Writing Tips

#WW Help! My Female Character Is Flat

I’m guilty! Oh, so guilty. While writing my latest manuscript for my publisher, I hit a snag 38,000 words in, and could not—for the life of me—figure out what was wrong with it. Then, I realized what happened. My female protagonist was flat. Allow me to back track for a little bit. I never used… Continue reading #WW Help! My Female Character Is Flat

Writing Tips

#WW Writing Quicksand

Writing quicksand is a term I like to use to describe when writing is doing more damage than good. You know, the more you move, the faster you sink? It can happen in writing, too. Of course, writers should write all time. Whenever they can, really. But sometimes, it’s best to walk away for a… Continue reading #WW Writing Quicksand

Miscellaneous

#SATurdate: Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Jane Got a Gun, Sausage Party, & Galaktaboreko

What I’m Writing: I worked with some awesome writers this week on various projects! I’m keeping my fingers crossed about the future, because I love, love, love where everything is going. All that being said, I work with a lot of writers from all kinds of backgrounds every day. So many of us are not… Continue reading #SATurdate: Blue Lily, Lily Blue, Jane Got a Gun, Sausage Party, & Galaktaboreko

Miscellaneous

August’s Ketchup

Wow! August, I’m looking at you. You are wonderful. For those of you just now checking in this month, Ketchup actually means “catch up.” At the end of every month, I write these posts describing what goes on behind the scenes at ShannonAThompson.com. Some of the topics I cover include my big moments, top blog… Continue reading August’s Ketchup

Miscellaneous

#SATurdate: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, W – Two Worlds, & YALLFest.

What I’m Writing: Honestly, I’ve put the next Bad Bloods books away for now. Sophia would not shut up, so I spent my writing time obliging her this week. Basically, I wrote in book 3 of the Tomo Trilogy, Take Me Never. I know. I know. Book 1 isn’t even out, so a lot of… Continue reading #SATurdate: An Ember in the Ashes, A Torch Against the Night, W – Two Worlds, & YALLFest.

Miscellaneous

#MondayBlogs Writing Tips: Naming Your Characters

Naming characters is really important! It can also be fun…and a little daunting. Choosing them can take hours, and on top of that, publishers might change them anyway. But that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the process. In this article, I’ll list a few aspects to consider while naming your characters, and I’ll include websites… Continue reading #MondayBlogs Writing Tips: Naming Your Characters

Miscellaneous

#MondayBlogs An Author Who Fears Public Speaking

Despite working with the English language every day—as a writer, as an editor, and as a reader—I have difficulty speaking. I stumble and stutter a lot. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I worked so hard to master the written language. I was making up for another aspect of the language I didn’t excel… Continue reading #MondayBlogs An Author Who Fears Public Speaking

Writing Tips

#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

#MondayBlogs Writing Tips: Different Perspectives

I love writing from different perspectives. Both my YA series—The Timely Death Trilogy and Bad Bloods—are written in first POV but from two different speakers. I love using this technique for novel writing, because I enjoy first person, but I dislike how it restricts the storytelling to one character, especially when a scene would be… Continue reading #MondayBlogs Writing Tips: Different Perspectives

Writing Tips

#WW Connecting Books Across Genres

I’m a young adult author who writes in various genres. I have contemporary, paranormal romance, fantasy, and science fiction published, but my two main series include a Dark vs. Light paranormal romance that takes place in the small Midwest town of Hayworth—The Timely Death Trilogy—and a science fiction duology—Bad Bloods—about children with hindering abilities fighting… Continue reading #WW Connecting Books Across Genres