Ask the Author: Ruth Hanford Morhard
Answered Questions (6)
Ruth Hanford Morhard
I had so many interests when I was young, I didn't know what I wanted to do. So, no, I didn't always want to be a writer. But I knew I wanted to do something creative. I loved music, the theater, history, languages, actually all the humanities. And I loved to read and to learn. As time went on, writing became part of my professional life, and eventually, it became the most fulfilling part. So I gradually moved in that direction. I still have many other interests, like history, culture and the arts--and I find I can indulge them all in my writing.
Ruth Hanford Morhard
I need to be excited about an issue, topic or story that matches my personal interests. That inspires me. I write about other things in my day job, but not with the same degree of enthusiasm.
Ruth Hanford Morhard
Keep writing. Take advantage of opportunities to improve your craft through classes, writers' groups, workshops. And get feedback from other writers you admire.
Ruth Hanford Morhard
To me, writing is like solving a word puzzle. I love playing with words and ideas and fitting them all together. But it's not easy. It can be a painful process. The real satisfaction comes after you've put all the pieces together and can take pride in your final result.
Ruth Hanford Morhard
After spending too much time looking at a blank page and panicking, I force myself to start writing. Anything. (Though preferably about my topic!) I don't give a thought to how well written it is. Just pen my thoughts. That gradually lessens the panic and gets my brain in gear. Then, the writing starts to flow--though it's not in anywhere near final form. I have to stop myself from trying to perfect it because that hinders my progress. I'll do that later in my countless revisions. It's like the Nike slogan, "Just do it!"
Ruth Hanford Morhard
I'd just met my now-husband Al. His mother had passed away, and I was helping him clean out her house when I noticed a large metal can of film with "Bringing Up Baseball" scrawled on the side. I was curious and asked about it. Al said it was a film the Cleveland Indians made about her baseball leagues. I wanted to see the film. There she was, directing boys decked out in replicas of Major League team uniforms. She had started the first boys baseball leagues, before the Little League. A woman did this? I needed to know more. What I found was the incredible story of a woman who left home when she was only 12, faced unimaginable hardships and founded the boys leagues to help her son, whose childhood had been scarred by his father's alcoholism and violence.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more