Conclusion of Interview with Ruth Nestvold

Here is the conclusion of my interview with Ruth Nestvold, author of Never Ever After.


When did you realize that you wanted to write?
I first started writing stories in grade school, but it took me several decades to start getting serious about it.


Are you successful enough to writer full time?
Not yet, but the ebook revolution gives me hope that I might eventually be.


Do you plan out the entire book before you begin writing? Or do you just sit down and write?
I have to know the ending of something before I start writing, but I usually don't have the entire novel or story plotted out. At some point during the planning, scenes start popping into my mind, demanding to be written, so I write them, and continue plotting out the rest of the book or story on the side.


Do you have a set time that you write each day? Or do you wait to be inspired?
If you always waited to be inspired, you'd never write. Life gets in the way a lot, so I don't have set times for writing, but I do write every day. When I'm working on new material, I usually set myself a weekly word count goal. When I'm researching, plotting or revising, I set myself hourly goals for writing work.


What new doors has your writing opened up for you? Were there any opportunities that you had never considered before?
Ebooks are a huge change for the working writing. I can now take my career more into my own hands than I could before. Just a few years ago, I never would have dreamed of an opportunity like that.


Do you ever become bored with what you are writing? If you do, how do you get past that point?
Of course! If I get bored, it often means that I've taken a wrong turn somewhere, so I reexamine why I thought this particular scene or section needed to be written. I've discovered more than once that it's not necessary, and a summary of events will do fine. Sometimes I'll put the novel aside for a week or two and write a short story to clear my brain.


What type of books do you like to read? Are you an avid reader?
I read lots of different things, just no horror. I've never gotten into scaring myself for fun.


How do you manage to balance your time between family, friends, and writing?
Since I only work part-time, the balancing works pretty well. My husband and I both work from home, so there's no problem with not seeing each other. My kids live nearby, and I see them 1-2 times a week. Friends I see less frequently, but we keep in touch.


If you could spend one hour with just one person, whom would you choose?
Aphra Behn. Given everything she accomplished, she must have been an amazing woman.


Do you have any advice for writers who are striving to be published?
Don't wait for inspiration, go and find it. The only way to learn how to write is to write. Join a critique group and learn how to give any take criticism. None of us is so good that there's no need for improvement.



Thank you for giving such interesting and informative answers. If you would like a copy of Never Ever After, I have provided an Amazon link below.