Twitter: @S_M_Johnston
Website: http://sharonmjohnston.com/
Published books: DIVIDED (Book 1), SHATTERED (Book 2) – City Owl Press
Category/Genre: Young Adult
Bio: Sharon is an author from sunny Queensland, Australia. She predominantly writes Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy, and occasionally likes to mash genres up. She has been a Pitch Wars and a TeenPit mentor, and a Pitch Madness host. She loves helping other writers. Her Open Heart series is out now with City Owl Press. Sharon is a member of RWA (Australia), and has previously blogged with YAtopia and Aussie Owned and Read.
Experience: I’ve been a Pitch Wars mentor, a TeenPit mentor and a Pitch Madness host. I’ve been writing for many years now, and I enjoy being part of the writing community. Reading other writer’s work is one of my favourite parts of the process. I have a Bachelor of Professional Communication, worked briefly as a journalist before moving into a Communication role and then into Public Relations. I work with words regularly.
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Mentoring Style: I’ll shoot straight when I see issues, particularly inconsistencies/plot holes. I will be providing in MS notes, as well as an editorial letter. I love brainstorming world building improvements. Often my mentees live on the other side of the world to me, but that means one of us is working while the other is sleeping, and it’s a rather effective time-wise. I don’t focus on line edits, but will point things out when I see them.
Mentee Style: I’d love to work with someone who prepared to do major revisions if required, and understands that a mentor is there to help them improve their manuscript. I’m hoping to find a willing and enthusiastic writer who wants to take their writing to the next level. I expect my mentee to understand the mechanics of their craft, such as dialogue formatting. My mentee must understand the importance of diversity and representation in stories. If you think your novel is ready for querying and aren’t open to changes then I’m not the mentor for you.
What kind of novel would you like to work on? I’m really open to anything in the Young Adult category. I do enjoy stories that push genre boundaries, and am very keen on genre mash-ups. I am interested in underrepresented voices. I don’t want problematic stories, or over-used/tired storylines. I have a soft spot for Science Fiction and Fantasy, but also love a moving contemporary. I’ve previously mentored historical fantasy, speculative fiction, horror, fantasy, contemporary, mystery, and science fiction. I’m attracted to the concept primarily. I’m interested in stories that need to be told. I’m open to any style of writing and any POV type.
Favourite novels: Court of Fives, These Broken Stars. Name of the Wind, Red Sister, Children of Blood and Bone, Six of Crows, The Raven Cycle, The Scorpio Races, Red Rising, The Illuminae Files, Strange The Dreamer, The Slow Regard of Silent Things, This Is Where It Ends, The Hate You Give, The Time Travellers Wife, Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, White Cat…and heaps more because, you know, books!
Mentoring package offered: Full manuscript until submission ready.
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