writing a novel – shannonmeyerkort.com

Life imitating art

The extraordinary situation where a scene I wrote two years ago has happened in real life | Shannon Meyerkort

Literary Easter Eggs

What do I have in common with Margaret Atwood and Stephen King? We all love to employ Easter eggs in our writing | Shannon Meyerkort

How I write

My writing process is like a mixed bag of lollies – grab a handful and see what you get | Shannon Meyerkort

Taking your character out for tea

“It’s strange to think that someone who has been part of my life for so long can be so unknown. It’s even stranger when you consider that I am her creator.” Learning to know your character | Shannon Meyerkort

Virtual Literary Speed Dating – tips from a first-timer

Hints and tips for surviving a virtual literary speed date and how to pitch your manuscript | Shannon Meyerkort

Finding Story Talismans and Motifs

Motifs are not necessarily part of the story and often do not carry any extra meaning for the characters themselves. It is a relationship between the author and audience… the symbols must be both subtle yet significant | Shannon Meyerkort

Starting from Scratch (again)

What happens when you realise you need to rewrite your entire book because you didn’t tell the story you thought you had? A lesson in starting over | Shannon Meyerkort

Finding Beta Readers (Making yourself vulnerable)

A Beta Reader’s job is to provide constructive feedback as an informed casual reader – they’re looking at big picture issues such as story, characters, timing and basic structure: does the story work?

Should we be writing about the pandemic?

“So my decision to write a book about the pandemic might be seen as a very unpopular one. Especially since it’s been only six months since the first mention of a novel corona virus and we haven’t yet reached the peak.”

Weasel Words and Tips for Writers

‘I could see her looking at me, as she readied herself to tell me about my overuse of weasel words in the nicest possible way. I felt my face tighten as I braced myself for the impact of her words.’ Or ‘She looked at me, ready to tell me about my overuse of weasel words.Continue reading “Weasel Words and Tips for Writers”