Q: You are married and keep up with three young sons—how do you get it all done? JLK: That is by far the question I get asked the most. During the stolen minutes and hours, when other people watch television, I write. And all the time I’m running errands, folding laundry, or on the elliptical, I’m writing in my head. Writing has become me, in a way. And other things just stay happily undone. Q: How did you write 365 devotions for The One Year Mini for Busy Women? JLK: One word at a time, one day at a time. I had four to five months to write the Mini, which, given the timing, worked out to be writing three devotionals per day—a daunting task for any writer given each devotional had to be an independent thought and based on some tangible real-life experience. Many mornings, I got up and had no ideas for that day, but I shoved a pen and paper in my back pocket as I went about keeping up with the boys. As ideas came, I wrote them down. And, never fail, when I sat down to write, I had enough. I have no doubt on the source for each and every word. Q: Where do you write? JLK: We have an oversized navy blue leather chair that has served many purposes, including being my writing headquarters. For me, it’s big and comfy, has a great view of the gardens, and is wide enough to hold me with my laptop and a hefty dictionary and thesaurus at my side. And since my writing spot is located in an oft-times busy place in the house, I occasionally listen to music while I write, especially U2. Q: What is your favorite book? Movie? JLK: Book? We have so many books at our house, I have to pick more than one. Miss Rumphius, a beautiful classic children’s book, is one of my all-time favorites because of the message—making the world a more beautiful place. Jane Eyre is my favorite adult classic, for being a timeless story of a young woman’s journey to find herself. I’ve always enjoyed Ludlum’s work, including the film adaptations of the Bourne series, and 007, especially Craig's recent character. A movie that has made an enormous impression on me is Blood Diamond. But, of course, I love both the novel and film versions of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Q: You are accomplished in athletics, music, academics, modeling, and writing. What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment? JLK: Does dinnertime count? Seriously—cooking and sharing a family meal complete with boisterous laughter—that is what I consider the best and most rewarding accomplishment. I count every single dinnertime with our boys as the best blessing. Q: I’m a just-getting-started writer. Can you give me some recommendations? JLK: Patience, great books, a writing schedule, and a few good conferences help the most, I think. A few books worth investing in for your personal library: Stein on Writing by Sol Stein, The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, The First Five Pages and The Plot Thickens by Noah Lukeman, and Publicize Your Book by Jacqueline Deval. A writing schedule involving a consistent writing time is essential. Whether it is notching your way through your piece at thirty minutes each day every week for a year or diving into a more rigorous pace, writing each day is most important to keep your juices moving. And as for conferences, spending money to network and learn about writing may feel premature, but everything good I have ever had happen in writing has come as a direct result of attending a conference. Googling writer’s conferences in your local area is a great place to start. And reading industry blogs, like the blog my agent, Chip MacGregor keeps (www. macgregorliterary.com), will help you learn the ins of the book industry. Patience is the ultimate skill for a writer, but a patient writer can better reap the rewards of an always- slow-moving book industry. Q: What are you working on next? JLK: My next novel, Water Lily, is on tap. Unforgettable characters and their unique complexities live with vibrancy, especially in the mind of the writer.
Jennifer. She loves to hear from you. |
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| What am I doing in all the time in between? Writing! |