Author Chat: Shannon McChesney

Today's author chat is with Shannon McChesney, a long time NaNoWriMo participant hoping that Aeon Timeline will be the difference in winning NaNoWriMo for the first time this year.

We would love to hear from other WriMos who would like to participate in an author chat. We welcome everyone, old hands and first timers alike.

Matt Tobin
Aeon Timeline Developer

Back to NaNoWriMo page

Profile

Shannon has been writing on and off for as long as she can remember. She has participated in just about everything the Office of Letters and Light (organizers of National Novel Writing Month) has offered, including the late Script Frenzy, in order to keep her ‘Writer’s Brain’ from getting too dusty. She's still experimenting in a variety of genres thanks to those notorious plot bunnies, but her favourites are historical fiction and fantasy.

She hopes to have her current project ready for publication within the next two or three years.

Twitter @smcchesneybooks

How many years have you participated in NaNoWriMo?

This will be my fourth year participating in National Novel Writing Month as well as my first year to win.

I like your confidence. Why will this year be different?

I know I’m going to ‘win’ this this year and I think Aeon is going to be a big influence in that, simply because I won’t be confusing myself with timeline incongruences. Trying to untangle yourself takes up way too much time.

What are you writing for NaNoWriMo this year?

This year I am writing an historical fiction set during World War II spanning America, Hungary, and over the Pacific as it follows the true story of a family of recent immigrants.

What brings you back to NaNoWriMo each year?

I keep coming back to NaNo because it gives me a pre-schedule block of writing time that I can’t adjust. I have to write in November.

How do you plan for an event like NaNoWriMo?

I used to be a dedicated ‘pantser’, but historical fiction doesn’t give a writer that option, so a corkboard (be it real or via Scrivener) is mandatory for me. I also have an account with Ancestry.com because my recent historical fiction pieces are loosely based on genealogical research. I strongly suggest that anyone doing historical fiction have resources like Ancestry available. You will be surprised what you can learn from a census record or ship manifest.

For my novel this year, I started outlining the beginning scenes as a script. In my head my novels usually play out like movies, so breaking it down scene-by-scene that way helps to write the transition from place to place without losing the reader. Otherwise, I might take my readers from Chicago to the Pacific and only mention fighter jets.

What tools do you use for NaNoWriMo?

I’ve become a huge fan of Scrivener and can’t write without it. I’m also a big sticky-note and index card junkie and try to keep a NaNo notebook handy. I’d probably die without my MacBook, but just in case it dies first I always keep everything backed up to my external hard drive, thumb drives and a recently opened a Dropbox account.

Describe your writing environment.

I started NaNoWrimo in college, so I love writing in coffee shops. If I can find one in a library, I’ve struck gold. Coffee and literature seem to be soul mates. An inspiring playlist and organized chaos are also preferred. If there’s too much structure my creativity tends to get blocked.

How are you using Aeon Timeline in your planning?

I first came across Aeon earlier this month through the NaNoWriMo website and it has blown me away. It’s perfect for keeping my historical fiction honest and because I don’t usually write in chronological order in other genres, it keeps my scenes and storylines straight. I also love that Aeon syncs with Scrivener, so each scene has a date; the visual makes a big difference. Plus, knowing that February 20, 2061 is a Monday really makes it easier to add details.

Describe the structure of your timeline.

My characters are living through WWII so I have a global arc for the events of the war and a separate arc for the events strictly relating to family life. That way, I can actually see the relationship between the events of the war and the actions/reactions of my characters.

How do you connect Aeon Timeline with your other research?

I combine it with my other research by linking research web pages to the individual events on the timeline. That way, I’ve got an easy preview to my reference points.

And finally, can you share a screenshot of your timeline?

Note: As the timeline is based on real life people, their names have been blurred in the screenshot below.

Thank you

My thanks again to Shannon for participating in an author chat.

I will post another Author Chat shortly - why not volunteer and it could be you!

Back to NaNoWriMo page