9 Comments
User's avatar
Paula Lee's avatar

I feel as though I'm peeking over the shoulder of an experienced writer. So thrilling!

Expand full comment
Jay Heltzer's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Shawn. An insightful look into the writing process from beginning to end. I especially like your ease of calm, yet descriptive prose. Your chapter is a great example of pacing and mood-setting. Even if you didn’t hit all your intended beats or markers for the chapter, there’s a lot to build upon from this and for us to learn from. Looking forward to more lessons learned.

Expand full comment
Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks for the encouragement, Jay.

Expand full comment
Jason H.'s avatar

Thanks for sharing, Shawn! As I read through this first chapter I was reminded of the two focus areas you mentioned way back in the beginning of the video series: your effort to focus on details and the concept of including ever-worsening weather as a way to impact the mood of the story. For what it's worth, I see the effort with the detailed descriptions and the initial depiction of the calm (but potentially threatening) weather. Super cool to see how you executed on these ideas you discussed in the videos. Excited to see how they develop!

Expand full comment
Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks, Jason! The weather thing in this chapter was actually unintentional, but I think that's what happens when we make deliberate and conscious decisions about how we want a piece to go...those decisions work themselves out in our subconscious mind, appearing in our writing. Thanks for reminding me of those intentions!

Expand full comment
Sheri VandeRiet's avatar

Wow. Love it so far! I look forward to the finished book!

Expand full comment
Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks, Sheri!

Expand full comment
Robin Archibald's avatar

How exceedingly brave of you, Shawn!

Expand full comment
Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks, Robin! I'm excited to try this...

Expand full comment