Welcome, Nancy!
Hi
Jan and it’s so nice to be back in Ohio! All month long, I’ve been on a blog
tour and even though the travel is virtual, for some reason I’m still as
exhausted as if I flew everywhere! But it’s all been great fun and I can’t
thank you enough for having me here!
Nancy
is here today to discuss her latest book release, RUT-BUSTING BOOK FOR WRITERS. As
a published writer myself, I’m especially interested in hearing what she has to
say regarding this incredible book. I thought readers and aspiring authors would also like
some insight into the things that writers go through during the writing
process. First, let’s find out a bit about the woman behind the book –
Nancy
Christie wears many hats in the writing world. She’s an author of fiction and
non-fiction, an editorial consultant, writing instructor, blogger, and so much
more. Nancy has been writing since second grade—she
would have started sooner but she had to learn how to print first—and, except
for some “life intermissions,” hasn’t stopped since. A writer by profession and
preference, Christie began her writing career working for newspapers and
magazines, branched out into copywriting for companies and ad agencies, and
eventually added writing workshops to her repertoire. Her articles, fiction and
essays have appeared in numerous print and online publications. The founder of
“Celebrate Short Fiction” Day, an annual celebration of short stories and those
who write them, Christie is a member of the American Society of Journalists and
Authors (ASJA), Short Fiction Writers Guild (SFWG), and the Florida Writers
Association (FWA).
Now
that we know a little about you, Nancy, can you tell us about your book, RUT-BUSTING
BOOK FOR WRITERS and what inspired you to write it?
Rut-Busting
Book for Writers is actually an outgrowth of presentations I’ve been doing: my
“Rut-Busting”
workshop series. And they are the
result of my first book, The Gifts of Change. When
that book came out in 2004, I created a “Rut-Busting” Workshop to help people
embrace change and get out of their ruts.
Then I developed one just for writers—“Rut-Busting”
Workshop for Writers—and this past spring, I decided it was time to put all
the tips I developed plus all I learned from the authors and writers I have
interviewed over the years on my blogs (One on One, Focus on Fiction and The Writer’s Place) and
voila! A book is born!
Jan's review for Rut-Busting Book for Writers:
Whether you're an aspiring writer or published author, this book is a valuable resource. I read it not knowing what to expect, but I'm always on the lookout for advice that will make me a better writer and help me deal with the self-imposed pressure I put on myself in my career. What I found in Ms. Christie's book is practical information. One chapter in particular spoke to me. It was the one about forgetting where you are in the writing process and in your career. Another chapter hit home for me. It involved identifying the rut I was in. Face it, at some point, we all dig a rut and it isn't always easy to climb out. Ms. Christie stressed defining goals (for me it was redefining my goals). I smiled when I read the part about not being afraid to celebrate success. There are so many common sense things in this book that I already knew, but I have to admit there were a lot of important things I'd forgotten. Not only does the author share her advice, but also advice from others. I found this book incredibly helpful.
Jan's review for Rut-Busting Book for Writers:
Whether you're an aspiring writer or published author, this book is a valuable resource. I read it not knowing what to expect, but I'm always on the lookout for advice that will make me a better writer and help me deal with the self-imposed pressure I put on myself in my career. What I found in Ms. Christie's book is practical information. One chapter in particular spoke to me. It was the one about forgetting where you are in the writing process and in your career. Another chapter hit home for me. It involved identifying the rut I was in. Face it, at some point, we all dig a rut and it isn't always easy to climb out. Ms. Christie stressed defining goals (for me it was redefining my goals). I smiled when I read the part about not being afraid to celebrate success. There are so many common sense things in this book that I already knew, but I have to admit there were a lot of important things I'd forgotten. Not only does the author share her advice, but also advice from others. I found this book incredibly helpful.
Nancy, would
you care to say a few words regarding your other published books?
I’d love to! (What author doesn’t want to talk about her babies?) My
“firstborn” is The Gifts of
Change—an inspirational book about helping people make the most of the
changes that come into their lives, even the ones they don’t want! It’s
available through Atria.
My second book, Traveling Left of Center
and Other Stories, from Pixel Hall Press, came out in 2014. It’s a literary
short story collection about people who can’t or won’t get their life on track
so they keep going “left of center.” Some stories are funny, some serious, and
a few more than a little weird in a Shirley Jackson-ish sort of way. Two of the
stories, “Annabelle”
and “Alice in Wonderland”
are also available as e-book singles.
I’ve
had two short stories published in Woman’s World Magazine, but the experience
only gave me a limited understanding of writing freelance. Can you tell us more
about the freedom, joy, fear, and challenges you've experienced as a freelance writer?
Well, I actually separate my freelance writing life into two
categories. There’s the professional part: that’s how I earn a living, pay my
bills and keep the cats fed. I write primarily for ad agencies and PR firms,
everything from 4-minute on-hold scripts to several-thousand-word case studies.
When I started freelancing, it was for newspapers—back before computers!—then I
shifted to magazines, and now do almost exclusively the corporate work. More
money and faster payments!
The good side: having the freedom to work on my schedule—which
generally translates to 7 days a week! Seriously, though, when my mother was
ill with cancer, it gave me the flexibility to travel to where she was and
spend weeks with her. Then, when my father was diagnosed with cancer, I moved
him from Florida to live with me, and being self-employed enabled me to provide
him with the level of care he needed without losing my income, although I did
have to cut back as the cancer spread.
The bad side: the instability of the income and the need to be constantly
looking for work. While I have some regular clients, I have learned that you should
never stop prospecting so that’s what I do: send emails and make cold calls in
search of writing assignments. My fantasy is to someday win the lottery so I
can relax, just a little. But until that happens, I am always job seeking!
The other category is my passion for writing. That's the essay/fiction writing. I do it because I love to write, especially fiction, so although I don't turn down any money someone might offer me for a piece, my primary motivation is first just to write it and only then to try to get it published, if possible. I've had some short stories published, have the first collection out and have finished a second collection, Peripheral Visions and Other Stories, that I hope to release next year.
I’ve also finished two novels, one of which has interested a
publisher to the point where she wants to see it again after I do some rewriting and editing and polishing and perfecting.
I love the story and I know it needs some renovating so that’s on my list for
2018!
You’re
an amazing author, but also a great champion of other authors as well. You host
an incredible blog called, One on One:
Insights Into the Writer’s Life. Can you tell us about this project?
Thanks for the compliment! (Imagine me blushing…)
As for the One on One blog, it came about after I fought tooth and
nail against doing any kind of blogs at all! Then I started the one for The Gifts of Change (Make A Change blog), Focus
on Fiction (originally named Finding Fran) and The Writer’s Place (for writers
of all genres).
I had an idea that I wanted to write a book about living the writing
life but didn’t want it to be just my experiences—I don’t think that would be very interesting!—so I
decided to start by interviewing other authors to see how open they would be to
answering my questions. God bless them all, they were and it’s been fabulous,
with a lot them also contributing to Rut-Busting
Book for Writers.
But I still want to write the book that triggered the blog idea so
that’s on my To-Do list (which keeps getting longer and longer and longer…)
Writing
is clearly your passion. When you’re not writing, what do you like to do? What
helps you clear your head and recharge your batteries to go back to writing
with eagerness and a fresh perspective?
I love to be outside! That comes from me being such a tomboy when I
was a kid, always playing outside. I work in the garden or the yard, run, walk,
bike ride—anything to get the blood flowing and work out the kinks. This
summer, I hauled out my rototiller and redug my garden, then moved shrubs and
saplings, then trimmed branches (the ones the storms hadn’t already knocked
down!) and hauled countless bags of mulch and topsoil. My poor car—I treat it
like a truck!
Physical activity is perfect for when I am feeling frustrated or
frightened or tired—and sometimes I feel all three at the same time!
Two
questions you posed to me when I was on your blog, made me smile. I’d like to
pose them to you as well to see how our answers are alike or different. What’s
the worst advice anyone gave you about being a writer? What’s the best?
Hmmm… the worst advice... Well I don’t know if it qualifies but it
was something someone (who shall remain nameless) said to me when I was in one
of my “bad” writing times. I just couldn’t write anything—this was before I
started writing professionally—and was desperately afraid that I would never be
able to write again. And that person said, “Why don’t you pick another hobby?”
So here’s the thing: in the first place I didn’t choose writing. It
chose me. As for the idea of never writing again—well, that would be akin to
not breathing. I can’t imagine not writing. I certainly am thrilled that I have
had some work published and that I have several books out, but those are all
bonuses. Even if I were never going to be published again, even if no one ever
would read my work again, I would still have to write. It’s what I do and who I
am. (For heaven’s sakes, my license plate reads “Writer 1” and that costs me
$100 a year to have!)
Best advice? I’ve been given a lot over the years and it all
distills down to don’t give up. Keep writing. Keep perfecting your craft. Keep
stretching your abilities. Keep raising the bar.
If
you can, describe your writing life in one sentence.
It’s the framework on which the rest of my life rests and the
addiction I have no desire to beat—the thing I love most to do and that makes
me feel whole and complete.
You have something special for my blog followers for the month of October.
I do, Jan. Thank you for mentioning it. If they order the paperback or digital version of RUT-BUSTING BOOK FOR WRITERS through the My Book Orders webpage and use code RBBW02, they will receive a 15% discount off the price.
** Now on to the rafflecopter giveaway that runs from October 23rd through October 25th. One lucky winner will receive an ebook version of RUT-BUSTING BOOK FOR WRITERS. Be sure to enter for a chance to win this amazing book:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Keep
up the great writing, Nancy! Thank you for being my guest today. You’re welcome
to come back anytime.
My pleasure and thank you for having me! And I’d love to hear from any
of your followers about any of my books, especially my new little one: what they
liked, found useful or were amused by. Drop me a line or post a review. We
writers live for readers’ comments!
If
you’d like to follow Nancy and her career, you can find her here:
Website: www.nancychristie.com
Goodreads page: www.goodreads.com/NancyChristie
Amazon Author page: www.amazon.com/author/nancychristie
Twitter: @NChristie_OH
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NancyChristieAuthor
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nancychristie/
To
request an interview or schedule an appearance or workshop by Nancy Christie
for your event or organization, contact nancy@nancychristie.com or www.nancychristie.com
