Writing Again

Last week I got to use our cottage in Michigan as a mini-writing-retreat.

I went with a talented writer friend who helped me salvage my first novel a few years ago, and she agreed to help with the second if I would keep her on task with writing her own book.  We had five straight days (plus two chatty driving days) of writing.  For the most part no internet, no schedule, no news, no responsibilities.  There were a couple of trips to the library, a few trips to pick up food, and some lovely walks here and there, but more or less we stayed in the house and wrote without interruption.

I can't emphasize enough how much I needed this.

Art of Creation

I wrote this essay as I was preparing to launch my first novel.  (Buy my book!)  It aired on our local public radio station the other day, so if you'd like to hear it in my voice, here's the link:

Lake Effect WUWM, Wednesday June 26, 2013

ART OF CREATION  by Korinthia Klein

As far back as I can remember, I always thought it would be exciting to write a book.  I toyed with the idea on and off for years.  It probably would have made more sense to attempt to write fiction for the first time before becoming immersed in child rearing, but the impulse to finally write did not strike me until I was well down that road.

Is there a mother who loves her children who doesn’t live with the fear of losing them?  Especially in the early years the idea of something unspeakable happening to any of my babies often made it hard for me to sleep.  It was too terrible to contemplate but somehow impossible not to.  I wondered about the toll such a loss would take on me, if I would be strong enough to bear it.  But becoming preoccupied with such thoughts felt wrong.  I needed a distraction.

Looking for opinions on part of my first novel

I mentioned in the post I wrote about the movie Brave that I might need to amend or rewrite part of my first novel to accommodate it.  I can't decide because I kind of like it the way it is, but it could seem like an obvious omission since the novel has yet to be published.  Or maybe I should leave it as a reflection on when it was written, rather than update it?

I could use some opinions if anyone is willing to take a few minutes and read an excerpt.

The name of my novel is The Real Mom, although I'm considering changing the title to Pink Ponies.  It's about Maddie, an artist who is married and is the stay at home mom of two young girls.  This excerpt is from the middle of chapter four after she's found out she's pregnant again, and she's taking care of her girls while making dinner and waiting for her husband to come home.  (I look forward to the day when anyone who is interested can read the whole thing.  Which could be soon as I am about at my limit with rejections from agents and may just self-publish and be done with it.  If anyone has advice on any of that I'd love to hear it too!)

The Real Mom, by Korinthia Klein, pages 79-84: