It’s summertime, which means beach reads are among us. Not to mention the fact that we’re halfway through 2021. (Eek!) How far along are you on your reading goals? I aim to read 52 books a year. I’m definitely not there yet. But I know a lot of us take this time of the year… Continue reading How to Enjoy Reading as a Writer (And Complete Those Reading Goals)
Tag: read
How to Name Your Characters
Naming your characters, especially your main characters, can feel like a daunting task. Some enjoy the thrill of it; others struggle a lot, and never quite feel like they found the “right” name. I, for one, love naming characters. I often joke that baby name books are some of my favorite reads and, in fact, I’ve… Continue reading How to Name Your Characters
Is it Possible to Read Too Much as a Writer?
Last year, I read 167 books according to Goodreads. Granted, this is a mixture of everything under the publishing sun: adult fiction, YA, MG, graphic novels, and, yes, even picture books. My job at the library has definitely broadened my reading sphere, for which I’m super grateful. (I never knew picture books could be so… Continue reading Is it Possible to Read Too Much as a Writer?
Writing in a New Genre
Maybe you hit a slump with your usual genre. Maybe you’re feeling the urge to explore. Maybe you just want to. Sometimes, authors want to write in a genre they’ve never written in before, but they don't know where to start. Well, that's what I'm here for. In fact, I recently went through this myself,… Continue reading Writing in a New Genre
Burning Out on Your Fav Genre
Before every YA fantasy writer in the world loses their mind, I want to start out by saying that I, myself, am a YA fantasy writer and reader. Again, try not to lose your minds. This isn’t a personal attack. There’s some AMAZING YA SFF coming out right now. My most recent fav was Warcross… Continue reading Burning Out on Your Fav Genre
The Difference Between a Fan and a Follower—and Why It’s Okay to Have Both
Marketing books can be difficult. And confusing. When I talk to brand-new writers who venture out into the marketing side of things, one of the first discussions we have is the difference between a fan and a follower. A fan = someone who reads and/or buys your books A follower = someone who follows your… Continue reading The Difference Between a Fan and a Follower—and Why It’s Okay to Have Both
YA Female Protagonists in STEM
We need more female protagonists in STEM fields, especially in YA. For those of you who don’t know, STEM covers science, technology, engineering, and math. The reason STEM needs to be explored more in YA fiction is to encourage young women to explore those fields in real life more. Hold the eye rolls. I get… Continue reading YA Female Protagonists in STEM
I DNF a Book
I DNF a book. For those of you who don’t know what “DNF” means, it means I did not finish reading a novel. Not a big deal, right? Wrong. For me, I rarely put a book down after I pick it up. Why? Because I feel like if I decided to read it, I need… Continue reading I DNF a Book
Book Release! Bad Bloods: July Thunder
Bad Bloods: July Thunder released today! Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads I hope you enjoy the latest addition to the Bad Bloods universe! As the author, I can tell you that you will meet TONS of new bad bloods. (My personal favorite is Skeleton. He was born a healthy baby boy, but he is slowly turning… Continue reading Book Release! Bad Bloods: July Thunder
Writers, It’s Okay To Log Out
Social media is a must for writers today. Connecting with readers through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other platforms is easy and welcomed, but it can get overwhelming. With the myriad of ways we have of posting information—sometimes live—it’s easy to succumb to publishing pressures. Personally, I still struggle to figure out where my balance is… Continue reading Writers, It’s Okay To Log Out
Shannon A. Thompson 