Sydney J. Shields
Sydney J. Shields
Sydney J. Shields is the author of The Honey Witch, a sapphic fantasy novel that will be published on May 14th by Orbit, an imprint of Hachette. She is represented by Mollie Glick of Creative Artists Agency. She is a graduate of Columbus State University and has over 70,000 followers across social media platforms. When not writing, Sydney enjoys playing chess and saving bees. She lives in Savannah, GA with her partner and their dog.
Website: www.sydneyjshields.com
Instagram: @sydneyjshields
TikTok: @sydneyjshields
What excites you most about writing? How has it affected your life?
I love everything about it. I love thinking that language has bent itself into a key to my own worlds. Writing has given me so much more than a career. It’s given me purpose, which is the closest I have come to magic in real life.
What mindset does a writer need to continue to grow and learn?
A writer must always be curious. Stories are hidden all around us, and inspiration can come from anything. Keep an open mind and an open notebook wherever you go.
What three words describe you as a mentor?
Enthusiastic, open, and kind.
What makes a good writing mentor?
A good writing mentor will encourage strangeness and reward failure. I remember once hearing, “You can do anything if you can pull it off.” That’s my motto. Try anything. Get experimental. String together the weirdest sentence known to humanity. The worst case scenario is that you have to try again, but there are unlimited chances in the world of drafting.
What is your style of feedback?
Quick, kind, efficient. I want you to get what you need and get moving. I want to get you excited about action plans, not intimidated by them.
What was the most recent “standout” book you read and what drew you to it?
I recently devoured Annie Bot by Sierra Greer. A sex robot gains sentience and turns against her owner, who is also her boyfriend. It’s a great critique on the objectification of women while also serving as an exploration of the bounds of empathy.