S.C. Monson's Blog

Have you ever wondered how it feels to rewrite too many drafts or encounter plot holes? Look no further, the visuals are below.

How I feel when I run into plot holes.

How I feel when I’ve rewritten too many drafts.

My inner self when I reach a writing milestone—all arms, bow legs, and hugs.

The post “The Near Side,” Imaginative New Comics Part 3 appeared first on SC Monson Writing.

Key lime pie. An important slice of my writing life…ehh? See what I did there?

Important, namely because it aids in relaxation after a day of anxiety and stress and tastes delicious, which in turn makes the next day of creativity, book plotting, and house-wifery more enjoyable.

Still, it’s probably more accurate to call it a key lime soup…porridge? Poup? Ok, maybe definitely not that. It’s just a very, very soft pie due to the large (and essential) proportion of key lime juice mixed in. Like my...

Part 2 of “The Near Side” brings you more strange finger sketches by Shannon (S.C. Monson).

Some people have glorified views of how writers write, peacefully sipping hot cocoa while they’re hand speeds right along on the keyboard like it’s grown a plotting brain of its own.

On occasion, I take the sketches more seriously. I used a reference from a drawing book gifted to me by a sweet family member. Unfinished finger sketch of Sophie, from “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

And we’re back to the fun o...

What?! You’ve never seen my finger drawing doodles? Look away before you lose your sanity. Or don’t. That’s fine.

On occasion, I turn my creativity toward art, or some semblance thereof. Really, it’s just finger painting on my phone like a three-year-old, but it’s a good way for me to let loose without allowing the editor in me to take over. When inspiration strikes, I usually sketch with my finger in the Notes app on my phone. Or sometimes, Steven gives me prompts.

Now without further ado, obse...

I’ve been reading some of the writing books I bought before our last move in October 2024 to hone my writing and plotting skills.

If you’re a writer looking for some reading helps, here are a few of my recommendations.

Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson really increased my comprehension of show vs. tell. My understanding in that department was a bit nebulous until this book. I read it twice. It includes exercises and is a fairly short read, so if you’re seeking s...

(Featured image credit: Unsplash via Daniel Jensen.)

As a little side project from working on my Badgerblood book 2 outline, I joined the free Fall Writing Frenzy Contest this week with a writing friend. Participants had to be “unagented”. I qualified, so jumped in. Each writer selected a picture from the list given and had three days to submit something inspired by it, 200 words or less. Since it’s October and I was feeling humorous and a little spooky, I chose #6 in the list, the featured imag...

Thirteen years of undead life, and tonight was Rickety Split’s worst.

Not because his foot punched a hole in his casket. It snapped off, but he just twisted it back on.

Not because his nose dissolved in the teapot. I can find another, he thought sadly.

Not even because his favorite cat got exploded by a careless wizard, though that did make him lonely.

Sighing, he trudged up the crypt stairs and through the empty cemetery overlooking the ocean to watch ghosts surfing below.

No, tonight was worse...

Oreesius’ hazel eyes scanned the horizon as the bright, sunny glow in the air suddenly turned a dull, sickly green. All around him, the sand and dirt began to shift and groan. Breath catching in his throat, he scribbled a hasty note on a torn piece of parchment:

Prince Lt. O. Leete

Lost in Shifting Sands.

YARDAN awakes.

Death com—

A heavy fog rolled from the ground at his feet, blocking out the sunlight. Trembling, Oreesius snatched the sawtooth dagger from his belt, letting the plea fall,...

Oreesius’ hazel eyes scanned the horizon as the bright sunny glow in the air suddenly turned a dull, sickly green. All around him, the sand and dirt began to shift and groan. Breath catching in his throat, he scribbled a hasty note on a torn piece of parchment:

Prince Lt. O. Leete

Lost in Shifting Sands.

YARDAN awakes.

Death com—

A heavy fog rolled from the ground at his feet, blocking out the sunlight. Trembling, Oreesius snatched the sawtooth dagger from his belt, letting the plea fall, ...

Click the picture above for a preview of Badgerblood…

Or link to it with this URL:

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B092H6VQ4H&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_SE4PD7EC8618S7V4STNJ

You can also embed the preview using the following HTML:

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