Welcome!
If you’ve gotten here by either my blog or my website, you likely know me as a writer of short stories, poems and the occasional novella. Maybe you think of me as an erotica writer. Maybe you think of me as a teacher, or a student. Or maybe you just happened here by accident, and you don’t know any of those things about me.
What you’ll find here is hope, inspiration, determination, fear, struggle and joy. How is that possible? Because this blog is going to chronicle a very scary, very important part of my writing career: making the transition from short works to long ones.
Since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a writer, and at the time, that meant books. I didn’t know that there were other options then, even though I wrote poems and stories. Then, I started to make a career out of writing, and I realized that there were many ways to be a writer: articles, essays, short stories, columns, poems and more. I’ve written them all over the past few years. And I’ve had some success, particularly with articles, short stories and poems.
I love writing short pieces. Love it. And yet, something keeps pulling me toward books and novels. At the same time, something keeps pulling me away. My interior writer voice keeps asking, “Why write novels when I love writing short work and I get paid for it?” And so I write more short pieces and the novels and books sit on my mental shelves gathering dust.
Thus, this blog, and this year, have been designated for the Year of the Books. I’m going to do the scariest thing–to put my “short work career” on semi-hold for the year while I focus on longer works. It’s scary not just because it might kill my short work career, but because it might also prove that I don’t have what it takes to write long work.
But there’s only one way to find out. I’m going to tackle the thing that scares me the most, and I’m going to do it here on this blog. I’m setting goals, keeping track and generally going to cheer and rant and cry as I struggle through the whole book-writing process. Why? So that I can feel less alone. So that I can share the experience with others who might be struggling with something similar. So that we can learn from each other and support each other in our writing endeavors, whatever they are.
I hope you’ll join me as I move forward. I’m expecting it to be a long, bumpy ride, but one that has the potential to take us to the most wonderful and unexpected places…
Well, let me be the first to bring around the proverbial bottle of wine to you new blog “Home”, Shanna.
I too am one who has been compelled to write since I was a kid. I divide my time between writing short stories and novels and poetry. My biggest problem has always been finding time to get out there and get published.
You seem to have no problem with the getting published part, and it’s easy to tell why. You craft stories beautifully, and while writing novels is different in many ways from short stories and novellas, the basic ability and passion for crafting stories still remains at the heart.
I have every confidence that you will excel in this endeavor.
And I don’t think that your venturing down this road–suspending your short work writing–will have a negative impact on it.
I’d be glad to stand on the sidelines and wave pom-poms for you, but I don’t have the legs for the cheerleader outfit.
I wish you the best and look forward to being along for the ride on your journey. Maybe I’ll even be inspired enough to get one or two of my longer works out there!
Craig
Wonderful goal, Shanna! I love your shorts but would dearly love to see your work published in novel length, as well. I KNOW you have what it takes and I will be cheering you on. Wishing you all the luck in the world. Happy New Year!
Thanks SO much to both of you for offering up your confidence in me. I’m freaking out a bit (*clears throat*)…a lot…I’m freaking out a lot, so to know that there are pom-poms and cheers out there sure helps!
*Ack* I’m already thinking, okay, where and how do I start?! What do I do first? I’m spinning in circles and it’s not even supposed to be a “writing” day!
Oh, well, I’ll go have a mimosa and calm myself.
Thanks again for your support!
Happy Year of the Books!
s.
Goddammit!! Did you not get the memo that I *loathe* change? You have confused me already and the year is so fresh and new
Good luck with your books. I have no doubt you’ll pull it off. Yay for you and new goals and fresh blogs! I hop back and forth. Flashers, long, medium, novellas, novels. And it never fails to amaze me how the story and the characters dictate length.
And no matter where you might be, whatever venue, we will be right here stalking…erm..supporting you.
Cheers!
XOXO
S
Thanks Sommer!
It’s my very own version of no longer being a “cave dweller,” I think!
Best of luck this year — can’t wait to read all your new writing!
Best, s.
You can do it, Shanna! ::shakes pompoms at you:: And if you ever need a pep talk, give me a call!
Whoa, Shanna, what time zone are you in?! I just posted my last comment 3 minutes ago, at 11:15 p.m., and your latest one popped up mere minutes later, but says it’s 2:52 a.m. where you are!
Yah! Thanks Dayle! You’re one of my novel-writing inspirations, so here’s to hope
It’s not my time zone, it’s that I haven’t quite figured out this blog’s time zone yet. Hehe. I thinks I’m somewhere I’m not, I believe.
Happy New Year!
s.