Writing a book is not easy. In fact, from the time most authors think about writing their first book to the time that books is actually published can take years!
A lot of authors give up, but not Kathy McKinsey. She committed to her writing, and it paid off. Here’s a look at why she writes and how she does it:
Thank you so much for being here! Let’s start with the basics: what do you write? How did you pick your genre?
I write women’s fiction. The stories that come to my mind are the ones I’d like to read.
How long does it take you to: write the book? Edit it? Finalize it?
I worked on my first book for more than five years, with editing and re-editing and rewriting and re-editing. It took about a year once it had been accepted by my publisher, Mantle Rock Publishing.
What’s your favorite writers’ conference?
I have attended the Ken-Ten Writers’ Retreat, and I plan to attend again. I enjoyed having a small group of writers to get to know and focus on the craft we love.
How do you combat writer’s block?
This is still a battle for me. I try to make sure I do something writing-related every day, studying writing books or lessons, proofreading or editing for others, editing something of my own.
How do you prepare to write your books: pantser, plotter, both, something completely different?
I am mostly a pantser, but I have a general idea of how the story will end. I do write down a very simple outline at the beginning, including main parts of the story, character names. Not much else.
Who’s your
publisher? Why did you decide to go with a traditional publisher?
I am published by Mantle Rock Publishing. I never felt that I
could handle all the many things involved in publishing by myself.
What advice do you have for new authors?
Don’t give up. My dream of publishing a book lived for close to fifty years before God gifted me with it.
How do you self-edit your manuscript?
My editing style has changed much over the years. As a teen writer, I was pretty sure the story was just as it needed to be when I first finished it. When I came back to writing after more than thirty years, I was much more humble. I’ve learned much about the writing craft, and I believe I will always need to keep learning. I thoroughly do a line-edit of my stories multiple times. Having critique partners gives me a widening in my thinking about the stories. I am able then to rewrite and re-edit multiple times.
Kathy McKinsey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, and although she’s lived in cities for nearly 40 years, she still considers herself a farm girl. She had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.
She’s been married to Murray for 32 years, and they have five adult children. She lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two of her children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille transcribing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with the cat and dog.
Kathy.mckinsey@gmail.com
https://www.kathymckinsey.com
https://www.facebook.com/kathy.brinkmann.mckinsey
https://twitter.com/kathymckinsey
https://www.amazon.com/Millies-Christmas-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07YTF53KT
https://www.amazon.com/All-My-Tears-Kathy-McKinsey-ebook/dp/B07P92QZPJ
