Shelly Ellis

How did you become a writer?

I’ve been a writer since I was 12 years old, scribbling short stories in my composition notebooks with my own illustrations. I became a published writer when I was 19 when I was one of the finalists for the First-Time Writers Contest held by the now defunct BET Books. I had a short story published in a romance anthology.

Name your writing influences (writers, books, teachers, etc.).

I studied journalism in college and that helped to lay the foundation for storytelling. Outside of that, the best writing “teacher” I’ve had is reading other novels. Seeing how other authors executed a story, crafted characters, and were able to interweave themes into their novels, has helped me immensely as a writer. 

When and where do you write?

I don’t have a specific time or place. I work full-time and I’m the mom of a young kid so I’ve learned to take advantage of windows of time to write when and where I can get them. My favorite and preferred place to write is on my laptop while in bed. (One of my favs, Edith Wharton, wrote in bed, I hear.) But sometimes I’ll type snippets on my phone on the metro train or while waiting for my daughter during soccer practice or while hiding in the bathroom at 2 o'clock in the morning so I don’t wake up my husband.

What are you working on now?

I’ve written women’s fiction and romance for years but I’m moving into mystery/thrillers. I have a thriller that I sold that I’m really excited about and should be getting edits back from my editor soon. I’m also working on the follow up, a dual timeline mystery inspired by an eccentric historical figure. It’s been challenging to write it, but it's an exciting challenge.

Have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

Have I ever gotten stuck developing a story idea or working my way through a plot conundrum? Absolutely! But I don’t believe in giving in to the writer’s block. If I can’t figure out that particular story or how to make the plot move forward, I step back from that novel and move onto another. I usually have a few story ideas in the hopper that I can pivot to. While working on the other novel, my “inner brain” figures out the plot knot in the first work and my writer’s block disappears.

What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever received?

Do whatever works best for you as a writer; everyone has their own method. 

What’s your advice to new writers?

A lot of new writers are obsessed with finishing that first manuscript, getting an agent and getting their first book published. And rightfully so! They write entire books and advice columns about doing these things, because they are big milestones. But just remember they are FIRST steps. You have to ask yourself, what’s next? How will you grow your audience? What new ideas would you like to try? Think about the writing career you want. Is your agent on board with these plans? Think about your writing career rather than just getting through the door.

Shelly Ellis is a women’s fiction and romance author who has published more than a dozen novels and novellas. She has been nominated for African American Literary Awards, an RT Reviewer’s Choice award in Multicultural Romance, and was named one of iBooks Rising Stars in Romance in 2015. She also received a 46th annual NAACP Image Award nomination for Literary Work - Fiction. She is married and lives in Maryland with her husband and their daughter. She loves to paint, read, and watch movies. Visit her at her web site www.shellyellisbooks.com.