KC, it is a joy indeed to read that you have triumphed over a loss, of joy, and regained it. I empathise with the short walk you’ve recently had through the literary valley of the shadow of death.

I only two weeks back returned to a rewriting of a novel I’m working on after leaving it for almost a year; the advantages are my ideas for it are substantially improved, but at the cost of losing my confidence during the hiatus that I’d ever regain my zest for completing it.

I couldn’t have been more wrong: the characters have come back into my life, pestering me constantly with their own ideas of how to develop the story, and keeping me good company, not leaving me alone. I am, as you know from your own experience, more alive when I’m writing, fiction especially.

This novel was prompted by my daughter emailing me a year and half ago a page of a thriller she had begun, asking me to add to it as a progressive story; she enigmatically titled it ‘Venty Still‘. This is archetypical of her. Anyway, the story has got me by the throat and won’t let go, and I’m not complaining; well, maybe I am, because I need ten times the amount of time that I’m making for writing. I think about its development all the time, but cannot keep up with transferring this thinking time while I’m involved in the activities of life into words within silicon, or onto platters, or however the computer stores them nowadays.

The how of which you ask, for me in this instance, was simply by willing myself to reopen the document, and reread the first chapter; I was hooked, and the rest, hopes me, will be history.
PS. It would be helpful if you popped a ‘KC‘ with your logo picture.
Payton L. Inkletter´s last blog ..NEW YORK: "Fellas, we can all point our percy at the porcelain, but who among us can powder milk?" Payton L. Inkletter asks plain. +paytontedwithlove+

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KC Klein Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 7:25 pm

@Payton L. Inkletter, It is so great to hear that I am not alone in this journey and it’s wonderful to know that you’ve come back to your writing. I feel like I would be denying a part of myself if I was to ignore my passion. Thanks so much for commenting and the suggestion to put my signature on the bottom. (Thought it was already there!)

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By Payton L. Inkletter on 04.10.10 9:47 am | Permalink

Beautifully written. I’ve been there, recently, after publication. You’re right, we need the balance, we need to know where our priorities are.

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KC Klein Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 7:27 pm

@Jaleta Clegg, Ditto!

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By Jaleta Clegg on 04.10.10 6:06 pm | Permalink

I totally hear you! And yeah..I am just beginning to come out of that same place.
Christine Fonseca´s last blog ..Advice from author Debby Garfinkle

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KC Klein Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 7:33 pm

@Christine Fonseca, Read your blog great advice!

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By Christine Fonseca on 04.10.10 6:50 pm | Permalink

Yes indeed, I have been there again and again. I have lived this yo-yo existence for some years. The heartaches of constant rejections, the entanglement with an infamous ‘Walter Mitty’ agent with his optimistic publishers’ reports (including a false contract from Crown!), highs and lows — laughter and tears. ‘Never again’ but unable to stop! In the end what is success? I see the down-sides but many see things differently. Merely to have produced a book (however published) is a success. To have good reviews (even if not from top reviewers) is gratifying. To actually hold your first book in your hand — your baby, the fruit of your imagination, born after many months of labouring — blood sweat and tears, but also joy — is an incredible feeling. To have people (no matter how few) read your book, recognise your talent and look forward to reading more of your work is indeed rewarding.
I have a letter from a professor friend who also has books in print (his are reference books to be found in all major libraries). He tells me I have done amazingly well to write all my books, especially with little encouragement from the publishing world. And surely this is true.
I have my blogs where I post pieces of my writing, the occasional review, thoughts and feelings. One is Wrinkly Writers, But the other is called Writing For Joy. I like to include photos with this one. Creativity encompasses all. And to create is joy!
We can moan (why not, it does you good!) but in the end we are compelled to be what we are, do what we are programmed to do. There are characters in our head that insist on being born, stories to be told, thoughts and feelings to find expression.
And along the way we find fellow travellers to encourage and guide. Some of them quite crazy (I’m pleased to say) for we have to be crazy to take up the challenge and follow where our heart insists on going.
Yes, I write for the joy of it. Thank you for reminding me, for in truth, I have been thinking of giving up writing novels.
Gladys Hobson´s last blog ..Lindal-in-Furness 1969-83

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KC Klein Reply:
April 11th, 2010 at 7:37 pm

@Gladys Hobson, Thank you Gladys. I’m so glad that getting you to reflect on your joy has re-dedicated you to your passion. Don’t stop writing, the world is a better place or it.

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By Gladys Hobson on 04.11.10 4:24 am | Permalink

Hey KC,
Read your blog and kinda tooled it around in the back of my head for while. Then I was in the middle of super stressing over writer stuff and I recalled it. Balance! I put down my laptop and went to play with my kids. It was a really simple decision, but wow! how it made a difference. I’ve made similar choices for balance, for enjoying… closer to relishing… other aspects of my life. And the flipside of the balance equation is that the super stress has decreased. A recent conference attendance took it even further. So thanks very much for the reminder. (Now if I could just clean my house…)
Erin

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KC Klein Reply:
April 21st, 2010 at 12:10 pm

@Erin Kellison, AHH a clean house…well can’t have everything! Maybe when we are Nora Roberts.

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Sarah Jensen Reply:
April 26th, 2010 at 10:29 am

@KC Klein, Yeah, when we can afford to pay someone to clean for us.
Sarah Jensen´s last blog ..Excerpt from an all new Legend of the Protectors

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By Erin Kellison on 04.21.10 11:30 am | Permalink

Oh yes, Judy Blume. Did you read Forever?

I haven’t really lost the joy, well I guess kind of. I’m a little frustrated over not having much luck publishing. And frustrated over trying to put my first novel together. But even though it lingers in my mind to give up, I’ve spent too many years trying to give up now.It would be like giving up on your troubled child, you can’t. You just keep hoping for the best.

Keep Writing!
Cher Green
Cher´s last blog ..Linking the Cards

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By Cher on 04.24.10 8:04 pm | Permalink

This is really lovely and insightful, KC. I think every writer loses their joy at some point, but not all writers find it again with such grace. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Sharon´s last blog ..CONTESTS: The Sheila

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By Sharon on 04.25.10 12:17 pm | Permalink

I appreciated this post. Been there, done that, hope the serenity stays.

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By JoLynne Lyon on 04.26.10 3:11 pm | Permalink