I was working on my WIP recently when I started talking about my book with a librarian friend. Specifically scenes where my main character fixes up an old sports car and starts racing around her country town. To my surprise, my friend assumed she would crash the car and eventually learn that this behavior is… Continue reading Should Young Adult Books Teach a Lesson?
Tag: writing fiction
Writing the Cliffhanger
Love them or hate them, cliffhangers are popular and utilized in lots of books nowadays, even the ones that never get (or intend) a sequel to follow up the ending. So what’s the difference between a cliffhanger that makes a reader pick up the next book and the one that makes the reader chuck the… Continue reading Writing the Cliffhanger
Writing Crying Scenes
Crying is a common experience. “A study in the 1980s found that women cry an average of 5.3 times per month and men cry an average of 1.3 times per month. A newer study found that the average duration for a crying session was eight minutes.” (Heathline) Does this mean your characters should cry that much in your story? Probably… Continue reading Writing Crying Scenes
2020: The Strangest Writing Year (Hopefully?)
Every year I like to reflect and talk about expectations, goal-setting, writing life, changing trends, etc., and as strange as this past year has been, I still want to keep that tradition going. That said, looking back, January feels like it happened three years ago, not eleven months. In fact, right at the beginning of… Continue reading 2020: The Strangest Writing Year (Hopefully?)
2020 Author Goals
2019 is over, and honestly it feels like a blur. I know this post is going to seem like a hard brag. I promise that isn’t my intention. I accomplished a lot this year, but I can’t say that I allowed much happiness into my life, especially toward the end of 2019. The beginning felt… Continue reading 2020 Author Goals
My Experience Querying & Getting an Agent
Recently, as many of you know, I signed with a literary agent. (See announcement.) It’s a time a lot of writers dream of, a time highlighted with celebratory GIF tweets screaming, I did it! I did it! And I’m READY. It’s a lot of fun, definitely exciting, and often followed up with a “How I Got My… Continue reading My Experience Querying & Getting an Agent
#MondayBlogs Feeling Down About Writing? Here’s How To Write Again!
Recently, I felt down about writing. When I sat at the computer, the words didn’t flow, and when I walked away, the urge to try again was gone. I struggled and searched for the reason I was struggling and continued to struggle again. Honestly, my “down” period was caused by the holidays, and let’s be… Continue reading #MondayBlogs Feeling Down About Writing? Here’s How To Write Again!
#WW When You Shouldn’t Write That Book
There comes a time in every writer’s life when they realize they cannot write that book….and I’m not talking about writer’s block. I’m talking about when you want to write a book, but you know you shouldn’t. Maybe not yet. Maybe never. Of course, I’m not saying a writer CAN’T write that book. Not forever… Continue reading #WW When You Shouldn’t Write That Book
Writing Tips: Keeping Track of Time
How many times have you been following a television show, and there is a full moon every episode? Or their clothes don't change? Or the weather stays the same all year long, unless snow, rain, or sunshine is used for symbolic enhancement? It's unrealistic, and it drives me crazy. It may be a personal pet… Continue reading Writing Tips: Keeping Track of Time
Writing Tips: Titling Your Novel
I'm so glad you all enjoyed my Events page. I'm really excited to show my timeline with you (and, to be honest, digging through my portfolio was such an encouraging adventure! I hope you are inspired to do the same. It's a confidence booster. I hadn't realized how much media I'd done until I spread… Continue reading Writing Tips: Titling Your Novel
Shannon A. Thompson 