Nancy Evertz

BIW Member Interview

Nancy Evertz is a romance writer living in the Land of 10,000 Lakes – Minnesota. She has five children scattered around the country – and sometimes around the world. She is a gardener, cook, singer, golfer, dancer, skier and avid reader.

Moe: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Nancy Evertz: Although I sporadically kept a journal from my teen years on – my mother was the journalist, poet and playwright and my sister – the poet. It wasn’t until my freshman year of college when my English professor suggested I try and publish a short story I’d written for an assignment. I was astonished and failed to do anything with the work – but the seed was planted. Now a retired pharmaceutical executive at a reasonably young age, I write full time.

Moe: Describe three lessons you have learned about writing?

Nancy Evertz: Write everyday no matter how you feel. Malcolm Gladwell’s theory is that you need 10,000 hours of practice to be a success. Since my background is accounting – I keep a daily Excel log of my writing so I don’t lie to myself about how much time I spend.

Read your genre. I want to be published – if you don’t know what is selling – why would a publisher take a chance.

To improve, other writers need to read your work – so take a risk, join a critique group. Everyone has insights that might improve your writing. They are all on the same path – but may have taken a different detour – so they can help you over that next road block.

Moe: What are you working on now?

Nancy Evertz: I am editing book two of a completed trilogy — the first book that has been requested by an editor. During Book-in-a-Week – I work on new projects. I have a series set in Savannah that I finished the second book during the May BIW. I started the third book in the June BIW.

Moe: Do you have a favourite writing related book?

Nancy Evertz: Since I’ve just begun pitching – the book I reach for most is Making the Perfect Pitch by Katharine Sands.

Moe: What is your favourite writing website?

Nancy Evertz: Well of course BIW!! But I also take on line course – WriterU has been great. I am also amazed at the amount of info you can get by Googling.

Moe: Do you have an important BIW tip you’d like to pass along?

Nancy Evertz: I’ve found that I have more productive writing times – since I am retired – I can write three pages an hour in the morning – but it might take me an hour at night to write one page. Write when you are most productive.