Karleen Koen

Yesterday, I was ready to throw up my hands and quit. Just like a child, I hated my editor. Today, as I plow on rereading the manuscript for two too many times, I recognize her push to make me focus down even more, to clean up that which is unclear, and what's more, I appreciate it.

I'm excited about some of my solutions. If I can do it, I will have taken an extremely complex court and made a real, vibrant story out of it. It's amazing how timid historical novels about Louis and Louise can be. I'm not timid. And that's part of my problem.

Anyway, this will be an intense week as I try to finish reading her revision suggestions, and as I process my responses. (The first is always ego. I have to wait for ego to quiet.) But I have to trust ego, too, because sometimes the suggestions aren't ones I want to take for any number of reasons.

So the dance goes on. Louis is a hard man to shake off.

PS....why am I in Taos? I received a wonderful writing residency. Go to http://www.karleenkoen.wordpress.com if you want to know more.....