Shawna Yang Ryan

Shawna Yang Ryan – Editor

Award-winning novelist and former univ. professor in MA/PhD Creative Writing program with 18+ yrs experience coaching in nearly every genre.

Overview

As a coach, I offer the same care and support I provided to emerging writers during my decade as a creative writing professor at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa.

I've guided dozens of graduate-level creative prose manuscripts to completion and my students have gone on to publish award-winning books (PEN Hemingway, National Book foundation 5 Under 35, etc). Recognized with faculty awards for teaching and scholarship, I bring a proven track record to our work together. We’ll connect as fellow writers, diving deep into craft, word choice, and the power of language.

As a prize-winning novelist (WATER GHOSTS, GREEN ISLAND), I understand the challenges and rewards of the writing life and can talk you through not only the craft and organizational aspects of book writing, but also the mental and emotional parts of the journey.

Let's collaborate to bring your manuscript to life!

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Fiction
Contemporary Fiction Cultural & Ethnic Historical Fiction Literary Fiction
Languages
English (US)
Awards
  • American Book Award
  • Association for Asian American Studies Award for Best Book in Creative Writing (Prose)
  • Elliot Cades Award for Literature for Emerging Artist from the Hawaiʻi Literary Arts Council
  • Northern California Book Award Finalist
  • UC Davis Maurice Prize
  • Nomination, The Pushcart Prize: Best of the Small Presses
  • Fulbright Scholar (Taiwan)

Work experience

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Aug, 2017 — May, 2023 (almost 6 years)
Directed the Creative Writing Program, overseeing curriculum, admissions, and events.

Self-employed

Aug, 2013 — Present
Drawing on my experiences as a novelist and university creative writing teacher/advisor, I help writers move through the writing process: planning the first stages of a book, accountability support for a writing project, or expert feedback (developmental editing) on a completed prose manuscript,

University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Aug, 2013 — Dec, 2023 (over 10 years)
As professor and director of the CW Program at UH Mānoa, I helped guide undergrad, MA, and PhD students toward their degrees through teaching and serving as creative dissertation/thesis advisor. As a mentor, I coached more than thirty book-length creative prose manuscripts to completion, providing developmental editing and accountability support.

Portfolio

Brutalities: A Love Story

Steines, Margo

W. W. Norton & Company

Book Coaching
The Language of Mothers

Wright, Rain

Running Wild Press

Book Coaching
Ivywood Manor (The Driftless Unsolicited Novella Series)

Loo, Tani

Brain Mill Press

Book Coaching
Nuclear Family

Han, Joseph

Counterpoint LLC

Book Coaching

Shawna has 9 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Leighana M.

Leighana M.

Feb, 2026

Pinned
Shawna is amazing! As a first-time writer, I was really nervous about the process and wasn't sure how everything would play out, but Shawna made sure that I felt comfortable the entire time and helped me set clear goals for myself that were realistic for me within my framework. She listened to me...
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Shawna Y.
It was a delight to work with you and to see your words blossom. You've got this!
Paulo S.

Paulo S.

Oct, 2025

Pinned
Outstanding mentor — five stars hardly do her justice.
Shawna Y.
Thanks so much! I really enjoyed talking about writing with you and I’m excited about the future of your project!
Lydia F.

Lydia F.

Jul, 2025

Pinned
Working with Shawna has been a delightful and exciting process. I felt my work was prioritised, in the best hands, and most importantly, her interest and support of my work continued long after the collaboration was complete. It was exactly the feedback I had been looking for but had failed to fi...
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Shawna Y.
Thanks, Lydia! I have enjoyed living in your fictional world!
Remo H.

Remo H.

May, 2026

Shawna was insightful and encouraging guide during our time together.
Shawna Y.
Thanks so much, Remo. It was a pleasure working with you!
Lauren F.

Lauren F.

Jan, 2026

I have been working with Shawna the last few months and she has been an incredibly helpful coach, challenging me to adjust dialogue and deepen my storyline. I am a new writer and having Shawna's perspective on structure and establishing a storyboard has enabled me to have a better vision of my st...
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Shawna Y.
I have loved working with you, Lauren. I'm really looking forward to seeing your project come together and finding out what happens to the characters!

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