E. J. Nash

Hi! I'm E. J. Nash and I live in Ottawa. I'm a librarian, writer, and Corgi aficionado.

Question 1: What have you written that you're the most proud of?

I had a blast writing "Baggage claims at the worst-reviewed spaceport in the Galaxy," which was published in Nature. My literary hero (Ted Chiang) has also published in that column, so it was a very cool moment for me. While I'm here, I also want to tell everyone in the world to read Chiang's "Story of Your Life". I've never had a story hit me as hard as that one. Sometimes words get stuck in your bones, and that's what happened with me and that story.

Question 2: What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?

This might sound bizarre, but I don't mind writer's block at all. It happens! It's a great opportunity to work on something else. Sometimes a good idea is like sleep: if we actively chase it, then it won't come. Writer's block offers the chance to look away and to focus on something else. More often than not, the solution to the problem will pop up, whether you're working on another story, or singing in the shower, or languishing in traffic.

Question 3: What is your writing process like? Are you more of a plotter or a pantser?

I like to think of myself as a plotter, but often a character will grab me by the throat and will convince me to do something else with the story instead. I'm not sure I've written anything, ever, that looked like my original idea. That's the fun part! It's like being a chef, having a bunch of ingredients, and making a cake instead of a steak dinner.

Question 4: If you could spend a day with another popular author, whom would you choose?

Gillian Flynn! One of my pet peeves as a reader is when I correctly guess the ending of a thriller or mystery. I want to be bamboozled, and I want the author to blow me away with their ending. That's exactly what Gillian Flynn does, and I want to baste in her presence.

Question 5: Do you play music while you write — and, if so, what’s your favorite?

Absolutely! I admit, I usually listen to whatever the Spotify algorithm is feeding me. I'm afraid that the robots know me better than myself. I tend to write early in the morning (starting at 5am) so I'm usually listening to pop to wake myself up.

Question 6: What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?

Can I quote an entire book? Stephen King's "On Writing" is the most useful writing guide I've found. What sticks with me is how he used to nail his rejections to the wall, but then the rejections got too heavy for the nail - so he replaced it with a spike and kept writing. This idea is often summed up as "Get a bigger nail." If you look in my email, you'll find a folder titled "A bigger nail," and it's where I keep all my rejections. They are a reminder of commitment and hard work.

Question 7: What do you think is the best way to improve writing skills?

Other than selling your soul to an eldritch deity, consistency is the best way to improve. Sometimes life happens, but I try my best to write every day. It's like speaking a foreign language or working out.

Question 8: What are your favorite blogs or websites for writers?

Chill Subs! It makes it much easier to find literary journals.

Question 9: Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?

Tamora Pierce inspired me with the magic of her stories. I loved the world she created, and that was the first time I felt "transported away" by a book. I realized that I wanted to do something similar.

Question 10: Who has been the biggest supporter of your writing?

My family and my boyfriend are very supportive of my writing. When I had a story published in Woman's World, my Mom drove with me around the city trying to find a copy. And my Dad asked a Costco employee to take a picture with him and the magazine! I'm very lucky.