Member Spotlight: Shannon Elliot

Why is writing important to you and why do you think it’s an important medium for the world? Storytelling is essential for conveying the human experience and the writing process is a key part of sharing varied experiences. One of my favorite parts of being an author is telling stories that reflect my life experiences and the stories of communities I surround myself with.

What are your tried and tested remedies to cure writer’s block? Word vomit to a friend. I have an incredible support network and any time that I get stuck in my writing process, I will go to one of these supporters and talk it through. Whether that be getting their input or just talking about the story, where I want it to go, and what maybe is holding me back. Your biggest fans and most enthusiastic supporters want to help you in whatever way they can and sometimes it’s hard to remember to lean on them. But lean on them we must!

What is your favorite time to write? I am a lunchtime and late night writer. As a self-published author, it can be difficult to balance a full-time job with all that comes with being an author. So inevitably, my most productive writing times are when I’m needing a brain break at work or late at night when I’m decompressing from the day.

What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever received and would like to impart to other writers? There’s a quote from Tony Kushner’s play, Angels in America: “Learn at least this, what you are capable of. Let nothing stand in your way.” One of the hardest hurdles to overcome as a writer is simply knowing that the work you produce is worth putting out in the world. There are no words that someone else can tell you that will give you the confidence to start on your project, work through your writers block, or whatever challenge you are facing. While it’s difficult to practice, practicing a positive internal monologue and building up your own confidence in your writing is the best piece of advice I could give to anyone.

What excites you most about being a writer in today’s age? As a self-published author, I am in a unique position to engage with readers in a whole new way. Whether that is through the newsletters I send out, the content I post on social media, or any other avenue of engagement, the ability to have a direct connection and relationship with readers is, to me, unprecedented.

Shannon Elliot’s Devil in the Dark is out now.