1. Please introduce yourself (who are you, what genre/s do you write in, what books do you have out)
I am R. H. Gründ, a self-published horror writer. I currently have three books out: ROOM OF CLOTH (literary horror), its sequel ABATTOIR, and a more introspective mystery-horror called SIMULACRUM.
2. What are your favourite books?
I'm very fond of American fiction, especially American realism. Some of my favorite authors are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Hubert Selby, Jr., and Cormac McCarthy. Some respective novels I enjoy are TENDER IS THE NIGHT, LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN, and BLOOD MERIDIAN.
Of course, I also dabble in reading horror! Some of my preferred horror writers include Shirley Jackson and Clive Barker.
3. When did you know you wanted to be an author?
I've always enjoyed telling stories; when I was young, I always told scary stories to my family and classmates. Despite being an avid reader, I didn't seriously start writing until a friend of mine introduced me to the world of fanfiction in middle school; since then, I've turned writing into my main passion, with serious designs to become a published author starting in high school. Overall, I've been writing for over two decades.
4. What are your favourite and least favourite parts of the writing process?
My favorite part of the writing process is definitely the invention and drafting stages! Prewriting, outlining, and ironing out the creative "kinks" and "knots" of the story is very satisfying. It's fascinating to look back at early notes and see the finished product differ dramatically from the initial concepts.
My least favorite part of the process is revising and editing. Revision can really stretch the mental muscle, requiring a lot of attention-demanding reorganization, restructuring, and rewriting. Editing is simply laborious and time-consuming--it's not uncommon for me to take two hours just to edit five pages!
5. What is your writing routine?
Since my free time is limited, I carve out at least one writing session per week. When I have more time, I write regularly, every day if not every other day.
6. How do you balance writing (and everything else to do with it) with the rest of your life?
Balancing writing is challenging, especially as a self-published author; I have to market, promote, design, edit, etc. on top of writing. Reserving time in advance and sticking to a regular routine is critical for me to finish projects, particularly long-form projects that can easily take over a year to finish (taking into account revising/editing, designing cover art, formatting the book interior, and so on).
7. What inspires you? How do you beat writer's block?
Fortunately, the stories insist on themselves! I consider my function as a writer to be one of translation--I'm finding the optimal way to convey a message being delivered to me (by myself via my subconscious mind). I'm also a very strict "architect"/plotter, so I outline extensively before I write, to the extent that I rarely write a story unless I have it virtually all mapped out. This process helps to mitigate the amount of writer's block I deal with.
8. How do you keep consistent/write a lot?
Sticking to a schedule is key! If I commit to every Saturday, for example, I internalize that I have at least one weekly appointment I have to keep. Nothing interferes with that commitment save for emergencies!
9. Does anyone read or edit your work before publication? If so, how did you find them?
I have some trusted readers I send manuscripts to that help me with revising and editing. I also have other developmental and copy editors I've met via networking, largely through engagement on social media like Twitter/X and Instagram.
10. Can we have a sneaky look at your future plans?
I'm always writing! Currently, I'm working on a new standalone horror novel (although it will be a little leaner and less "caloric" compared to my earlier books). There may also be a third Room of Cloth book if I can get the outline down--and beyond that, I'm considering a potential series of brisker sci-fi horrors and maybe even a novel about teaching!
11. Finally, what advice would you give to other writers (inspiring, those publishing and those published)?
To succeed as a writer, you must write because you want to write, not because you are chasing money or fame. If you ask yourself, "Would I be doing this regardless?", and the answer is "no," you may want to reconsider your reasons for jumping into writing professionally. Additionally, you must be dedicated to honing your craft. Reading regularly and widely is essential, and writing well can take years. Patience is key, but so is consistency.
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