Shannon A. Thompson's Blog, page 7

Happy Memorial Day! + Blogging News & Giveaways

Happy Memorial Day!

I usually blog on the first and third Mondays of the month (and will include one if there’s a fifth), which is why I thought today might be a great time to update everyone.

My blogging schedule is changing!

Moving forward, I’ll be posting on the first and third Wednesday of the month. This means my next post will be on Wednesday, June 7.

In the meantime, there are two more days to enter the 10-Year Anniversary Celebration giveaway! I have two giveaways happening: one for readers and one for writers.

Three writers will win a query critique and feedback on their first ten pages.

Readers will win a signed set of the Timely Death trilogy, a collector’s edition, and two $25 gift cards—one to any bookstore and another to use toward any diverse writer.

You can enter those giveaways here.

Other than that, I will be teaching two FREE virtual classes this June.

Monday, June 12, 2023: Starting a Writing Project (ZOOM): 6:30pm – 8:00pm Central: Start your writing project with Story Center Program Manager and author Shannon Thompson by diving deep into creative inspiration, and learn tricks to prevent writer’s block. Then discover tools to help you set realistic goals and stay on track. Come prepared to put pen to paper. Registration and information.

Tuesday, June 27, 2023: Revising Your Manuscript (Virtual): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM Eastern: Learn how to revise your manuscript for publication. Author and mentor Shannon A. Thompson will provide self-editing tips and discuss how to handle feedback from critique partners. Register here. Please note, you do not have to have an Orange County Library card. This FREE virtual writing class is for Orange County Library’s Traditional Publishing Summer Boot Camp.

See you June 7!

~SAT

Becoming a Mom Has Made Me A Better (And Worse) Writer

One day after my first Mother’s Day and my mind is reeling. I am so incredibly lucky to be a mom. I love Winnie bear. I love watching her grow and explore, and her giggles just wake up my life in a way that nothing else ever has. Kids are amazing. But they do change your life a lot. And I mean, A LOT.

I’ve always thought this was an obvious statement, even before kids. That said, there is a need to be more open and honest about what, exactly, the experience is like, so that others have an easier time making the right decision for their families. Which is why I wanted to talk about how becoming a mother has affected my life, particularly my writing life. 

Here’s the full picture: I work full time as a program manager at The Story Center. That means I’m at work a minimum of forty hours a week, with occasional nights and weekends. I’m also a mother, daughter, wife, friend, and writer. 

With 24 hours in a day, there’s only so much we can do and, even though I’ve talked about My Average Day as a Working, Writing Mom, I thought I would lean into the writing part a little bit more today. Mostly because I see lots of writers online talking about how much they fear having kids will take away their ability to pursue writing. Granted, everyone’s life is different. I can’t tell you how your situation will unfold. But this is how becoming a mom has affected my writing life. 

For one, my attention is more divided and I’ve had to learn to be more flexible. I wrote this blog post in several parts. The first half during my baby’s afternoon nap on a Sunday; the second part during my lunch break the following Monday. I also write on my phone so much more than I used to. Between running to and from work, doctors’ appointments, daycare, and other miscellaneous life moments, it’s much easier to write on my phone than to lug my laptop around. (Though I still do that, too!)

More obvious is that I’m tired. Like really tired. 

As someone who has medically diagnosed insomnia that requires medication, I used to think parents were being jerks when they said they were the only ones who understood exhaustion. Now? I get what they mean. It’s not that others don’t understand exhaustion. They totally do. But I can count the number of nights I’ve been able to sleep through the night over the past eight months on one hand. I have insomnia AND a baby. (And I can’t take medication anymore, because, well, I can’t sleep through her middle of the night cries.) Even worse, I’m also dealing with postpartum complications. Mostly severe anemia that requires iron infusions that make me more susceptible to other illnesses. When I get sick, I don’t get to sleep to recover, and since my baby’s in daycare, our immune systems can’t keep up. We had less days last month where we weren’t sick than days where we were. Illness is almost never-ending right now. Managing that stress on top of limited PTO while working in an office is a lot to juggle. 

Granted, my writing hasn’t stopped. In fact, in many ways, I’m getting more done than ever before. 

Why? 

Because I 1000% embrace any writing time I can find. Before having a baby, I might’ve been more tempted to watch a TV show or scroll social media, but now? I know that I’m not going to get more time to write later, so I get my butt in a chair and get it done. 

Even better? My instincts are sharper (at least according to my critique partners). I found this to be the most surprising, but after talking to one of my CPs about why this might be, she pointed out that it could correlate to the time crunch I’m under. I don’t have time to second guess the scene. I just get the words down and keep going. Granted, on a line level, my first draft is sloppier than usual. I may be writing faster, but my grammar has taken a hit. Just recently, I was revising my work when I realized I had an inconsistency with my character’s eye color. I’ve never done that before. My word choice was also not as flavorful. I definitely had to edit the individual lines more than I had to in the past, but the storyline itself was higher quality. 

In the end, becoming a mom didn’t make me a better or worse writer. It didn’t even necessarily change me as a person. I’m still me—just with an awesome little kid in my life—and managing that has shifted my priorities, energy, and abilities. But I’m still trekking along. 

Since Winsloe was born, I’ve written an entire novel and revised a third of it. I’ve kept up with my newsletter, blog, and social media. I’ve even written some special projects on the side. All in between naps, on lunch breaks, and stolen minutes here and there. Is it hard? Yes. Is it worth it? Hell yes. I know I’m on my way to doing even more.

I can’t wait to tell my baby girl she can have her dream job, follow her passion, and have a lovely family in her life. 

~SAT

Minutes Before Sunset 10-Year Anniversary Giveaway!

10 years ago today, Minutes Before Sunset was published! Can you believe it’s been that long? I definitely can’t! It blows my mind. 

Don’t recognize that book cover? That’s because it was the original version with its first publisher. But we’ll get into the backstory in a minute. First, the fun part: 

To celebrate, I’m hosting a HUGE giveaway. You could win:

A signed set of the Timely Death trilogy, one copy of the original book as a collector’s item, AND I will buy any book written by a diverse author up to $25. You’ll also get a $25 bookstore gift card! 

The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter. 

I’m also giving away query critiques + first ten pages to three writers. Also chosen via Rafflecopter! Bonus points will go to diverse writers, Midwest writers, young adult writers, and paranormal romance writers, but anyone can win! 

But FIRST. 

The first time I ever held Death Before Daylight.

I wanted to share a little backstory for those of you who haven’t been around since 2013. Minutes Before Sunset, book 1 of the Timely Death trilogy, was originally published by AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc. They also published Seconds Before Sunset, book 2…and one month before book 3 was to release, they shuttered their doors. It was such a career blow. I connected with so many readers while I was there, and I had no idea what would happen to the series (or me)…until I wrote I Lost My Publisher, and a fan suggested I submit to CTP Publishing. Amazingly, they signed me! I got to write I Have a New Publisher! only a few months later. They picked up the trilogy and published all three that year, including book 3, Death Before Daylight. I never thought I’d see that day. CTP Publishing also went on to publish my Bad Bloods series, too. It was quite the plot-twisting journey. 

These three books are so incredibly special to me. 

I initially wrote these books as a teen when I wanted to see a paranormal romance set in Kansas. (Check out these original mockup covers I made back then.) I also wanted new creatures! And magical swords! And two people who were falling in love without truly knowing who the other was. 

That’s when Eric and Jessica were born. Not only are they two teens struggling with homework and friendships and learning to drive a car, they are also shape-shifting shades coping with a fight-to-the-death prophecy. People who are human during the day and magical beings at night, with totally different faces. (Did I mention their magical powers and star-crossed fate?) 

I won’t lie, I return to this trilogy often. Not just to reminisce, but also because I dream of writing and publishing a new adult trilogy that starts after THE END. I just can’t let them go some days. Eric, Jessica, Jonathan, Crystal…they all live inside my heart. In fact, I already have an outline and a few chapters written. (I’m including an exclusive sneak peek of the new adult trilogy in my newsletter next week, so be sure to subscribe!) I know all my love for this trilogy is largely in part because of the many readers who have picked up this series, enjoyed it, and reached out to me to talk about it. In fact, I still get new emails today, and they make me so incredibly happy. 

Anyway, if I had to end this celebration with anything, I’d tell readers THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. You are incredible. You amaze me, and you are the reason I still have hope for my writing to this day. You gave me the experience of a lifetime, reviewing and requesting for bookstores to hold my novel in their stores. Because of the Timely Death trilogy, I was invited to speak during BFest and a Valentine’s Day event at four different Barnes & Nobles. I saw my book placed on the shelves beside Twilight. I spoke about villains at Wizard World Comic Con. I had signings in coffee shops, hookah bars, and more. I made my first book box, heard my first audiobook with dual narrators ADD narrator video, and received my first fan art.  Celebrities quoted the story. Minutes Before Sunset won Goodreads Book of the Month in an exclusive book club group! I could honestly go on and on. 

Signing books at LitUP! Signing books at Penned Con Speaking on a villains panel at Wizard World! Sold out at Wizard World Comic Con! BFest! Valentine’s Day Author Event in B&N Halloween Coffee Shop signing! My latest Andrew Vogel from Under the Dome, reading Minutes Before Sunset’s 1st edition. A book signing at a hookah bar

I cannot express to you how grateful I am. If I can do anything, I can promise you that I’m still writing every day, and I WILL get another book out in the world. 

Until then, why not check out one of my writing blogs about the book? 

The Timely Death Trilogy World Building ExplainedIn Writing Tips: Make Maps (Interior) I explained the importance of creating physical maps for novel-telling.How Anxiety Influenced my Trilogy: I have been in too many car wrecks, but this is one of the reasons I used car wrecks in my trilogy.Read about the black-eyed children, the urban legend that inspired the Light by clicking here.How I choose who gets to speak in my dual perspective writing style.What changed from the first draft of Minutes Before Sunset to its publication is explained here.The second novel in a trilogy often falls flat. This is what I did about that.Check out the soundtrack featured on 8tracks here.How my teen self made a picture book pre-Pinterest daysSee how the covers evolved over the yearsHow I wrote a series over the years, including more cover evolutions!

You can even play one of our favorite Dark games from wayyyy back in the day!

Okay. Okay. But what about the giveaway? 

I didn’t forget!

In fact, I’m telling you all this because this lore is part of the giveaway.  

Good luck!

Enter the Giveaway for ReadersEnter the Giveaway for Writers

What ChatGPT Taught Me About My Author Brand

On Twitter the other day, (as writers do), I came across a writer who had ChatGPT write ten tweets in her style, just to see what it thought of her voice. They were hilarious. Moments later, another writer I followed did the same thing. (Also hilarious.) I won’t lie, I have never used ChatGPT before, but I’d heard a little about the AI chat bot here and there. Mostly that students had used it to write papers, teachers had used it to create lesson plans, and some writers were starting to use it for their novels. Controversial stuff. I’m certainly on the side of not using AI to create art. But as a social media gimmick? It sounded like a fun experiment to me. So, I spoke to ChatGPT for the first time. 

First, I asked it to create 10 tweets in my style, just as the others had. It immediately cranked them out. Here were the first three. 

Writing is the closest we can get to magic in this world. One word can spark imagination, create entire worlds, and move hearts. There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you’re lost in a good book. Make time for reading, always. Inspiration can strike in the most random of moments. Be ready to jot down those ideas whenever and wherever they come.

Inspiring! But also disappointing. I couldn’t help but think they were so very…basic. Anyone writing anything anywhere could’ve tweeted those thoughts. So, I adjusted the prompt. I asked ChatGPT to be funny…even though I know that I’m very much NOT funny online. Here’s the first three from that: 

Writers block? More like writer’s bribe. I’ll give you a cookie if you just spit out some words. Just realized I’ve been staring at my computer for 4 hours straight without blinking. Time flies when you’re not productive #procrastinationqueen I was about to write a great plot twist but then I remembered I already used it in a previous book. Looks like it’s pizza for dinner instead of a bestseller 

These obviously were a lot more entertaining. But did they sound like me? No, not really. I’m not a huge procrastinator for one. In fact, if you search “procrastination” with my handle, you’ll only see three tweets…and all three were in 2012 regarding my last semester at college. Not writing. My guess here is that the bot pulls from other writers’ tweets in general, not just your own. But that would make sense in this case, considering I gave it a task that isn’t reflective of me. 

What I found most interesting at this point was how familiar these tweets still felt. I won’t lie, I had a moment where I wondered how many content creators are already using tools like this on a regular basis. Not that I’m judging them for it. That’s their business. It can be hard to consistently create, create, create. But should the solution be to lean on automated tools rather than taking a break, as humans do, to refresh the authentic creative well? 

I guess that’s another post for another day. 

Alas, I’m here to talk about what I learned about myself, so let’s retract a bit. 

After getting my two sets of tweets, I couldn’t help but feel a familiar dread I’ve been coping with over the past couple of weeks. (Maybe even years.) You see, I have 23,000 followers spread out over my website, newsletter, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc. But I’ve never felt like I stood out and, despite my numbers, my interactions have been dwindling. It’s a little depressing, especially when I haven’t been published in five years. I can’t help but think I’m missing that special spark others have, and that lack of light is holding me back. 

This exercise solidified that feeling for me. 

Why?

Well, because my “voice” through this bot was so bland. It kind of felt like it could’ve been written by anyone about anyone. Granted, I know correlation is not causation. This was more of an exercise and not necessarily an accurate depiction of who I am all of the time, but it certainly got me thinking. 

Who am I? What do I have to say that is so unique? Why should anyone care? How can I stand out? How can others immediately recognize my brand upon seeing it, and what should that branding be?

To further my assessment, I asked ChatGPT to write a 1,000-word blog post based on this very blog. I wanted to see what it picked up from my website as a whole. In this scenario, it got a lot wrong. Mainly, it still thought my editing services were available. It incorrectly credited me to running a popular writers’ group on Facebook that I’ve never even heard of, and the rest was basic. Again. Overall, though, it gave a very welcoming tone. Which was nice. But again, pretty bland. 

At the end of the exercises, this one helped me see that the AI bot still has plenty of limitations. It shouldn’t be taken too seriously. However, it confirmed my suspicions that I could work a little harder to share my thoughts and feelings in a deeper, more purposeful way. How can people get to know me if I’m too afraid to show them who I am on a more consistent basis? Why would I stand out if I never stand up? 

I have to learn to be a more authentic me more often, and not just a play-it-safe version of the Shannon that’s been online this past decade. In fact, I think that might be more important than ever before. Not just because I’ve pivoted away from fantasy to write contemporary, but also because the world is in a place where vulnerability cultivates empathy, and empathy is so incredibly needed right now. 

So, thank you, ChatGPT. Through our talks, I’ve realized content creation for me is less about branding and more about living authentically. 

And I have a lot of catching up to do.  

~SAT

SATurdate: It Ends With Us, TikTok Cookies, & Love is Blind

Remember these? It’s been a loooonnnggg time since I wrote a SATurdate. (The last one was in 2016.) For those of you who haven’t been with me for that long, they were generalized Saturday posts just updating everyone with what I am up to in writing, publishing, and my personal life, like what I’m watching on TV or what recipe I recently tried to bake. I really loved writing these, but when I started blogging only twice a month, I cut them out. Alas, this month has been full of sickness and busy work schedules, so my brain is a bit fried on writing tips. I thought bringing back this oldie would be fun. I might try to bring these back permanently every third Saturday of the month…Until then, here we go!

What I’m Writing:

Right now, I’m revising my young adult issue-driven novel-in-verse. I’m hoping to get it to my agent by June. My original goal was May, but alas, baby girl’s daycare closed due to COVID, I got sick (tested negative for COVID, though!), my husband started a new job, and we’re just surviving the day-to-day chaos of it all. I’m definitely still learning how to adjust my expectations. That said, I LOVE my revision plan, and I’m really enjoying watching this book come together. When I first set out to write it, I wasn’t sure I could pull it off. (It’s also dual timeline.) But I think it’s working! We will see! 

What I’m Up To In Publishing:

This past week, I met with my agency for some social media training. That was super neat. Other than that, I am gearing up to teach three virtual writing workshops in the near future. The first one is for SCBWI KS/MO, but anyone can go! It’s a My Process Shoptalk, where I will discuss how I wrote my middle grade novel-in-verse about my mom dying due to the opioid crisis. I’m talking about rhythm, revision, and the ethics of basing a novel off of a true story. Get more information and register here. You can also check out my other upcoming events here. Other than that, my quarterly newsletter is going out in May! It includes a bookstore gift card giveaway, so make sure to sign up here. 

What I’m Reading:

I’m slowly chipping away at CHAIN OF THORNS by Cassandra Clare. (What can I say? It can be hard to read a 800-page book for fun with a baby around.) But I did manage to read CALL ME HURRICANE by Ellen Hagan, a young adult novel-in-verse about teens living on the Jersey Shore during tourist season. I also finished THE WAY I USED TO BE by Amber Smith, an issue-driven young adult novel about sexual assault. It’s a heavy read. It leans on why a victim might lean toward having more sex after trauma, which I think is a unique viewpoint compared to similar novels. Other than that, I also read IT ENDS WITH US by Colleen Hoover, because it’s going to be a movie with Blake Lively and everyone was talking about it. Lots of folks were saying it romanticizes abuse, but I don’t see it. I definitely feel like I read a book that was very clear about what is abuse and why people don’t leave. Did it have a cleaner ending than real life? Yes. But that’s fiction for yah. I’m looking forward to picking up something fun and light-hearted soon. (For some reason, all my heavy reads came in at the same time.) I really want to jump into COURT by Tracy Wolff, #4 in the Crave series. It’s such an entertaining paranormal YA series! 

What I’m Watching:

I am making my way through Love is Blind Season 4, and what a messy season! Between awful serenades and mean girls, I think this might have been the messiest season yet. I hope Netflix isn’t purposely trying to get messy people. I much preferred it when it seemed like the couples were genuinely trying to fall in love and not trying to get internet famous. 

What I’m Baking:

I made these TikTok-famous browned butter toffee chocolate chip cookies, and honestly? Wasn’t super impressed. Not only did it take me forever to find toffee around town, but the recipe took super long. It just wasn’t worth it to me. I have much better cookies recipes that are easier and taste better. (Not that these were bad. They were good. But the amount of work that went into them made them feel lackluster.) Honestly, make these salted brownie cookies instead. That recipe is one of my favorites. Other than that, I usually make a big meal for Easter…but like I’ve said, I’m learning to adjust my expectations. After making a huge meal for Christmas with a two-month-old, I decided to just order Easter dinner this year. It was a lot easier. And everyone was happier. That’s what the holidays are about. 

What I’m Wanting:

My “wants” are a lot more simple nowadays. Mostly, sleep. I always want a chance to sleep. And I’d love for baby girl to say mama more. It absolutely melts me. 

What I’m Dreaming Of:

I’m functioning on such little sleep that I had a dream where I was driving a boat and thought, “Hmm, what a great time to take a nap.” And I took a nap. THE END. 

What Else Is Going On: 

Baby girl is growing so fast! She’s six months old now, and we’re getting close to reading 200 picture books together. (We’re trying to do the library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten reading challenge.) That said, being postpartum is hard. I’m still dealing with complications, mostly severe anemia. I had to start iron infusions this past week. (I need five to get to where I’m supposed to be.) It’s so time-consuming and incredibly expensive. I also have to go to a cancer center to get it done, and the whole thing is just very humbling. I’m feeling grateful for what I do have. And I’m trying to keep my chin up! 

Now, back to writing…

~SAT

A Lesson in Backing Up Your Books

I recently hit THE END in my young adult contemporary, my first book since my baby was born. It was an exciting moment. I formatted it and sent it off to my betas, ready to sit back and work on a palette cleanser until I got their notes so I could start revising. 

What is a palette cleanser, you might ask.

Well, right now, I’m writing issue-driven contemporary, and it’s very heavy. I like to work on something lighter, preferably something fantastical, to give my imagination a chance to step back. It was during this recent palette-cleansing moment that I flipped through my many WIPs. I thought about finishing my dark academia monster book—I’m only five chapters away from THE END, after all—but I didn’t want to get swept up in it. Putting it aside, I started to have a bit of an identity crisis. Maybe because this particular week was also the anniversary of my mom’s death. I wasn’t in the best of head spaces. In all honestly, I was feeling a bit like I failed her by not having more books published by now. I was craving that validation. So, I looked back. Way back. 

I pulled out copies of my published books. 

For those of you who’ve been here a while, you know about the Timely Death trilogy, the Bad Bloods series, and the Tomo trilogy. I like to return to them every now and again, just to remind myself what I’m capable of. I tend to flip through Minutes Before Sunset the most. But this time, I picked up Bad Bloods. I flipped through all four books, reminiscing. It was a lot of fun…until I got to the end of Bad Bloods: July Lightning (#4), and recalled the outline for books #5 and #6. 

October Blood and Bone…or was it October Mist and Fury? 

I couldn’t remember. 

All I knew was that Ami and Skeleton were going to tell those two books and that I’d started writing it, only to shelve it when I decided to pursue Big Five publishing. I had put it down to write a book that I would use to query literary agents. It has been six years since then, but Ami and Skeleton’s story still rattles around in my brain occasionally. That afternoon, it was LOUD. I wanted to open it and see if I could play with it for fun.  

Anyway, I went to my folders on my laptop, and…couldn’t find it where I thought it’d be. So, I opened my older folders. And my older, older folders. And my oldest folders. 

Nothing. 

I started to feel uneasy. 

Another hour passed and I only managed to find a tiny document on my notes app. Not nearly as much as I remembered writing. I knew I had a Scrivener project somewhere, with a few chapters written. 

I checked my Google Drive and Dropbox. Nothing. I checked my email servers. Nothing. I then pulled out the big guns—my ultimate backup—my My Book External Hard Drive. My folders there are labeled by years. I found nothing in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, or 2018. It was 2017 that had it. 

BAD BLOODS, it said. OCTOBER, it called out. 

I clicked on it and got my answer. 

I had originally titled it October Mist & Fury (to follow the weather titles of the previous books), but realized while drafting that Ami and Skeleton demanded something a little bit more dramatic. For my monster girl who can pull off your skin and my boy who walks around with his bones on display, October Blood & Bone felt more fitting.

I’d written 10,000 words, too—with a full outline. Just like I remembered. 

In the end, I only ended up adding a few thousand before closing it all back down again. But I had a great afternoon of exactly the type of writing I wanted to do. I felt energized and excited again. (And well-rested enough to jump back into my contemporary when I got my notes back!) 

If I hadn’t backed it up all those years ago, I might’ve lost that moment. I might have even lost more than that. I mean, who knows? Maybe one day I will get around to finishing October Blood & Bone or the sequel to the Timely Death trilogy I’ve dabbled in here and there. You never know what you might pursue next. Having that backup could be the best thing you’ve ever done. 

Now back to writing…

~SAT

P.S. I am teaching three great workshops soon! They are all virtual and free. One is about my issue-driven middle grade novel-in-verse, the other is about starting a writing project, and the last one is about revising. Check them out here.

I Write Because I Want My Mom’s Death to Mean Something

March 16 marked the twentieth anniversary of my mom’s death. It’s a strange fact to realize how much time has passed, how much my life changed, how much she is missing. I’ve spoken about her many times on my blog and across other social media channels, most recently in the context of writing a middle grade novel-in-verse about losing her to the opioid crisis when I was eleven years old. But I haven’t truly explained how her untimely death has fueled my desire to write for decades.

Maybe this is too heavy for many to hear, but my dream is not just my dream. It’s my way of coping. Granted, I wrote stories long before my mom passed. In elementary school, I literally asked to stay in from recess just so I could write. In fact, one of the last notes my mom wrote to me was for my fifth grade graduation. In it, she told me she was so excited that I was writing stories. She was an avid reader, you see, and definitely inspired me to fall in love with reading, too. Some of my fondest memories are going to Borders or Barnes & Noble with her. My proudest moment as an author to this day was having a book signing in a Barnes & Noble where she used to take us to pick out books. (Thank you, B&N at Oak Park Mall!) 

Now, it’s 2023, and I’m still an author, writing, striving to succeed. And it isn’t easy. I’ve hit so many bumps in the road. Leapt over hurdles that felt too tall for me. And there’s still more ahead. Potholes and deadends and surprise curves and finish lines…with a new starting line right behind it. 

The journey of “success” in writing and publishing is never complete. I realize that. And neither is grief. It’s why I can’t give up at the end of my week. I want to be able to look back and say my grief is more than just grief. I don’t want my pain to simply exist as pain. I wish for it to be  something larger than me. Something that can live outside my body instead of continuing to fester inside. Then, maybe, just maybe, my stories can be out in the world and help others in a positive way.  

I know that’s why I set out to finally write a book about losing my mother at a young age. To this day, I haven’t found a book in the middle grade section about losing a parent to addiction, and I hope like hell my book can be that book for other kids like me. I don’t want other children feeling isolated and alone like I did in 2003.

But it’s 2023. And I am still trying. 

If her death can mean something, help others, then maybe I can live with that reality just a little bit easier. The truth is, though, even seeing the book on the shelves won’t fill that hole. Nothing ever will. That might be uncomfortable. But that’s the truth. (Even though no amount of therapy has changed that tick in my brain.)

Storytelling has always been my passion and my pain. It’s both beautiful and strange to share that with others every day. But I don’t believe in hiding. I especially don’t believe in forgive and forget. I believe in forging ahead, knowing my feelings may change. For example, I just became a mother myself a few months ago. That reframes so many things I used to think about my own mother and her reality. I often catch myself wondering if she looked at me the way I look at my daughter, but I also understand I’ll never know for sure. Not really. But in that empty space is possibility. 

A story taking shape. 

Maybe one about grief. Or yearning. A mystery. Self-discovery. 

Grief forms a new shape in my soul every year. Sometimes, I think of those shapes as my books taking place. 

Like when I first learned she died and I wrote the first draft of Bad Bloods, which features dozens of children surviving in a harsh, judgmental world on their own. Later, when I learned it was a drug overdose, the Timely Death trilogy was born (where my protagonist Eric is coping with his mother’s untimely death, her legacy, and all the characters have two identities). Then, after wrongly assuming it was a large amount of drugs for years, realizing it wasn’t at all when I finally got old enough to request her autopsy. (Hello, Tomo trilogy, a dystopian story about a drug that allows users to see the future.) 

Every year I get older and learn new things, and my imagination forms a new reality, a new story, and I write it down as quickly as I can. It helps me breathe. But getting those books published isn’t up to me. It’s up to how hard I’m willing to try—and a sprinkling of luck along the way.

Sometimes, I worry my luck has run out. Then again, that’s why I keep a “Make Your Own Luck” painting on my desk.

I will keep trying, and part of that reason is because I, instinctually, can’t quit.

Grief is an ever-changing process. Art gives us the ability to cope with that reality. Storytelling fosters community, especially when we don’t have it readily available in everyday life. It connects us in a way that makes us feel seen. 

I’m not sure that will ever change for me.

Her death will always mean something to me, though it may never mean anything to the larger world. I also realize a book deal probably won’t change my feelings. I’ll most likely live my entire life with this grief. But grief isn’t something to feel ashamed of or fight off, hide from or wish away. 

Grief can be the fuel for dreams. 

And I can live with that today. 

Tomorrow, too–and with each new story it brings. 

~SAT

Two quick photos I wanted to share: My mom hated to have her picture taken, but this is one I cherish, because it’s how I remember her best: sitting in her La-Z-Boy, reading, snacking, drinking Sonic iced tea. And added beside it is her bookmark she was using. I still have it, and it means the world to me.

Rest in peace.

Unpopular Opinion: Healthy Relationships Shouldn’t be Required in Fiction

I was recently on Twitter when someone asked for unpopular opinions, and one that’s been grating on me came out in the form of this tweet:

Healthy relationship standards shouldn't be expected in fiction. Sure, that's cool if you want that. I support that . But lots of fiction is designed to explore darker topics in a safe place, and that often means characters aren't healthy, let alone their relationships. https://t.co/vsakf1CdFy

— Shannon A. Thompson (@AuthorSAT) February 23, 2023

Full disclosure: I actually wrote a blog post about this that was supposed to go up earlier this year, but I chickened out. Why? Well, because I know it’s an unpopular opinion. But after sharing it on Twitter, I dug it out of my saved drafts and decided to talk about it today. So, let’s dive in:

Healthy relationships have become an expectation in fiction as of late, and while I see the benefits, I also don’t think it should be expected. 

Don’t get me wrong. If you want your romances to only feature healthy, communicative couples, I support that 1000%. What I am pushing back on is the idea that every reader out there wants that. In fact, I know quite a few readers who prefer the darker side of fiction. I, myself, have a handful of toxic tropes I am a sucker for. And nothing drives me crazier than when I log into social media and see someone has posted an excerpt of a book out of context, slamming the content. 

In fact, this is a common social media quirk in the publishing world. A screenshot of an excerpt in a romance novel where the characters are acting…well, questionable at best. I really dislike this trend. Not only are excerpts usually taken wildly out of context, but it also assumes that every book should have modern, healthy relationship standards throughout the entire story in order for the book to be considered “good” writing or worth recommending. 

In reading reality, we shouldn’t have to put modern, healthy relationship standards on couples in adult fiction. (I have different opinions on romance in kidlit, so for the sake of this post, I am focusing on adult fiction only. I put my quick opinion on kidlit at the very bottom.) In reading reality, toxic tropes can be fun. Sometimes it makes for a more compelling story. 

I, for one, love love love an overbearing, overprotective partner and a feisty heroine who pushes back. It’s a common trope I eat up every time. And, honestly, that trope is on the lighter end when it comes to the darker side of the romance genre. That said, just because I enjoy these tropes does not mean I don’t see red flags written all over someone who follows you around town. That’s messed up in real life. But in a story? It can build a lot of tension and set up a lot of conflict. It’s the “rising action” part of the plot.

Personally, I think this pushback of darker themes stems from a romanticisation of the behavior in real life, which isn’t okay. I get that. I do. That is dangerous, and media absolutely influences folks. One way an author can combat this in their darker-themed story is by having side characters point out problematic behavior. Including content warnings and domestic violence resources at the back or beginning can also be helpful. But I stand by my opinion that not all books are here to teach lessons. Sometimes, it’s just a story. 

Let’s look at science fiction and fantasy, for instance, where world building could theoretically change what is considered “healthy.” I think of the common “mate” trope. Meaning, there is one fated partner the protagonist absolutely is meant to be with, even if they don’t want to be. Often, another suitor is thrown into the mix to challenge this bond, and obviously, a lot of territory-type behavior comes out of this. Sometimes, a character’s mind is thinking one thing, while their body is doing another. Would any of this be healthy in real life? Nope. Of course not. People have freewill and can leave a partner anytime. You can’t force two people to be together, and others shouldn’t butt into someone else’s relationship. Not to mention that the mind thinking one thing, body doing another trope is certainly an uncomfortable consent conversation waiting to happen. But does it make for a compelling story? Absolutely.  

You see, fiction has always been a place where readers can explore the human condition in a safe place. That often means creating darker scenarios that test a person’s abilities. For instance, pushing a character’s morals to see what they’re willing to do to save the person they love, whether or not that person loves them back. 

It’s damn interesting. 

It’s a story. 

So, what would I recommend, considering there are wildly different expectations out in the readerscape?

First, it starts with how the book is marketed. Using accurate descriptions and compelling cover art that sets the right tone will help shape the readers’ expectations. A book with dark themes and toxic tropes probably shouldn’t have a cover with rainbows and butterflies. 

I also believe in setting the tone early on in a story. That goes for any book in any genre, but it’s vitally important to do so in a romance if you’re exploring twistier ideas. Why? Because those tropes can often be triggering for readers, and by showing what’s to come in some way, you’re avoiding not only a disappointed reader but a very upset reader. (Providing content warnings in your book is important, too! I’m a fan. I recommend saying something along the lines of “content warnings can be found in the back of the book” and placing them there, so that a reader can find them if they need them, without having them front and center at the beginning for those who feel like they’re a little spoilery.) 

That said, of course you can critique toxic tropes in books. I’m not saying you can’t. But purposely picking up a darker novel to critique that content specifically is a lot like adults rating teen books low because they were written with a younger audience in mind. That book isn’t for you. You knew it wasn’t for you. Find something that is, and move on. (But that’s just my opinion…even if it is unpopular.)

~SAT

My opinion about kidlit? Honestly, I could write a whole new blog post about this, but I’m going to keep this as short as I can: In kidlit, healthy relationships should be the goal. That means while toxicity can definitely happen–especially amongst young people who are inexperienced about managing their own emotional well-being, let alone getting to know someone else–I also expect red flag behavior to be called out and defined as red flag behavior, especially in a romantic setting. If it’s not called out by the protagonists, then side characters can do the trick. But again, I want to emphasize that this is MY opinion. That doesn’t mean I expect every author everywhere to adhere to that. I will also stand by my opinion that books are not always meant to teach, let alone provide role models. They are meant to tell a great story. And sometimes, that means controversial things will happen in a book. As a librarian, I always recommend parents visit Common Sense Media for more information about the content in books if they plan on reviewing what their kids are reading.

My Average Day as an Author, Librarian, and Mom

After my last post – My Postpartum Writing Life: Working-Writing Mom with a 4-Month-Old – I received a few questions about where I fit my writing in, so I thought it was time for another “average day” post. I’ve actually written a handful of these over the years. The last time I wrote one was February of 2019. Obviously, my life has changed a lot since those pre-pandemic times. But if you want to read all the “average day as an author” posts, I’ve put the list at the very bottom. Today, we’re focusing on 2023 me. 

Right now, I work full-time at the library as a Program Manager for The Story Center. Basically, I organize and deliver storytelling programs and services to the Kansas City metro area and beyond. (If you’re looking for free writing classes, check us out. We’re open to anyone in the world!) I’m also a mom of a four-month-old, a wife, and a cat lady to two rascally gremlins. I enjoy baking in my spare time. (I recently made these chocolate cookies. So divine!) And I do my best to make our house a home. Somewhere in all that chaos, I make time to write novels and pursue my publishing dreams.  

First, I want to use a normal weekday as an example instead of a weekend because weekends are a lot simpler to explain. That said, it’s a dayshift. I also work night shifts and weekends here and there. More importantly, when I say I’m “writing,” I’m using that as a general term as anything that relates to my writing career. I could be writing in my novel, creating social media posts, answering publishing emails, or drafting a blog. I like to have various projects going at once, because I like to lean into whatever mood I’m in. I tend to be more productive that way. 

So without further ado, this was a recent Thursday:

Midnight to Morning 

I’m starting the day at midnight, because, well, I’m up with the baby. Bless the parents who have babies who sleep through the night from a young age. I am not one of them. On this day, Winnie bear got up at midnight. We were back in bed by 2 AM…and back up by 5 AM. Granted, my husband took the second shift, so I could get some rest. But I am up within an hour or so anyway for our morning routine. Sometimes I sneak in some writing time before baby joins me. We eat, pack our bags, and leave. She goes to daycare, and I go to work. It’s an hour-long commute, so I often get to listen to an audiobook or use my speech-to-text app to get some brainstorming writing down. On this particular day, I arrived at work fifteen minutes early. (What can I say, I hit all those green lights.) I used this time to write a little while using my breastpump (because I’m still breastfeeding). When that’s done, it’s time to clock in!

Work Time

I am working! At my job, I manage about 400 student transcripts and 200 programs a year. That could mean taking note of attendance, booking presenters, organizing new ideas with co-workers, or just attending the many meetings any job requires. I’m lucky enough that I get an hour-long lunch break most days. On this particular lunch break, I drove a bag of picture books home and breastpumped while eating a sandwich and writing. (I even snagged some cat snuggles right before I had to head back in.) Work continues for the rest of the day, until my last hour or so, where I take my last break for my last breastpumping session. Sometimes I write; sometimes I’m so exhausted I read instead. When my break is done, I wrap up my day and take note of anything I need to keep in mind for tomorrow.

After Work to Bed Time

I meal plan every Sunday, which means when I get home from work, my husband and I have a list of meals we know we can cook for the evening. We pick one, and one of us cooks while the other snuggles Winnie and reads a book to her. (Though I won’t lie, sometimes she watches Miss Rachel while one of us cooks and the other does the dishes.) We eat at the table together in family chaos. This night it was adobo meatloaf and asparagus. Afterward, I showered while my husband bathed our baby. Sometimes she has meltdowns. But not this night. She went to bed, I cleaned my equipment, and we got a chance to watch an episode of YOU. (Though, maybe I should’ve been writing.) After that we went to bed, to repeat. 

And that’s it. 

This is my average day. I don’t count words in my social media or blog posts, but I do count my novels progress. When I take a look at this past week, my average word count during the work week was 1,043 per day. That’s mostly from words before work, during my lunch break, and on my last break of the day. 

My weekend was a little more than that, depending. Those days are simpler in the sense that we wake up whenever we wake up. If we don’t have plans or major house projects, then my husband will take the baby for an hour or so while I write. But this particular weekend we decided to go to the park instead. The weather was so nice! I wrote this blog post on Super Bowl Sunday while the baby was napping.

That said, I want to emphasize that I don’t get something done every day. I just do my best when I have the time. 

At this rate, it’ll take me approx one more month to finish my WIP. And I’m okay with that. This pace is working for me right now. If something changes, like I get put on a deadline, then I’m going to gear up and find more time. But I’m not going to burn myself out in the meantime. 

I’m just going to get done what I can, and I think that’s the best any of us can do, 

~SAT

If you’re interested in the other times I wrote this blog post, this is my last one in 2019 when I was a full-time branch programmer for Mid-Continent Public Library. This is what my life was like as a night-working full-time freelance editor and publicist in 2015, and here’s my post in 2013 that covered what my writing life was like as a full-time college senior working part-time at a publisher.

Oh how life changes so quickly!

My Postpartum Writing Life: Working-Writing Mom with a 4-Month-Old

My baby turned four months old yesterday, which is both mind blowing and incredibly exciting. (It really does go by so fast.) 

Now that we’ve officially made it one month of her going to daycare while I work full-time (and write novels), I thought it was time for a writing life update. And honestly? This past month wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, it’s been rather good. But let’s rewind for a minute. 

Leading up to my return to work, I was struggling with a lot of anxiety. Not just with the idea of dropping her off and being apart during the day, but also with maintaining any sort of workload while caring for a baby (especially considering the lack of sleep). But honestly? The change has been good for us.

For the first time since having my daughter, I got to wear clothes for a day without being spit up on. Instead of my hair being a tangled mess, I wore it DOWN (and no one was pulling it). I put on makeup. I talked to other adults. In a plot twist I didn’t see coming, going back to work actually made me feel a little more…like me. I honestly didn’t realize just how isolated I had become during my maternity leave until I was out of it. 

I say all of this with the utmost love for my daughter. 

Her gummy grins make my heart melt. I am so excited to be a mom and watch her grow. I love the goo-goos and gaa-gaas. The milky cuddles. The hilarious new expressions she makes. And I definitely miss her like hell during the day. (Dropping her off is always so hard!) Nightshifts are probably the hardest, because I don’t get home in time to say goodnight. But I’m happy being back at work. 

I read audiobooks while driving my daughter to and from daycare. I write in the early mornings before baby wakes up and the late evenings after baby goes down. I especially use my lunch breaks, where baby girl can’t unexpectedly interrupt. I also lean into the weirdness of my schedule. For instance, though the library was closed on Martin Luther King Day, I still sent my daughter to daycare so that I could catch up on household chores and get some words down in my WIP. Sure, my mom guilt nagged me about spending more time with her, but we spend hours together every morning and evening (not to mention middle of the night feedings). And weekends. We have all weekend together. And we have a blast. 

Looking back, I honestly thought I would struggle with sending baby girl to daycare and struggle even more to find time to write, but having my work schedule has allowed my family to get back on a schedule where I can slot writing back in more easily than when I was on maternity leave and home full-time.  

In fact, during my three months of maternity leave, I only got 8,000 words down.

In January, I…

Wrote 5,130 words in my YA verse novel for my agent, got it critiqued by my local writers’ group and another critique partner, and revised a portion Wrote 8,427 in my adult dark academia novel for fun Wrote 4 blog postsBegan work on a super secret projectBooked a class that I will teach later this year (info to come!)Got tickets to SCBWI’s National Conference in February Applied to 3 new opportunities Attended a writers’ group meetupExperienced my friend’s publishing coach business firsthand, and it was amazing! Finished 2 audiobooks for myself, started 2 moreRead 48 unique books with my daughter and enrolled her in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program at the library

All while working full time and taking care of my baby. 

Granted, there’s a lot of things in my life that allow this. For one, I’m married, and my spouse is fantastic about being an equal partner running the household and raising our baby. He will watch our daughter while I attend a writers’ meeting or wrap up some pages in the evening. He’s even taken her for entire nightshifts on his own so that I can catch up on rest. I also work swing shifts that free up some mornings and federal holidays. And I take advantage of every minute. 

Waiting at the doctor’s office? I’m writing. Waiting in line at the grocery store? I’m jotting down words in my SimpleNote. That said, I’ve been learning to take more breaks, too. 

After one afternoon of writing left me incredibly drained, I realized it’s just as important to know when to rest. I went too hard, too fast. And I know I shouldn’t do that. It would be like getting on my trampoline right now and attempting a backflip. I would surely miss the mark. I might even strain a muscle and be forced to take an even longer break to recover. And no one wants to do that. 

So, I am still adjusting. I am finding the balance between writing again and resting when I can. It may take me another few months–and it will probably change again–and that’s okay. 

I may not be churning out words as quickly as I used to, but I am proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, and I look forward to seeing what I can do in the future, too. 

~SAT