Friday, May 18, 2012

Shannon Messenger Takes the Truth

Phew--it's been a CRAZY week (and I ALMOST forgot that it was my turn!) But I remembered just in time, and I decided to tackle a truth (despite having SEVERAL evil dares in the queue with my name on them *ahem*. I will get to one of those next time, I promise!)

Anyway, I'm tackling a question a LOT of you asked, so I hope you enjoy!


Got any burning questions you're dying to ask us? Or maybe you have some terrifying dares you want to torture us with. Feel free to submit as many as you want by going HERE. And come back next week to see April take on a truth or dare.

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Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned--among other things--that she liked watching movies much better than making them. So she left LA and moved to suburbia where she would have time to eat too many cupcakes, own too many cats, and write lots and lots of books. LET THE SKY FALL is her first young adult novel, coming in Spring 2013 from Simon Pulse. She is also the author of KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES, book one in a middle grade series launching Fall 2012 (S&S Aladdin). Find her online at shannonmessenger.com.

24 comments:

  1. Keeping the love of writing alive by switching to something new when you feel lost/frustrated/seconds away from quitting is the BEST advice, Shannon. I've used it several times myself and know many other writers that have too. Sometimes the ms we love becomes a burden to work on (so sad!) and that's when a new shiny project is the perfect medicine. Great vlog!

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    1. Aw, thank you Erin! And yes, I was AMAZED at how much it helped to have that new shiny project. So glad I learned that trick!

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  2. It's both inspiring and humbling to see how much work, time and love went into your beautiful book. With the added bonus of fantastic advice! With all the frustrations and finagling of publishing, I think sometimes it can be easy to forget that we go into this for the writing itself. Wonderful vlog, thank you!

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  3. Thanks for being honest and sharing your feelings, Shannon. I'm in a place now where it seems so hard to keep going and I've been close to giving up a few times lately. But I also decided to work on a "just for fun" project on the side to rekindle my love of writing. I'm glad to know it worked for you!

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    1. Aw, Andrea I'm so sorry you're struggling. I really hope the just for fun project helps you as much as it helped me!

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  4. Your method of going back and forth between something you love and something you have to slog your way through because it's become so much work is the only way I can handle it without losing my mind. Assuming I haven't actually lost it already.

    Thanks for sharing, Shannon!

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    1. I dunno Matt, I'm not totally sure you have any mind left to lose. ;)

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  5. Great advice, Shannon. It's so powerful to see those five drafts printed up and realize how much work we really go through. I cannot WAIT to read Let the Sky Fall and Keeper of the Lost Cities!

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    1. Aw, thank you so much Megan! That totally just made my day! :)

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  6. Loved your advice. So true. Very inspiring. I even need to be reminded now to work on something I love while editing. :)

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  7. Need this today. I couldn't find the joy in writing anymore until I recently opened a blank document and decided to write for only me. No worries about the market. What will sell. What won't. What an agent wants. Or doesn't. Don't care. Not like I can control that stuff anyway. It paralyzed me though. I'm enjoying writing for me again!

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  8. Shannon, thank you so much for the message in this vlog--it's just what I needed to hear today. It makes my head spin to think about switching between two projects, but on the other hand, it sounds like a great idea.

    The journey can be lonely. Writing friends are AMAZING.

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  9. It's funny, you'd think it'd be confusing switching back and forth. But it's really not because when you're not in the mood to work on one project your "head" isn't "there" anyway, yanno? :)

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  10. Hi Shannon! Thanks for sharing this vlog. I really appreciate your honesty about wanting to give up. So glad that you didn't. I'm looking forward to reading your books.

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  11. I needed to hear this SO badly today. Thank you for sharing this with us, it makes me feel like I am not alone in not feeling "good enough"!

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  12. Shannon, thank you so much for your honesty, as always! You keep it real.

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  13. Great vlog, Shannon. The bumpy parts make it easy to forget the smooth is coming. Great thing to remember.

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  14. You are so right!! I soo needed to hear this! Thank you, Shannon!! It really gives us all hope too when signing with an agent. Great advice. I think once we get caught up in following all the 'guidelines' creativity sometimes stalls and it is a great reminder to keep writing what you love. Thank you so much for this! So glad you hung in there!

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