Interview: Nico Bell
I had the great privilege of meeting Nico Bell through a couple of my MFA classes, and I immediately became a fan—on top of coming up with wonderfully unsettling nightmare scenarios, she’s got a knack for writing characters that feel so real and genuine you can’t help but care deeply about what happens to them. Nico released her novella, Food Fright, this past March; she’s also put together a new horror anthology, Shiver, which releases January 11, 2021. Nico has graciously taken time from writing, editing, and reviewing to answer the following questions:
What is your personal writing process like?
It’s a bit chaotic at the moment, but typically, my writing process is very organized. I outline my entire manuscript, do character development, outline each chapter, and then get writing. I’ve tried the “pantser” approach, and it resulted in 50,000+ words being tossed into the trash because I had no clear focus of where the story was going. I’m definitely a plotter!
How big a part does reading play in your writing life?
Reading plays a HUGE role in my writing life, but it wasn’t always that way. When I was a kid, I read slowly and often couldn’t keep up with my school’s reading assignments. It was embarrassing and frustrating, and I never imagined I’d get to a point in life where I’d voluntarily read a book. Fast forward to the present, and I’m a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly and SciFi and Scary. I love it! Reading books is a great way to learn how to write, and I highly recommend reading everything you can get their hands on, especially if you’re planning to be an author.
How do you cultivate your ideas?
I usually start with something I want to say. For Food Fright, my horror novella, I wanted to write about the dangers of doing whatever it takes to fit in. I started there and developed my characters, and then my plot. That’s usually how it goes for all my stories, regardless of whether I’m writing a novel or flash fiction. The theme comes first.
How do you get "unstuck" creatively?
Is there a way to get unstuck? If someone comes up with one, please let me know! I’ve never had as much writer’s block as I’ve had in 2020. It’s discouraging, but at the end of the day, the best way to overcome writer’s block is to write. Turn off the inner editor and put words on paper.
What's your "go-to" piece of writing advice?
I love Bird by Bird by Anne Lamont. In it, she describes a boy’s homework assignment to present a project about birds. Lots and lots of birds. The boy gets overwhelmed and when he’s hit rock bottom and he’s completely flustered and he’s ready to just give up and not do the assignment, his dad says to take it “bird by bird.” I may have gotten some of those details wrong. It’s been awhile since I’ve read the book, but the sentiment has been engrained into me. When writing becomes overwhelming, when my inner editor is telling me to quit, when I just can’t fathom surviving one more soul crushing rejection, I remember to take it “bird by bird.”
What story or book or poem inspired you to become a writer?
Okay, this one is easy. Choke by Chuck Palahniuk. I’ve said in the past that I don’t want to meet Chuck because I’d turn into an embarrassing puddle of incoherent fan girl, but I’m officially reversing my stance. He’s my favorite author, and he’s had a big impact on my writing. Choke was the first book I read that he’d written. It’s exactly what you expect from him, and I loved every word. I admire how he isn’t afraid to “go there.” Nothing is too raw or gross or unsavory or sensitive. He pushes himself, and that gives me the guts to push myself.
Where can people find you and your work online?
I’m online at www.nicobellfiction.com and I’m on Twitter and Instagram.
