[Interview]: Edward.Marlo.Ruiz
The makings of a writer, solid Substack advice, and starting off on a Substack journey.
Welcome to our first writer interview! I’m excited to present to you
’s answers to my (sometimes longwinded) questions, all of which focus on the writing process and writing on Substack in particular.My questions are in plain text, while EMR’s responses are put in block quotes; any response I had to his answers I added in italics.
Enjoy!
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“The sounds of the keyboard become rhythmic and I fall into a trance somewhere in my multiple projects peeling me apart.”
…
“I have a short story collection in the works, in which I will share my working title as; The PineBox Bouquet.”
—EMR
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What made you decide to post your pieces on Substack, as opposed to chasing literary magazines or other traditional publishing routes? What drew you to the platform? What’s been your experience so far? What are some things you wish Substack did differently?
EMR: What drew me to Substack was The Writer’s Salon, based in London, if I’m correct (good chance I am not). I hadn’t even heard of the platform before, ever. I started taking my writing seriously in September of last year when going through the loss of my father figure, my grandfather. I was watching a lot of George R.R Martin interviews and he said something that really struck a chord in me. It was something along the lines of simply starting. So I did, and started using Submittable to find various lit mags to submit to. In which I was able to secure my first official publication in December of last year with the site called; The Write Launch. In which I found The London Writer’s Salon who posted their winners of this weekly contest on Substack. I figured it was like Submittable or something and signed up. I discovered a plethora of other people just – posting their writing. I was awestruck and inspired. So I came up with the name of PineBox Readings and figured I’d post my denials here, and maybe get feedback (hopefully). And here we are now, where most of my writing goes to Substack first, but recently I have been trying to secure more out of the zone publications to add to my list.
RJR: So sorry to hear about your grandfather. But I think tragedy is a common kick-starter for people; myself, while I had been going back and forth on it for a while, it was a bad accident my father went through (still alive, thank God) that was the final push to take this life seriously by taking the necessary leaps. All’s to say, I think you and I had a similar start, just with different timelines.
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Do you have any tips for people starting out on Substack?
EMR: I think one of the single most important things to do here is to simply put yourself out there. I know that is easier said than done, but I am being so serious when I tell you how much being on Substack has brought me out of my writing shell. It is a place full of positivity, and its arms are only reaching further and further, as well as into everything you can fucking think of. AND read, it’s always good to go out and read others' work. It is good to see what people are writing NOW. What makes it work? Get inspired. Get learning.
RJR: All solid advice I would second. Reading others’ work is especially important. It comes as a double-edged sword, though, where in the beginning most of your readers are other writers, other Substackers busy with their own stories and posts, and it can get unwieldy trying to keep up with everyone you want to read while also convincing those other writers to get off their own hamster wheel and read your stuff. I’m still trying to find that balance.
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I’ve heard it widely attributed to Leonardo Da Vinci that “Art is never finished, only abandoned.” What do you think of that? How do you know, or reasonably suspect, that a piece is “finished?”
EMR: It is funny as shit seeing the Leo Da Vinci quote there, especially because I just went back to my Wattpad account which I ran back in high school. Never amounted to much but I still absolutely love the ideas and titles I came up with back then. Most of the actual stories make no damn sense but I see potential in them. It is exciting to think about. I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Especially now, when all I want to do is improve. There’s pieces on Substack itself that I have already gone back to and reworked. It is elation.
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For me, calling myself a writer was very much like a kind of religious reawakening: there were long drought periods in my life where I didn’t write at all, or only jotted down a few words here and there, while there were other periods, mostly in high school, where my writing work ethic was feverishly prolific. My joining Substack was essentially a declaration of my conversion, my acceptance that I am a writer and I need to do this. Have you had a similar experience? If so, what finally got you to start writing? If not, did you just fall into writing one day? What was that like?
EMR: When I think about it, I think I have experienced two reawakenings so far. Maybe there will be more, but who knows. I do know that I want to improve, but anyways – the first was in fifth grade. Soon after I fully realized my love for reading and getting swept away into story. I decided to join the young author’s contest for the entire grade, which I was in the 5th grade. Huge thank you to my mom for helping me fulfill it AND securing that win for little me. I still have the vivid memory of her printing each page so I can put my little illustrations on them during the dusk. The little booklet was printed and I still have my copy here at my Grandparents’ house. The second was my first official publication for a SHORT STORY I completely wrote up myself. The Matron, on The Write Launch. It went through more than a few edits but I still like it. This awoke the demon inside of me to KEEP GOING. In which I found Substack and it has been quintessential in me finding my writing voice and prepping myself for my first novel. So yes, the first moment was when I realized I NEEDED to write. The second moment was when I realized I DO write. I am a writer. And honestly, anyone can be. That’s what Substack has made me realize too. It doesn’t have to be a fucking Pulitzer prize winning novel, it just has to be you.
RJR: Very cool you have that artifact forever. I have a few of those myself, handwritten novels and short stories from my depressed, angsty teenage years, works that will never see the light of day but I keep around as proof that, like you say, I am a writer and I need to write and these show that I can push through to the end.
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Do you have any rituals you swear by in your writing process? Whether that’s methods for coming up with ideas, or getting yourself actually in the chair and writing? I don’t think the development of any story is typical, but are there common patterns to the process from the germ of an idea to a finished piece of writing, or anything in between?
EMR: Rituals, rituals, rituals. I guess I do – but sometimes it depends, like all things. Most of the time, I need music or soundscapes. I have a giant YouTube playlist filled with various moods for what I am feeling and writing. Writing this now, I have music accompanying me. (I will not be disclosing what it is, half of my subs will leave and leave me unable to perform a proper sacrificial ritual). But other than that, I put my phone to charge and let the keyboard take me away to whatever project I am feeling in that moment or day, or week. I go through bouts of genres, feelings, and whatever it may be. I smoke and I type. Some days it works and others it doesn’t. What I find important is that I tried, I got some shit down. During my deadlines where it isn’t working, I take a step outside of my ‘room’ because my living situation is as comfortable as it can get right now back in my grandparents – BUT ANYWAYS – I find somewhere else to write in complete silence. The sounds of the keyboard become rhythmic and I fall into a trance somewhere in my multiple projects peeling me apart.
RJR: I think that’s important—to give yourself grace on those days when the words won’t come or come poorly. When I changed my writing goals from word or page counts to time in the chair in front of the legal pad or the laptop, magic started to happen. It’s amazing what even a little bit of consistency can do.
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Is there anything in the works that you’re comfortable sharing as a tease? Tell me what you can about it, but I’m also curious if writing this was a walk in the park or a prolonged, one-sided boxing match.
EMR: To be honest, I love teasing ANYTHING. Right now though? I have a short story collection in the works, in which I will share my working title as; The PineBox Bouquet. A series of short stories revolving around the horror in masculinity and femininity, which I found more than a few of my stories contained. It will feature reworked stories from the stack and brand new ones which are the ones I am running into the punching bag with. I love it. It really is all me and I hope it comes out good. On top of that I have some other things in the works which I won’t disclose too much of. Just some big collabs coming soon, especially a couple community driven ones I am super excited about. Other than that, I am beginning to paint I guess. Figured I could use canvases as a backdrop for physical collages, which will be going to special peeps. And now I just need more time…
RJR: I started painting, too, last year (poorly, mind you; I remember going to Michael’s to buy my first watercolor set, and I told my wife: “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if I, partially colorblind and only beginning to paint at 30, turned out to be a Van Gogh or Rembrandt or something?” Yeah. That didn’t happen.) Painting was more an outlet for messy creativity. To loosen up. To quiet the overly scrutinizing voice in my head. To get the ball rolling and hoping it lasts long enough to help my writing. I’ve found it to be helpful—and, this approach inspired a major part of my story, “The Different Tastes of Creativity.”
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Do you have a trusted person you run your stories by before you post them? For me, it’s my wife. What’s been your experience with this person?
EMR: I never really have to be blunt. What Substack has allowed me to do is find other writers and even editors to look at my work. It’s been a blessing to work with others and find people who simply put in the extra effort because they are just built completely different. It is all around amazing. All my experiences here have been great, fortunately.
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Whether in a workshop or social setting, do you interact with writers outside of Substack? What about writing conferences? If so, do you notice a difference in your encounters with Substackers compared to writers out “in the wild?”
EMR: The only writers I have only interacted with outside of Substack have simply been others in my English Lit classes. Each one unique and in some shape or form, WILL get you to interact with others. It’s all been cool. Never any real creative writing though, save for the one I had to take back in community college. I plan to get into some more, but my current location isn’t the spot for writers. More a location for racist assholes and shitty drivers.
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I must admit, I was a bit underwhelmed when I first posted on Substack. I had it in my head that posting a story would be like submitting my dissertation for approval all over again, and it would be like that every time I posted something. (I still feel this on some level—I don’t think it’ll ever fully go away—but it’s gotten easier with each post.) And once the story was submitted I’d get a bunch of people telling me how horrible or derivative or degenerate my stories were. But instead, at first I got no responses; when I started getting engagement, I found them to be essentially universally positive. What was it like for you both before and after you courageously posted your first piece on Substack? Did you notice any immediate changes in yourself from it? How do you feel about posting now?
EMR: Things have changed a lot since I first posted. It was a paragraph I wrote on grief. It was all of me out there for my first post. It got some engagement and I was surprised and happy. Just likes, the first comment came about a week later. I was obsessed with the numbers and stats, wondering if it was true. So I began posting more as I got more and more rejection slips, and I began breaking out of my shell bit by bit. Which was helped by engaging with other pieces of fiction on here, as well as engaging in community based challenges (shoutout
). As I mentioned, my number looking was obsessive, but over time, I have grown more confident. I have been able to take a step back and put it out there in all of its glory. I found it to be a place full of practice, not every piece needs to be God’s gift. It’s just my shit. So yeah, nowadays I just make sure it has NO typos and send it out. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and there are times when I feel I do not deserve it. But like others have told me, I put in hours upon hours for this. I want to improve in every way.
RJR: Yes, I know what you mean about obsessing over the numbers. I was the same way at first—frantically checking subscriber and read counts—but, like you, I found my obsession to wane as my confidence grew. For me, that confidence came from more experience navigating Substack as a writer, and from the feeling of relief and fulfillment that comes from completing a piece and posting it. I keep focus on things I can control and that keeps the worries and obsessions at bay.
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Are there any themes or ideas or techniques, even, in your work that you (maybe secretly) wish more readers would recognize? And more broadly, how do you feel about the interaction between a reader and a writer in understanding or making meaning of a piece? Do you think author intent has a role to play?
EMR: In my early days of Substack I was just writing out situations. A lot has changed. I want to tell stories, make characters feel alive, so I found I had a lot of improving to do. In general though, most of what people see is what I feel is being put down. I have never been thrown off by someone’s ideas or interpretation. Since I am so early in my own writing journey, I feel as if I am still learning and only recently have I felt I have a unique voice and style. Mostly based on Western Literature and influences which reach back into movies and video games. What I find is that I do not need to hold my readers’ hands, I try and let the text speak for itself. There are some of my favorite moments I feel sometimes get overlooked but I leave it up to the reader to decide on what they enjoyed the most. It’s all different.
I do believe author intent is important to the overall piece. It’s the baseline, but even then, the reader is what completes that sort of bond between the two. I think each person can take what they need but not be too involved in what the author’s intent was. If that makes sense…
RJR: Yes, it does make sense. I agree, I think a written piece is an elaborate dance where the writer leads, but if the reader doesn’t play along, everyone starts tripping over themselves.
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I’m interested in your educational background when it comes to the craft of writing. Generally, how did you go about teaching yourself how to write when you started? Are there things you do or read to help you “keep up your chops” at writing? Have you ever done any formal schooling to train as a writer? (I have not; the closest I ever got were two literature electives in undergrad.) What kinds of things give you a strong and reliable signal that you’re progressing in a way that satisfies you in your refining of the craft, if any? Of course, you could endlessly practice; but what are some signs that you’re doing more than simply spinning your wheels forever?
EMR: I have never taken any traditional creative writing class, except for the one I took during my time in community college, which was lackluster. Half of it was more about poetry and its formatting, it was cool to practice but half the information on fiction felt like it was pulled from the early 1900s or some shit. More than half the class was fucking Shakespeare. Most of my learning has been paying attention to the various ways in which novels work. That’s basically all I do now, for the past year and a half it has been a complete focus on Literature to finish getting my BA. Nothing but novels, articles, shorts, you name it – all kinds of words. More recently, I have taken great notice of why these novels work. What techniques do they use? What makes them my favorite? Anyways – I am going on – most of my education is traditional.
In terms of seeing how I progress – I look back on older work. I notice the shit and I improve on it. I can feel myself improving and soon I want to really put my chops to the test by writing a full novel this year on top of this serial I have planned. But also, I want to secure more outside publications, hopefully some anthologies. I haven’t been able to since December so that is another check mark on the list of improving.
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I try my best not to pressure my brain into forging a brand new story from the clear blue sky. I like to let ideas simmer, slow cook, percolate for a while, until I feel like I have enough to start putting pen to paper. Over time I’ve learned how to fine-tune the feeling so I don’t get stuck in the trap of endlessly ruminating on a story without ever writing anything down. But in general, I have a slow process, and I’ve come to enjoy it that way. I think of story ideas as like photos that bloom into my brain over time, with details becoming clearer as I stare at and contemplate the story over and over again. How do you come up with new story ideas? How do you know, when you get an idea, that it’s worth pursuing further? Have you ever had any story ideas you felt were “flops”—those resistant to your natural process—or in general you felt were going nowhere? What do you do, if anything, with those ideas that seem to drag their feet?
EMR: I am very similar to you and your process. It begins as a blur, an action, a thought, dialogue, images. The one’s I KNOW I will not remember, I put into my notes or journal. I let them into the think sauna until it gives me something slick enough to sit on. As you say, I do not force it, I attempted to back when I really started taking it seriously but once the inspiration strikes, it is hard to shake off so I usually get it done. I have had more than a few ‘flops’ but usually because they begin to reach an extent I find myself struggling to maintain without going insane and turning it into a fully fledged novella or novel. I have many on the back burner right now ready to be unleashed. I put them away when they drag and come back later, which I had to do with this serial I have been mentioning. I found the end goal and know exactly where its headed, but now I have to put it to paper…
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I sometimes can’t help but feel overwhelmed by Substack. There are many great writers on here, each prolific in such a way that my “Saved” tab is essentially useless now. In my less confident moments, I feel this nihilistic sense of overwhelm about my work getting drowned out by all the others. But then I think about Candide and his closing remarks in his book to “cultivate your garden,” a battle cry of faith in the process of doing good work and being patient with the results. To not try to swallow the whole world in one bite. Assuming I haven’t just now thrown you into an existential panic, has this feeling ever come down and breathed down your neck? If so, what do you think about it, or maybe how do you combat the feeling of overwhelm as a writer?
EMR: I understand this sentiment. It is harrowing, but I find it stems from other issues I have with myself or in life. Sometimes I need to step back and reevaluate what I have done and I even go back to comments and restacks to keep the blood flowing. I try to incorporate more positivity through it all, finding some reads to sift through and enjoy. I understand this sentiment. It is harrowing, but I find it stems from other issues I have with myself or in life. Sometimes I need to step back and reevaluate what I have done and I even go back to comments and restacks to keep the blood flowing. I try to incorporate more positivity through it all, finding some reads to sift through and enjoy.
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Have you noticed anything about your writing life that has crept in to other parts of your life? As an example, I have definitely felt emotional benefits to getting my thoughts down on paper; I’ve also noticed that my developing a writing routine is a habit that has bled into my maintenance of a gym routine, something I’ve struggled with for a while. My writing habit has also made me more conscious and protective of my free time, now that I’m hyperaware of how much time it really times to put good effort in your work. In general, do you feel like writing has affected other parts of your life, whether positively like in my case or negatively?
EMR: As you say, I have also been able to manage my emotions better by using writing as an outlet. I find it to be freeing and I can explore emotions with myself. I have learned to be more observant and I feel my communication has improved because of it.
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And that’s it! Thanks again to
for the wonderful back and forth. And please check out some of his posts on Substack, they’re a great read:
If you’re interested in participating in a written interview, feel free to email me at rjr.analog.stories@gmail.com. And let EMR know in the comments what you thought of his responses—we can keep the conversation going :) Thanks again for reading!
Cheers,
-Ricky
For more from Analog Stories, check out this Table of Contents.
Feel free to email me at rjr.analog.stories@gmail.com.
 | A guest post by
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Really loved reading this, both for the thoughtful questions and EMR’s raw, honest responses. Especially resonated with his idea that Substack is like practice grounds — not every piece needs to be some flawless masterpiece. That was freeing to hear.
It's great to learn more about both of you guys!