shalondarussauthor.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Writing makes me more empathetic in ways I sometimes don't expect. The research I do leads me to a more nuanced understanding of the world around me. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 70 days ago • 0 comments

Today is one of those wonderful days on which the words come to me without much thought as I write. I cherish this day. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Hard to believe there are places that offer anything for free in a world in which everything feels so expensive. I love supporting authors, but I'm also lucky enough to be able to buy lots of new books each year. Not everyone is so fortunate. This is why we need libraries. #libraries #books #reading

submitted 72 days ago • 0 comments

Writing is an act of rebellion. Writing is an act of creation. Writing is an act of salvation. Writing is an act of exploration. Writing is an act of emotion. Writing is an act of confession. Writing is an act of speculation. Writing is an act of reflection. Keep writing.

submitted 74 days ago • 386 comments

Don't write because you think it will make you rich. In the grand majority of cases, it doesn't make you rich, at least not in the way you hope it will. ##writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 74 days ago • 0 comments

This understanding of a "safe" learning experience defeats the purpose of education. Learning entails inching our way out of our comfort zones by exploring new perspectives, not miring ourselves in "juvenile" paradigms. #reading #booksky #books

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

I'm a lover of fiction, but I stepped out of my comfort zone this year by reading a bit more nonfiction. I'm surprised by how much I enjoyed my picks and will definitely sprinkle more nonfiction into my growing list of books to read. #reading #books #booksky

submitted 75 days ago • 0 comments

Coming out of hibernation after reading a lengthy book is an experience. I need a pick-me-up after that rollercoaster. #booksky #reading #windandtruth #stormlightarchive

submitted 77 days ago • 0 comments

If there's anything we've learned between the DOJ PRH lawsuit, the C suite embrace of AI & the breathless pursuit to publish book banners, it's this: the publishing C-suite lacks a fundamental understanding of...books. And authors. And readers.

submitted 79 days ago • 2 comments

I referenced dandelions in a story and immediately did some research to verify that they existed in the time and place of the story. I did not expect to find out that people made salads out of them when they fell on hard times. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 81 days ago • 0 comments

When someone asks for stories centering underrepresented voices, they're typically not just asking for stories with diverse casts of characters. They're asking for stories BY diverse authors. There seems to be some confusion about this in some spaces. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 83 days ago • 2 comments

I've become a different reader over the past year. We become different readers every year, but this is the first time I've really noticed the difference. I don't make value judgments about these changes. I just let them be. #reading #books #readersofbsky #booksky

submitted 84 days ago • 0 comments

I'm currently reading Robert McKee's "Dialogue," and I'm nerding out way more than I should over finding the perfect words for characters to say. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 85 days ago • 4 comments

Nothing wrong with setting a draft aside if it's not resonating with you. Just promise to come back to it when you feel inspired again. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 86 days ago • 0 comments

I've hit a point in my story at which I'm struggling to move forward. It's slow going, but slow progress is still progress. #writing #writers #writersblock

submitted 87 days ago • 2 comments

My Google word of the day is "proctor," and I can't help but think about the fact that the definition provided ("invigilate examination") for this easy word is way more advanced than the word itself. #words #vocabulary #writing

submitted 88 days ago • 0 comments

The things I do for research. #writing #writers #books

submitted 89 days ago • 0 comments

I learned so much reading this.

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

My cats are probably sick of hearing me analyze whatever book I'm currently reading as I pace across my living room. I don't care if I'm reading The Bluest Eye or some cozy paranormal romance. I'm exploring why the story works. #writing #reading #books #storytelling #writersofbsky

submitted 90 days ago • 0 comments

A question about where writers learn new words came up in a group I'm in. Outside of the obvious (reading), I subscribe to Google's word of the day. I get a new word sent to my phone by way of a simple notification every day. I love it. #reading #writing

submitted 91 days ago • 0 comments

Today, I'm thankful for family, friends, and the power of words. I could never be reduced to nothing with these things at my side. I hope you all find something to be grateful for as well, today and every day! #Thanksgiving #gratitude #words

submitted 92 days ago • 0 comments

Does it not amaze you that you occasionally write a sentence that no one else has quite written before? There are so many words and so many infinite pairings of words old and new. #writing #skywriters #writersofbluesky

submitted 93 days ago • 2 comments

I remember the wonder I felt when visiting the library and the scholastic book fair as a child. I couldn't wait to see all of the books on their shelves and have my internal debate about which ones I'd borrow or buy. I never walked out with enough books. #reading #books #booksky #skyreaders

submitted 94 days ago • 0 comments

What do you struggle with as a writer? I'm finding that I struggle most with dialogue. It's tough for me to find the exact words that shape and distinguish my characters' voices. This battle is becoming a fun learning experience for me. #writing #writers #storytelling

submitted 95 days ago • 0 comments

When life becomes difficult, I hold on to all of the stories I've been fortunate enough to read. Story is humanity's center of good manifested on the page. It's one of our greatest gifts to each other. #writing #writers #writersofbsky #booksky

submitted 96 days ago • 0 comments

While cranking out some words this morning, I wrote a sentence that made me go, "Wow. Some of what I write really is good." Now I just have to do that enough times to write 70,000 good words. Wish me luck, BlueSky. #writing #writersofbsky #writelife

submitted 97 days ago • 3 comments

Even when I don't enjoy a popular book that everyone is raving about, I can appreciate the things about it that speak to so many people. The author is obviously doing something right, and I take that opportunity to analyze what exactly that "something" is. #writing #writers #reading

submitted 98 days ago • 0 comments

How do those of you with day jobs that aren't related to your writing ensure that you keep to a writing schedule? I'm a member of the #WFWA and have been going to their lovely writing sessions. They're so helpful and encouraging! #writing #writers #womensfiction

submitted 99 days ago • 2 comments

If you're writing your first novel (like I am), I'm reminding you that you can do it. The process is such a rollercoaster of emotions at times. There are days when I think my story is worthless and my writing cheap, but there are also days when I think I'm awesome. You're awesome as well! #writers

submitted 100 days ago • 2 comments

The ways in which I see businesses use AI sometimes terrify me. Then I remind myself: For every piece of data we train AI on, someone out there is generating new, fresh art that AI hasn't been trained on yet. Machines imitate. Humans innovate. #artists #writers #creatives

submitted 101 days ago • 0 comments

That’s $2500 more than I got when mine was just stolen to train AI without my permission. Neither is okay. (My books were stolen to train AI and are banned, so I’m super lucky).

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Thank you for doing this work. I remember when I was a child who read many of the books on these ban lists, and I don't think my English Lit education would have been the same without them. We are cheating our children by banning books that force them to think about the world around them.

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

I've never felt so passionate about an outline. That gives me hope that I'll actually finish this story. #writing #writers #writersofbsky

submitted 102 days ago • 0 comments

Reducing a character's prominence or just flat out cutting a character from a story is difficult for me. I feel like I'm disregarding their story, but not every character can have their time in the span of a single story. I guess that's what sequels are for.

submitted 104 days ago • 0 comments

When the story you're outlining suddenly goes from a simple domestic drama to a murder mystery. Send help. #writing #writersofbsky

submitted 104 days ago • 0 comments