Karleen Koen

Well.....writing for a living is a real kick in the pants. Before finishing revisions I was feeling sorry for myself at how chained to the computer I was.

This week, having finished, I feel empty, melancholy, and remote. Tune in for next week. No telling what I'll feel. At least I've learned one (more…)

Well, I finished revisions on Friday. I felt like I'd been "rode hard and put up wet" or as they say in Louisiana, no salt in the beans....exhausted mentally, unable to have the smallest reaction to any of the writing. This will be the 4th or 5th time I've redone the manuscript. Anyway, (more…)

Well, I thought I was near the end of revisions, not noticing that I'd only picked up half the stack of paper I'm working through. How glad I am for this chance to revise with another pointing the direction. I find myself really focusing down on the essential story. That's always the question: what (more…)

I should never blog about writing going well. I'm struggling with changing the front of this book. There was a character arc I'd created around Louis XIV that I really like, and it's lost in the changes, and I'm trying to salvage it, and it's hard. Whine, whine, whine

Well, I'm in it again, and I find that I'm loving it. I completely agree with my editor's suggestion to move some chapters around. But that comes after not looking at my work for several months. I was dreading the idea of reading me again, and I find myself glad to revisit young Louis (more…)

Well, now I must climb back into bed with Louis. Really, after all the time I've already given him, he ought to marry me!

Didn't do a thing about writing, other than the wordpress blog, over the holidays. That made me feel saggy-baggy. I began this week to read over the revision suggestions made by Crown Publishing. It's interesting what a matter of weeks does to my sense of prickliness. I feel much cooler toward everything, not so (more…)

Do you hate how long I take to write? I do. I've shortened my time to a couple of years...maybe three....from five or more, but there is a year when the publisher has it (since I'm not current topic specific and nonfiction). I don't think I can do any better and also (more…)

Well, I was in New York in November, and we sold the novel. Since contracts aren't signed, I won't say more than that, yet. I have to do some revisions, and I'm both excited and repelled by that, but I am concentrating on being excited and trusting that I'll know when a suggestion/revision (more…)

No word from New York. This is the way it goes. I'll keep faith until next Monday, then call. Sigh. I know all is well, but I would like to hear it. :(