific goal, such as a revision deadline. Taking breaks can often make writers feel guilty. But… Continue reading Balancing Writing During the Holidays
A Writer’s Best Friend is Google
As an author, I LOVE helping fellow writers. In fact, I encourage writers to message me whenever they want with whatever questions they have. But don’t forget, folks. Google is your best friend. Recently, maybe due to NaNoWriMo, I've received A LOT more messages than usual. The most common one: “How can I get my… Continue reading A Writer’s Best Friend is Google
Take Notes While Writing a Series
While on Twitter the other day, writer A.J. Forrisi asked an amazing question! https://twitter.com/AjForrisi/status/928268520458260482 P.S. Give A.J. a follow! My quick answer? Take notes on your first book, so that writing the sequel isn't as difficult. (And definitely do a read-through. ) I keep a character bible and chapter summaries for each book in a series.… Continue reading Take Notes While Writing a Series
