Meet Our Writers Week 33 on Shanna Dodd

Tell us about yourself

 

My name is Shanna Dodd. I’m 50 years old, divorced and homeschooling my daughter. I live in Louisiana. I’ve been writing my entire life. As a child, I was the one making up outrageous stories, full of adventures. I’m an avid reader who tends to hoard books...and cats. I’m trying to write a book at present. Actually write the entire book. I have a habit of coming up with the idea, plotting the storyline, creating the maps and so forth but once I have figured out the ending I lose interest. This time I’m writing without all the intricate planning, just letting the plot and characters lead me.  

Tell me about your blog(s), name(s), what does it mean to you? 

I’ve been a regular journal keeper for most of my life. The blank page was my closest friend and confidant. With my first blog, I tended to write as I had written in my journals. Much too personal for public consumption. I heard about NaPoWriMo and NaNoWriMo. I had attempted NaNoWriMo but the timing was horrible – a death in the family. Then came NaPoWriMo and I was fairly successful with that goal. I was invited to Promising Poets and started a poetry blog through these sites. I don’t post all the poetry I write but a good bit and it has been well-received. Here is the link:  http://shannadodd.wordpress.com/

From that came this site, Bluebell Books Twitter Club, I don’t always have time to write for this one but I do truly enjoy it when I am able. The input is always a great boon to my fragile writer’s ego.  Later, I started two different political blogs. The first, Revolution, was sparked by my anger at a phone call made to my mother by a local Republican politician. He scared her. This blog mainly concentrates on the budget crisis.

The link is  http://unclesamshrugged.blogspot.com/  

The next one is called A Feminist Perspective. I have only one entry. I like to do so much research for these blogs so that I have facts to support my opinion that they are extremely labor intensive and time-consuming. Until recently, I was caring for my elderly mother so my time was extremely limited.

The link for this blog is http://bentcompass.blogspot.com/.

Recently, and the most active of my sites, is a website I created called Savory Riches. The link is http://savorousriches.weebly.com/. It is devoted to cooking, the experience of cooking and recipes, of course. There is a blog where I basically ramble a bit about my life from the perspective of the cook in the family. There are, or will be, funny anecdotes from my own cooking disasters. All recipes are my own or my mother’s and have been cooked by me and reviewed by the sternest of critics – my children.

When have you started blogging?

My very first blog, which has since been deleted, was started in about 2006.

What's the theme(s) of your blog(s)? What do you write most? poetry, fiction or novel, or  short stories?

I answered about the themes above. I write mainly personal essays and poetry. I have just started exploring short stories and flash fiction. I am working on a novel at present.

What are the inspirations of your writing?

It depends on what I’m writing. Poetry is almost always the attempt to create an image of an emotion or a snapshot of nature. Occasionally, there is a story quality to the poem. One of my goals is to create a modern epic poem.

Short stories and flash fiction I have written through your prompts at Bluebell. It was successful to the point that I search for other prompts.

The personal essays are always opinion pieces concerning politics, religion, philosophy, and so forth. I am very opinionated and am at my most eloquent when expressing my opinion in writing.  

You are involved with Bluebell Books Short Story Slam writing challenge? How do you feel about it so far? What's the benefits of it? 

I adore the short story slam! It not only gives me the perfect excuse to write when there are other things I should be doing but the response has always been positive. I would welcome constructive criticism but either your readers are very forgiving or I’ve been lucky. I get a thrill checking the stats after a post and reading the comments. At first, I didn’t respond to the comments because I didn’t know what to say. I was so awed that anyone would read what I had written that I was speechless. It has increased my confidence in my writing ability tremendously. I strive to improve my craft because the response is so positive. And I would say that it inspires me to write other things that might possibly prove lucrative at some point.   

Do you have a favorite blogging friend(s) to share? Tell us about his/her blog link and the writing in it! 

I really don’t know other bloggers. I know a few writers but they read blogs and teach writers. They write for themselves. I would love it if there were an online writers’ group. 

Do you have a favorite book or author?

I have favorite books and authors. I have very eclectic taste in literature and reading material. Two of favorites are Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry and The Winds of War by Herman Wouk. I’ve read everything by Stephen King and Laurell K Hamilton. I just finished the Game of Thrones series, at least up to the latest installment. Highly recommend. It feels a little like Sophie’s Choice here.

What's your writing plans in the near future?

I plan to finish my book. I plan to contribute regularly to my blogs and my website. I hope to get a job writing or be able to make a living writing freelance.