Welcome to My World: My Writing Process as a Young Adult Novelist

If you’re new here, hi! My name’s Shancurty Ignacio, and I’m a young adult (YA) author. I juggle writing multiple novels and genres, while also indulging in digital illustration and dabbling in music. I write almost every genre you can think of, except erotica or explicit adult content, as I find those difficult or uncomfortable to write. So, before you dive in, grab yourself a cup of coffee or a snack—you deserve it!

Heya, I'm Shan! Welcome to my world.

My friends and family often wonder about my writing process, so here’s a quick glimpse into my writing life and how I go about crafting a book—be it a short story, fanfiction, or nonfiction—you name it!

Disclaimer: You don’t have to follow my writing process. Do what works best for you and stick to that!

Before Starting a Story...

I make sure to jot down all my ideas before writing the first part of my new novel. It’s crucial to note every idea and focus on the most important ones. You might have too many ideas, but find what excites you the most and expand on it. Keep your other ideas—they might be useful for future projects!

Choosing a Theme…

Once I have all the ideas, settings, characters, and plot elements down, I think about the story’s theme. Essentially, this is what your readers will learn from your book. It’s the most important part that makes any novel click and become memorable. Without a theme, what’s the purpose of writing the book in the first place? In short, your story needs an unforgettable message that readers can recall, so I prioritize the theme before diving into the writing itself.

Outline!

Once I have my ideas organized and cohesive in my head, I outline the book. This part is optional if you’re a "pantser", someone who writes by the seat of their pants. I always use Jessica Brody’s “Save the Cat: Writes a Novel” Beatsheet! It’s fantastic because everything’s already laid out for you: the Opening Image, the B-Story, the Dark Moment, the Climactic Confrontation, and so on. You only need to think about the story’s content. I also highly recommend reading “Story Genius” by Lisa Cron and watching Abbie Emmons on YouTube. These are very helpful masters in writing fiction—seriously, they’re amazing!

Think you're having a therapy session with one of your characters! Completely relate to them.

Creating “Brains,” in Short, Character Profiles…

With the outline done, I proceed to create profiles for my main characters. I like to think of these profiles as their little “brains”. Without them, I’d be lost and wouldn’t know their internal struggles, personality, or even their looks. I also list their Enneagram and MBTI, which help me pinpoint their wants, fears, and lies about the world.

When I’m traveling or out of the house, I keep a shorter, more portable version of the character profile on an index card, which is very helpful! (Plus, I don’t have to look at a screen all the time.) The only downside is if I lose or leave it behind without an extra copy, I’d leave the chapter and write something else for now.

I'll publish a new blog post on creating your MAGIC INDEX CARD next! Check it out after you read this if you want to make one from scratch.

It’s Raining Chapters!

With the outline done and the story’s events laid out, plus the main character profiles completed, I started writing the chapters based on the outline. I begin by handwriting each chapter, making it as raw as originally intended. Once it’s done, I use my laptop or device to type the handwritten draft, refining it in the process. I take it one step at a time. Admittedly, this process can take a long time—years, even. But once you persevere and complete the entire outline, you’ll have a finished book!

If you finish writing a book, consider it an achievement! Many couldn't write a book, so be proud!

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The process above is the same for writing short stories or fanfiction. When I write fanfiction, I strive to stay true to the canon while maintaining its meaning and character integrity. I also like my writing to be as clean as possible. (Yes, I’m a perfectionist, even in my drawings, but I’m aware of it!) Ultimately, I want my stories to touch readers’ hearts and remind them why they read my books in the first place.

In fiction, anything’s possible. Writing fuels my passion, leading me to create this website and share my knowledge with all of you. Stay tuned for more blog posts, which I’ll post every Thursday! Don’t forget to check out my books and my new fanfiction announcement posted after the Magic Index Card post!

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