Shannon Hale, on books and reading:

The book smelled dusty and old but also carried a sweet tang, a hint of something inviting.
She opened to the first page and started to read, pronouncing the words in a reverent whisper.

- Shannon Hale.

Shannon Hale, on writing:

Writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.

- Shannon Hale.

Shannon Hale, on reading:

Life is short, so live extra lives.

Read books.

- Shannon Hale.

Shannon Hale, on words:

Words can fall hard like a boulder loosed from a cliff.

Words can drift unnoticed like a weed seed on a breeze.

Words can sing.

- Shannon Hale.

Shannon Hale, on writing:

Being a writer is a good, good thing.

- Shannon Hale.

Writing Journal Entry # 12:

Now … where was I?

Yay!

I completed the first draft of my novel: Slipped Masks.

It’s a milestone moment for a writer to reach this stage.

I hit the print icon and the 186–page manuscript streamed from the printer.

It was a great moment to shuffle the pages together in a neat pile and hand it to my wife.

Now to settle in a comfy chair with a large coffee and a red pen.

Let reading and revision commence for draft # 2 …