Ask the Author: Ruth Holroyd
Answered Questions (9)
Ruth Holroyd
OHHH this is a great question. It could be the mystery of healing my skin, or potentially the protective powers of being highly reactive in my immune system. I'm thinking big pharma, plot twists and intrigue... on the run from the establishment!
Ruth Holroyd
That a tough question, and it's a different answer for blogs and books. I blog when things inspire me, annoy me, confuse me or if I learn something I think will help others. I often have to down tools and write down a note or reminder of a blog I want to write and have to admit to having some 70 odd in draft form, but all sorts of things spark that blog forming in my mind. For a book it's a longer, more thoughtful process. It grows, like a seed and slowly starts to take over more of my mind until I have to start writing it. My first book was an opportunity I couldn't turn down, being asked to write it by my publishers. My second book, coming soon, has been in the making for many years and is a collection of weird and wonderful poems about eczema. What I'd love to write would be a detective thriller, a novel, as I also love reading these kinds of books. I have two ideas brewing but no time to write them at the moment. Watch this space. But the inspiration for the books come from personal experiences and what ifs...
Ruth Holroyd
Read, read and read some more. Read what you love, record what you read, and make notes about what you love. Write book reviews and unpick what you love and why. Also journal! Hone your talents. For me, regularly blogging keeps my writing brain active and inspires me to explore new ideas. I think you need to write about what you know and what you love. Writing for me is a little bit like magic, be open and make time for the magic to happen and never give up.
Ruth Holroyd
I think I would travel to Wonderland to find Alice and the Cheshire cat and the mad hatter. I'd have tea with the mad hatter and hope he had something gluten, dairy and nut free. And perhaps redbush tea.
Ruth Holroyd
This is a tricky one. Being a writer is a bit like worshipping at a church to a God who you don't know and don't understand fully. A lot of my writing is magic, particularly creative, story telling and poetry. It comes from a place inside myself that I have to give myself up to in order to connect. If I try too hard I can't do it. All I can describe it as is magic. I don't often know the ending when I begin, I don't plan anything. I just sit and write. With a book like the Reluctant Allergy Expert though, that was planned to within an inch of its life. it's a much harder writing experience but arguably gives you prompts when you're stuck. The best bit is looking back over a piece of writing and thinking, wow! Did I write that? Truly wonderful and also terrifying!
Ruth Holroyd
I've really enjoyed audio books this summer. Does that count? I can highly recommend the Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, I really enjoyed this. Also Paper Aeroplans by Dawn O'Porter - a beautiful portrayal of childhood, friends, enemies, growing up and discovering who your true friends are. The characters are brilliant. So well writen. I'm currently reading Home Body a book of poems by Rupi Kaur and The Shepherd's Life by James Rebanks. Both brilliant and beautiful and thought provoking.
Ruth Holroyd
I've wanted to write a book to help people with anaphylaxis for years and always felt that most of the content was there in my blog if I could just pull it all together. I wanted it to be the book I wish I'd had. The gentle hand to lead me through the jungle of challenges. The encouraging words to help me stay grounded and focused on what's important and not let fear take over. Living daily knowing a simple food could kill you can be so terrifying at times but over time you can learn to live with it and not let it hold you back. Hopefully my book will go some way to setting people on the path to a positive and fulfilling life whilst also making sure they do everything necessary to stay safe!
Ruth Holroyd
I find that getting out of my normal work setting can really help. So going to a coffee shop, working from a shared office, taking a note pad and pen with me and doing some brain storming and just getting anything on paper, like a word dump. Often find writing long hand helps, particularly with poetry. I don't have too much trouble with writers block but starting a new project can be difficult. Writing a plan of what needs doing and ideas for research can also help.
Ruth Holroyd
I'm working on two new projects, one will take a while because I'm still healing and want to write it when I feel like I'm over TSW but I'd love to write a similar book, The Reluctant Eczema Expert. I've planned it out and have started to write parts. I am also putting all my eczema poems together and would love to publish an anthology. I just need to get them edited, so watch this space.
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