Shannon A. Thompson's Blog, page 6

NaNoWriMo is a Month Away! Are You Ready?

Many writers believe NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) starts in November. Though technically true, preparing ahead of time will set you up for success. Writing 50,000 words in 30 days isn’t easy, after all. But it can be easier than you thought.

Join me on Tuesday, October 10 at 7 PM EST for a free virtual workshop about NaNoWriMo Prep! I’ll be talking about fast drafting and getting the words down, including how to connect with your accountability community. Leave with a list of resources to help guide you during November! You’ll also get a copy of the slides.

Learn more here

You do not have to have an Orange Library card.

Please share with anyone who might be interested.

Have any questions? Let me know in the comments!

~SAT

Why You Should Never Call a Draft Final

You’ve done it! You’ve written an entire novel and hit THE END. You have even revised it a few times. The new file name?

FINAL DRAFT

There’s something inherently satisfying about telling yourself this is the final draft.

…But it isn’t.

Trust me. 

You will have more edits down the road. No matter if you traditionally publish or self-publish, you will make additional edits. That’s why you should avoid naming any draft “final.” It will only lead to confusion and frustration down the road. I mean, no one wants their book’s folder to look like this: 

FINAL.doc, FINALFINAL.doc, ThisIsTheFINAL.doc, FINALLYFINAL.doc, PickThisOne.doc

What a headache. 

Instead, try to name your drafts with specific reminders. Is this the version you sent to beta readers? Your agent? Include that information and the date. Sure, you can always check the date in the info tab, but it’s much easier to locate items if the information is readily available. File names should look like this: FirstDraft_(date) or Query2_(date). 

When I send my work to my critique partners, it looks like this: MBSDraft2KC_9.23.

Translated? Minutes Before Sunset, second draft, to Kansas City critique partners in September 2023.

File names are essential for keeping track of your work. It’s also easy to start out strong, and then unravel overtime, leaving your computer full of clunky, confusing documents. If you’re finding yourself lost in the drafting stage, try writing software, like Scrivener. It allows Snapshots, which keeps all your various versions in one place and automatically dates them. You can give them unique names, too! You can even compare the two documents through color-coding.

Finally—(haha)—my last tip is also my favorite: Create folders when there’s a clear reason to do so. For instance, queries should be in one folder; pages in another. Trust me, you’ll have various versions of every document you create. It’s much easier to find the synopsis you want if all of your various versions (with clear names!) are in one place rather than having query/synopsis/pages tagging along together. 

How do you stay organized? 

Let me know in the comments below!

~SAT

How an Unexpected Hospital Stay Changed My Writing

I was hospitalized this past month. If you follow my social media, you already know that, but if you’re mainly here, you probably don’t. Long story short, I caught suspected COVID, which turned into walking pneumonia, which meant I was on a lot of antibiotics…which turned into a severe CDiff infection. C Diff is a bacterial infection that causes colitis, sepsis, and even death. I was hospitalized for five days, and then I was able to go home for the remainder of my isolation period (five additional days). Now I’m back to work and life with more antibiotics and a severely restricted diet. But hey, I’m alive. That’s something to be happy about.

To be completely honest, my hospital stay was unexpected. That week, I left work early on Wednesday, because I suspected something was wrong, but I still tried to sleep it off. By Thursday morning, I was attempting to be seen by my doctor (who was scheduling two weeks out, so they told me to go to the ER) and an Urgent Care (whose power went out and sent me to another Urgent Care, who also told me to go to the ER).

Surely, I thought, it cannot be that bad.

I didn’t go to the ER. I went home. By that night, though, I had regretted that decision. I decided to go to the ER after dropping my daughter off at daycare Friday morning. I went in thinking I would be home for dinner. It came as quite a surprise when they told me I was staying overnight…and for quite a while. I was very, very sick.

Over the next few days, I got worse, and then better. I’m feeling decent now. A little more sluggish than usual, but that’s to be expected. What wasn’t expected was how fast everything spiraled out of my control.

You see, I work full-time as a Program Manager. I love plans. I thrive in plans. It’s why I outline all my books, set goals, and always hit them. In fact, right before I had been hospitalized, I had written 16k in a new WIP in only three days. I was feeling fantastic. I even dared to think that I would finish a first draft by the end of September. Silly me.

I haven’t even had a chance to get back into writing books.

Sure, I could’ve opened that document instead of writing this blog post, but the mere idea of diving into a larger piece right now feels daunting. I’ve barely managed to catch up at the day job after missing a week and a half, let alone catch up on home life and rest.

Logically, I know life comes first: my health, my family, then work, then writing.

It’s hard, though, when you already feel like you’ve fallen behind.

Many of my friends have gone on to get book deals or indie publish, or even decide it’s time to take a break and owning that break.

And I’m just…same ol’ me.

Don’t get me wrong. I am continuing to write. I want to keep writing. But I feel down about it right now.

I wish I could tell you I walked away from my hospital stay with grace and resilience and gratitude—and I do think those emotions are there—but doubt and guilt are still chomping away at my soul. Imposter syndrome, too.

Why bother, I think, when I keep having setback after setback? Is the universe telling me to quit? Am I not good enough? Healthy enough? Determined? Is this the end?

I don’t think it’s the end. I still love the two WIPs I was working on before, but getting back into them feels a lot like getting back into a car after a car wreck. (And I’ve been in a handful of those.) It’s nerve-racking. The uncertainty feels destabilizing. Basically, I am not as positive as I was before. My hospital stay changed my writing in a negative way. I don’t think that’s entirely unexpected. After having the wind taken out of your sails like that, it’s difficult to pick up speed again. But I know I will.

My goal is to try writing in my books this week. Even if it’s just one chapter. Even if I dread it. I won’t push it too hard, though. My health is going to come first. If not this week, then next week. If not that week, then the week after that. I trust I’ll find my way back soon.

Maybe my next blog post will be about finding your groove again.  

Maybe I’ll feel 100% by then and have new words to celebrate,

~SAT

P.S. I usually try to focus on positivity around here, but I also think it’s important to show the struggle, which is why I decided to share this. Maybe it’ll help others struggling to know they’re not alone in finding their way back after losing momentum.

3 Quick Writing Tips for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

I know you’ve experienced imposter syndrome. We all have. For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s that icky, anxious feeling that doesn’t allow you to enjoy your success. It tells you that your level of success is not enough or unearned. You feel like a fraud. Hence “imposter.” And honestly? Imposter syndrome doesn’t magically go away, even when you defeat it. Imposter syndrome comes back at various points in your writing career. It can even happen from book to book. It can make it hard to concentrate or even trigger writers’ block. So how do you overcome imposter syndrome?

Here are three quick tips:

Log Off Social Media

I know. It’s hard. Especially when you feel pressured to have a platform to network and sell books. But imposter syndrome is often triggered by the comparison bug. It’s easy to think you’re not good enough when you’re seeing agent announcement after book deal after award win. Overcome your self-doubt by limiting external influence. Granted, I know keeping up a platform is important for the algorithm, so if you absolutely cannot log off, then set timers on your phone, or create your content elsewhere, then copy and paste it into a post, before logging back off. Protect your peace.

2. Ask a Critique Partner for a Positivity Pass

This basically means you’re sending your work out and asking your CPs to tell you what is working only. Emphasize that you do not want them to criticize anything that isn’t working. You just want to hear the good. Sometimes seeing what is working can be just as helpful as being told what isn’t. It can give you a little confidence boost and help you lean into your strengths.

3. Finally, Accept That Your Imposter Syndrome May Be Right

What?! How dare you say that, Shannon! I know. It’s an unpopular opinion. But before you come at me, know that I do this to myself. Instead of fighting my imposter syndrome, I often lean into it, hard. When I think, I’m not very good at this, I then confront myself. So? What have you been good at and what are you going to do to be even better? I find a way to improve whatever I am feeling negatively about. If there isn’t room for improvement—for instance, you’re struggling with the next step in your career and it’s out of your control, like winning an award—then I tell myself this: So what? So what if you’re not good enough for this. You’re good enough for other things. And you love doing this. What else would you be doing with your time? If it happens, great. But if not, oh well. You still have your passion.

You see, we all start somewhere. It’s often in an awkward place. But many fledgling writers have all the confidence in the world. That confidence? It’s actually passion. Excitement. Energy. Imposter syndrome is a shadow that takes it all away. Your passion is the light that’s going to make it disappear.

Believe in yourself and, if you can’t do that, believe in your ability to do better next time.

I believe in you,

~SAT

The Writerly Urge to Throw Caution to the Wind

I wrote two blog posts before this one. Two that I ultimately threw out. Why? Because I worried how they would be perceived. I decided the anxiety wasn’t worth it to me, so into the trash it went. 

I feel like I’ve been doing that a lot lately.

It may start with a book idea. One I really like. Maybe I even spend significant time outlining it and drafting scenes. And then, an aspect of the story will stop me. Perhaps a brooding romantic interest with some toxic traits or a chosen one trope that seems overdone. How can I keep writing that book when I see thousands of complaints about it every day? 

Into the trash it goes.

Sometimes, this way of thinking affects my social media. A tweet here. A reel there. I’ll create a plan, get ready to post, think twice, hesitate, delete, delete, delete.

Putting myself out there often feels harder than it used to, and I’m not entirely sure why. 

When I first started this blog, I was a college student pursuing writing with eyes wide open. I made mistakes, and I knew I would make mistakes, and I was okay with making mistakes. But somewhere along the way, the fear of making mistakes became stronger than my confidence to try. Unfortunately, that has trickled into my writing. 

I analyze every aspect of a book idea now. Not because I’m trying to make it the best story it can be, but because I want it to appease expectations…and that’s not how great stories are made. 

Truly great stories have deeply flawed characters, worlds that make you question motivations, relationships that keep you up at night wondering what if. You don’t get stories like that when you play it safe all of the time. And I’m tired.

I miss the creative headspace I was in as a younger writer, when I would take a wild idea and run with it, chances be damned. That said, I recognize this self scrutiny doesn’t only come out of some people-pleasing drive, but rather the idea that I can control my likelihood at success. You might hear it called “writing to trend” or “knowing the market.” It’s the idea that if you know what publishers and readers want, then you can up your odds at a book deal. If that means avoiding the toxic male lead or blood magic or any number of tropes that have been recently frowned upon, then you tell yourself it’s worth it. 

But is it?

Right now, I’m staring down a handful of projects, all of which I’ve told myself aren’t worth pursuing because of some aspect that seems out of line. For instance, my haunted house book–which I have fully outlined and a quarter of the way written–has no underlying societal message that helps it stand out from “just a ghost story.” It has an awesome plot twist and new perspective, but it doesn’t feel like enough. In my other folder sits a second-chance rom-com that takes place during the COVID lockdown. I’ve tried to adjust the storyline out of the pandemic, but it becomes bland without it. Part of its charm is the complicated fog the characters are living in…and yet, publishing tends to frown at stories that are dated quickly. There is also an ick factor to writing a happy story taking place during a time where so many were suffering. (Even though it happens!) But I digress. 

They don’t feel like they stand a chance, so why bother?

Then again, maybe that’s where everything is going wrong. 

I’m more worried about what I will create next than how I am going to create it. I’m more focused on perception than intention. And I cannot control perception. I cannot control a lot. What I can control is this: The project I choose to write next, because I want to. The tropes I want to include, because I want to. The story, from beginning to end. 

I know there are readers out there for everything. Readers who love the very things that many critique. I want to keep those in mind who will love what I’m working on–more than those who will dislike it. But it’s hard. I’ve been writing for so long, pursuing traditional publication for so many years, that it feels foolhardy to ignore expectations. Letting go of the idea that I can up my odds. Taking a risk and throwing caution to the wind. 

But I want to. 

I want to write my next project because it’s the next project for me. I don’t want to worry about if it stands a chance in traditional publishing or how readers might perceive it. I just want to block it all out and create. I want to lean into the weird. Into the toxic. Into the uncomfortable gray of life. And I want to share it later. Whether I get a traditional publishing deal or I try self-publishing for the first time, I want to prove to myself that I can write something and put it out there. 

I want to throw caution to the wind. 

~SAT

Start a Writing Club for Teens at Your School

It’s almost that time of the year! We’re heading back to school. Something I love about this time is the opportunity. The connection. The ability for teen writers to find each other in a common space and discover resources together. In fact, finding a writing community can be a HUGE make-it-or-break-it scenario for writers. Why? Because writing is hard. Having friends who understand what you’re going through helps you keep pursuing the dream. That’s why writing clubs are so important.

So how does someone start a writing club at a school?

First, survey interest, including best time and day. Whenever you choose, try to find a way to include those who can’t make it to those meetings. Maybe you use a hybrid format. Maybe you switch from Wednesday afternoons to Thursday afternoons every other month. Maybe someone takes notes and forwards it to those who couldn’t be there. This will allow for more opportunities and therefore more members…and more members mean a more enriching environment.

Second, let the teens shape the club. What do they want from it? Studying craft? Writing together? Sharing? Use your first meeting to decide what subsequent meeting goals will be. Try to switch things up with various writing workshops. You could even invite guest speakers! (If you want me to speak at your school, please use my contact form. I would love to teach 2-3 events this school year.) Considering taking field trips to indie bookstores or the library. If you have critique group sessions, make sure to use best critique practices. Giving a good critique is a skill. Hurt feelings may mean less attendance. Plus, no one wants a teen writer to feel discouraged before they really get started. Set clear ground rules for critiques. Let writers opt out if they don’t want any. Maybe they just want a safe place to share. If they do want critiques, encourage a compliment sandwich: 1 positive remark, 1 critique, followed up by another positive aspect that’s working.

Finally, provide free resources: Make sure your teens know about craft books and writing websites. Remember that field trip to the library? Ask a librarian where students can find craft books, including through WorldCat. DEAR ALLY by Ally Carter is a how-to-write-books specifically for teens. There are so many! You can also show them how they can research topics for their stories. Help them discover writing websites that are free and encouraging, such as WriteGirl, which provides writing mentorships to girls are 13-18. NaNoWriMo has a young writers program. At the Story Center, we host writing programs all year long that are free and virtual. You do not have to have a Mid-Continent Public Library card to attend. (Google around! You may be surprised at how many free writing workshops are available.) Here are two of mine that are coming up this fall:

October 10, 2023: NaNoWriMo Prep: Prepare to Write a Book in a Month: Virtual & Free! 7 PM Eastern. National Novel Writing Month encourages authors to write a book in a month. Author Shannon Thompson will help you get ready to write a first draft quickly, whether you’re doing NaNoWriMo or not! Register. (You do not have to have a Orange County Library card to attend.)

November 14, 2023: How to Write a Book Series: Virtual & Free! 7 PM Eastern. Author Shannon Thompson will discuss how to write a series by exploring how to use outlines, book bibles, and subplots to keep each book consistent, but also fresh and exciting. Register. (You do not have to have a Orange County Library card to attend.)

I hope this helps you start a writing club at your school!

~SAT

P.S. You may have noticed that I switched my blogs back to Mondays! I tried Wednesdays, but all stats indicate that you all prefer Mondays, so I’m going back to my old posting schedule: the first and third Monday of the month (and fifth, if there happens to be one—like today!) Thank you for your understanding as I try some new things out!

See you again on August 7!

A Line-By-Line Revision Tip No One Talks About

Every day I talk to writers who are struggling to get their book in a place where they feel proud. It always feels like a draft, not a product. So how does an author go from a first draft to the final piece? It’s different for everyone! That said, when I was an editor, polishing line-by-line was truly when a book would start to shine. This is why I wanted to share a quick revision tip that has helped me over the years (even though I don’t see it discussed often). It all comes down to this:

Save descriptions you struggle with for later. 

When I’m fast-drafting, I will skip over descriptions that I know will require more energy. For me, that generally means clothing. I barely know the difference between silk and lace. It’s not something that comes to me naturally. I’m a t-shirt and slacks sort of a gal. Granted, I know that you don’t have to include clothing descriptions in your novel, especially in every scene, but it would be weird if clothes were never mentioned, right? That’s why I typically put in placeholders and fill them in later. My first draft might look like this:

His mother met him at the top of the grand staircase. (insert fancy dress description)

Then, when I go back to revise, I will research how others do it. Maybe that means I flip through some of my favorite books. Maybe I’m Googling clothing websites. Sometimes, I find something I like on Pinterest and then check out what, exactly, the clothing is, so that I have the vocabulary to explain it. Now my scene looks like this:

His mother wore a lilac gown decorated with richly gathered tulle. Along the neckline, glimmering embroidery caught the candlelight as she neared the grand staircase, holding out her hand for him to take.

You can apply this method to anything. Struggle with rooms? Visit Zillow. Lost on scents? Peruse a candle shop. What about colors? Hello paint swatches. No matter the topic, someone somewhere has written something about it. This does not mean you are copying and pasting someone else’s writing. Hard stop. That’s plagiarism. This method is meant to inspire you and educate you. You still need to put everything in your own words. This will take practice and time. But at least you now have the tools to start building your voice in a focused way. 

The first step is knowing what types of descriptions you struggle with, and then spending extra time understanding how to do it successfully. Your vocabulary base will build over time, and soon, that kind of describing will be a natural part of your writing voice. 

As a writer, you will research lots of topics to bring your story to life. 

Why not research line-by-line details, too? 

~SAT

Create A Book Bible With Me

Every time I write a novel, I create a book bible. 

What is a book bible? 

It’s a collection of documents that helps you keep your story consistent and believable. You might include character descriptions, timelines, world building notes, and more. This process can be vital in staying organized through various revisions, especially if you’re writing a series. 

How do I create mine? 

I typically build it before I start writing. Even if I am pantsing, I have the folders organized, so that I can drop information in as I go. 

This is my organizational method:

Pitch: I always write a query letter and synopsis before I start writing my book. This helps me boil down my pitch and truly understand what I’m trying to say. I also reference it if I start to feel lost while drafting. It helps remind me of what, essentially and at its core, I am writing.Query letterSynopsisCharactersAge, descriptions (typically taken from the book), motivations, secrets  Arcs: I track my character’s purpose in the story, but I also include side characters’ personal story arcs. (I believe that every character should feel as if they are the main character of their story.) For example:Story purpose: Sascha, my side character, is meant to become best friend’s with Amoret to show that Amoret is capable of friendship.Personal story: Sascha is trying to break her sister’s curse.  (This shows that Sascha’s personal story could be its own novel, or at least short story, but it’s only a subplot in my book.)Timelines:How my characters, but especially my main characters, got to the starting point of the book Family histories where applicable (I’ve gone back as far as three generations), but typically one generation is enough World BuildingUnique words and their definitionsMagic soft/hard, limits/consequences Locations/MapInspirational pictures/link to my Pinterest boardResearch: This is often broken up into numerous topics. For instance, my recent WIP leans heavily on a STEM theme. I researched various elements to build my characters. Some of those topics needed more attention than others, so my Scrivener Binder looks a little like this:Research:Elements:CopperLithiumHeliumOtherSpaceOceanOutlinesOrganized outline for storyUnorganized ideasUnique circumstances:For dual POV, I will have two: the book order outline and the order separated by character. This helps me make sure the POVs are balanced. For nonlinear stories, I will have two: the book order and the linear order–to double check that it makes sense For unreliable narrators: I will have two: what the unreliable character thinks happened and what actually happened. That way, I’m making sure I actually know the truth and that the unreliability feel believable rather than cheap. 

This is just my setup. It may help you. It may not. What’s most important about a book bible is that it holds all the elements you need as the writer to make your book successful. 

If you have a special way of building your book bible, I’d love to hear it! I also think it helps others when fellow writers can see various ways of organizing, so please share in the comments.

~SAT

Revising Tips for Beginners

I recently started writing my seventeenth novel. A bit mind-blowing, I know, but I’ve learned a lot over the years. Especially how to set myself up for success. To be honest, it mostly comes down to staying organized from Chapter One to The End…and throughout my various revisions. The more organized you are, the easier revising is going to be. Trust me. 

Revising starts with writing.

What do I mean by that? I mean, you are thinking about revising from page one. How are you going to keep your ideas organized? Do you have a checklist of elements you know you need to review? In what order are you going to tackle your changes? How are you making sure that your various revisions don’t get lost in file names like this: DraftOne, DraftThree, FinalDraft, FinalFINALdraft.

Every writer will have their own organizational method. The way I stay organized is by using Scrivener. I take advantage of their snapshot feature, which allows me to keep all my drafts in one place, organized by name and date. I also use the Binder to keep a folder for my book bible, which typically includes my world building, character notes, and research. I even like to divide my novel into three different folders: What I’ve already revised, what I’ve sent to critique partners, and what I’m drafting that hasn’t yet been seen. But again, that’s just what works for me. 

That said, there’s one more important rule I tell every newbie writer to seriously consider:  

Avoid revising as you go. 

This is easier said than done. Even I go back and revise a little to make sense of things before moving forward. But try to resist this urge as much as possible. Why? Because I’ve seen way too many writers get stuck in a revision-loop. They end up writing chapters 1-10 a dozen times before moving on to 10-20, only to go back and revise 1-10 again based on new information they learn later in the book. 

Write the whole book. Take notes as you go. (Keep those notes in order.) When you finish–and you have a list of everything you want to change–then you can start the revision process. 

This will prevent you from spending too much time on one project. Your momentum will keep moving forward. 

For more tips, join me on Tuesday, June 27 at 7 PM Eastern time for a free, virtual class on Revising Your Manuscript. I’ll be covering line-by-line edits, overall content, and how to handle conflicting feedback from your critique partners. You can register here. You do not have to have an Orange County Library card in order to attend. 

I hope to see you there!

~SAT

Summer Writing Tips for Teens

When I look back on my writing life as a teen, I think about the summer a lot. I loved nothing more than spending hot sunny days swimming, evenings working at the restaurant, and late late evenings writing in my books. (Seriously, how did I have so much energy?) 

That said, there are a few things I wish I had done differently while writing back then and things I’m really proud (and grateful) that I did, so I thought I’d share a few tips as you all embark on your summer break.   

Take Advantage of the Long, Lazy Days and Explore Your Ideas (And Life!)

Summer is the perfect time to relax and let your imagination run wild. Explore different genres, styles, and voices. When I was a teen, I always used to pick one book and stick with it for wayyyyy too long. (Sometimes years!) That has its benefits—one of mine ended up becoming the Timely Death trilogy—but I highly encourage young writers to dabble in a handful of manuscripts instead of getting hyper-focused on one. 

Why? 

Because the creativity I had as a teen was far superior than what I have now. I never held myself back with expectations, such as wondering if a strange magic system could sell. I just wrote what I wanted. 

Magical swords in the Midwest? Check. 

Shadow powers and sparkly rain? What about telepathy? Check. 

People who have two faces/identities and no one knows who the others are? Check! 

I came up with the magic system of the Timely Death trilogy when I was fourteen. I can’t confidently say I would’ve allowed myself to write it now. I would’ve been too discouraged by genre expectations. And once you get wrapped up in that professional mindset, it can be really, really difficult to harness that raw creativity of childhood again. So lean into your teenage-ness! You are awesome for it. The ideas you come up with now are ones you will carry with you for the rest of your creative life. Trust me. Now is the time to go exploring. Not just with your writing, but also real life. Search for free or cheap things to do in your town/city, and get out there with your friends. Living life fuels imagination. 

Study Grammar 

Seriously, not to kick school or anything—I went to a great high school—but I didn’t learn grammar in class. I’m sure teachers taught us the basics, but it was so fast (and we were flooded with so much information all of the time) that most of it didn’t stick. My first manuscript is proof of that. It’s riddled with mistakes I shudder at now. I was incredibly embarrassed when people read it and asked me if I knew the difference between “then” and “than,” because—Well, I didn’t. Not really. (And I was in AP English!) It sounds hard to believe, but for me, school was less about retaining knowledge and more about surviving all my classes, homework, and life and still getting decent enough grades to go to college…which I did, despite fumbling my grammar. It wasn’t until I shared my book with others (and got so embarrassed) that I realized I needed to learn grammar for real. I recommend reading craft books or checking out resources such as Grammar Girl. Those resources weren’t available to me as a teen, though. And honestly, they can feel a little boring. So, if that’s not your style, the way I taught myself as a teen was to study the books I was currently reading. I would take them off my bookshelf and look at examples of how dialogue was formatted under different circumstances. Same with any other element. (And yes, I eventually learned the difference between “then” and “than.”) In fact, I started reading books with a highlighter and colored pens so that I could take notes while I was going. It was super helpful!

No matter how you decide to write this summer, make sure you have time to just be you: a teen on summer break. It’s so easy to think you’re running out of time when you’re young, but you truly do have lots of time in front of you to write your books, find your voice, and decide how/when you want to pursue publishing. What matters now is enjoying the moment. 

~SAT

P.S. At my day job, we’re hosting a free, virtual (and in-person) novel-writing program for teens. Check it out.