Karen Dropps

I thought this week I would dive into my own writing process. I like to call it the old school process, since I still use paper and pen on my first draft. I prefer a specific pen and a leather bound notebook, and I carry it with me everywhere. My typing has never been fast, but my brain and hand seem to be at the same speed. I can take out my notebook anytime and get some words down on paper. Now, according to my 9 year old, my handwriting is in some sort of code, but I do write in cursive. So a shout out to my elementary school teachers who drilled writing in cursive in all my classes, I actually do use it! I feel I have the freedom to write anywhere, no need for power or WiFi, just a pen and a place to sit. For example, I spent my last flight working on a short story. I had four hours of sitting in a small space, and had inspiration so I got to work and got about half way through the story.
When I am done in the notebook, I get an early edit in as I type it up. I catch somethings, like a change in a name or a continuity problem, I can catch it on this first run through. I then go back to the old school methods and I print out my first draft and mark it up. I have a binder with that copy, and I like to go back when the novel is complete and see how far it has come. In the print up, I can add notes all over, and get a bit of a break from a screen. I also find reading it in print brings it to life without the distractions of the screen.
This week I take the step on my newest novel, from the first draft and add the changes I have found, and I get to see the book morph closer to a final product.
So raise a pen or pencil to the old ways, and bring back cursive!

Two years ago, I decided it would be fun to join my child in Martial Arts, little did I know that this would take me down an amazing path where I found confidence, and strength, but also a love for the traditions of the practice.
I get asked a lot what martial art I practice, when I respond with Tang Soo Do, I get loks of what? did she mean Taekwondo, which leads me to go into a long description of the two practices. The type I study is the more traditional Korean martial art, I usually explain that we learn traditional weapons and Korean culture as well as forms, and sparring. It has a long history, and for me I have taken to forms as my specialty
A form? its a group of moves almost like a dance, that highlight offensive and defensive moves. I am currently working on Pyung Ahn firms which is a group of 5 forms that make up one large form which comes from the traditional Japanese Martial Arts.
I have learned so much on this journey, and as a cultural historian I have found it fascinating the traditons and adaptablitily of the moves and weapons, since for some time, weapons and martial arts were banned in Korea. Take the fighting fan, it is a traditional fan, but when used as a weapon by adding blades, a simple item can be used to defend oneself.
I recently made it to my red belt, which means I have four more belts and three more years to my black belt, and I am looking forawrd to the journey ahead. Its through this practice that keeps me going, I get a chance to grow both physically and mentally, and I have found friendship and purpose through out my time.
If you want to find out more, or want to join in with me I practice at Lane Academy of Martial Arts in Arvada, CO or check around you, its fun and excitin seeing how much you can grow!
and as we say:
Tang Soo!

Every year my little family of three travels East to Maine for a couple of weeks. This time is usually a vacation, but I find myself so inspired when visiting that I carry my notebook and pen around everywhere I go. After a few years of these trips I find an almost spiritual feeling in these woods and see where Stephen King gets his ideas (It is almost like he doesnt write fiction) Being in Maine, away from the drove of life I get a little retreat to write. Be it by the ocean in Bar Harbor or just on the back deck at my Mother-in-law's. I make some great progress on my upcoming novels. Last year it was a hike in Acadia National Park that "The Dorcha" came to light. I was walking along a trail by Jordan's Pond and I could fully see my characters running through the woods unseen from their mythical world to our own, all the while tourists walk by unaware of what is happening a few feet away. I am working on a new novel (sorry no spoilers)called "Who Spilled the Tea?" and look forward to see how Maine will inspire this story.
Above photo: Bar Harbor, where I found a folk singer giving a small concert on a lawn.

When I finished writing my first novel, I had the same dilemma that many writers have: Who should publish this?
I searched high and low for a publisher that fit with my vision. I had experience with a traditional publisher when writing a textbook, and felt I did not have the control over my work that I wanted. I also knew I did not have the skills to self publish my book, in came hybrid publishing. I found a local publisher, Spring Cedars, where I met Audrey who showed me that with this type of publishing I would get to keep control over my work, and that she and her team were there to help me make my novel a reality. With hybrid there is a bit of upfront costs, but after speaking with other authors it came out to about what they were spending for traditional publishing. I asked Audrey why she started Spring Cedars:
"The publishing industry is quite harsh for authors. Spring Cedars was launched to provide writers a better publishing alternative, one that is integrated, affordable, and personable."

I have been so happy with how the work has come about, I have control over my work, I am in charge of my own marketing, and my work keeps my personal touch. I am looking forward to working with them with my upcoming books! So if you are looking for something in between traditional or self, look into hybrid its a great way to make your dreams come true.
Want to learn more about Spring Cedars? check them out here:Spring Cedars

When I was in High School I attended a vocational school where we learned a trade, I picked Culinary Arts. I had so much fun learning how to cook and being creative. I took to baking especially and soon began competing in baking competitions. I won several awards for my chocolate works and sugar sculptures. But after four years of studying, I had lost the passion for making it my profession and started looking elsewhere. I knew I loved cooking, but I did not want to cook for a restaurant just for family and friends.

Today when I get stuck on a story and cant figure where to go next, I go to the kitchen. I search out the refrigerator for what I can make for my family. I swear they will be 10000 pounds with all the cookies
I bake, but food to me is a large part of my life and use it as a way to destress.
These days I'm not making giant sculptures, and cakes, but instead making family meals like in the photo above. That is Venus De Milo soup, a restaurant I grew up going to for special occasions, so whenever I am missing New England, I make a batch! Food has a strong pull toward a past where the scents and tastes of years pass come out from the food. I remember spending time making pasta with my mother, and today my son and I still make pasta every Christmas Eve.
From cookies to pasta, to my favorite pork chops, food finds a way into every story I tell, which makes sense, since cooking is my go to trick to get out of the blues. So do a little baking or make a s'more, go back in time and relive times past.
Want to make some Venus De Milo soup? check out this recipe: Venus De Milo

I have had an eclectic collection of jobs over the years. I cleaned gym equipment at a YMCA, I handed out flyers at South Station on Boston, I even ran my own consulting firm for small museums. Though varied, I always have a had a great passion for history. I have a Bachelors in general history, and a Masters in Heritage Studies. Heritage Studies? what is that? well I think it is best described as ethnohistory, or not quite anthropology but more field work than history. I studied culture and how cultures help shape history. I loved learning about how the things we put meaning to shape our histories. I learned field work, oral history interviews, and research. I focused on how technology changes our culture, and have found great joy in finding connections between our past and how it changed our future. I taught for years as I mentioned last time, I always felt a sense of accomplishment when students would make the connections and see how all of history connects together.

Now that I have switched to writing, I find my life as a historian peeks through in many different ways. Like this week I am working on typing up my next novel, and needed to add a lullaby to the story. I found myself relying on my old skills and research and found that the oldest lullaby is from Babylon and titled 'Little Baby in the Dark House." I try to never get rid of old research and use it to inspire me in my work writing novels. I sit looking at my notebooks, binders and books as I type I can look up and see which book I may need to look into, be it to remind myself how long a train ride between Boston and Providence was in 1890 or some old research on the diaspora of Punk Rock.

Melding history and writing has been a great adventure. I love learning and mixing the things I have learned over my many years studying. The biggest part though I love is giving voices to the people I have studied. For years I would read about culture and always visualized things as if I was observing a friend in the situation. With writing these stories can come to life and others can experience a time and culture of the past and see connections to our own present. My first novel takes place in Nantucket, I was able to take research, my own trips to the island and combine it with my research into how women of the age were expected to live. I wanted to give a voice to the women who stepped outside the box and hope that others will find themselves in the story that they too can break free!

Want to hear more on culture and writing? I am doing a session at this years Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Conference in September. For more information check out:RMFW 2025 Colorado Gold Conference

Hello!

I am Karen Dropps. I am an author, historian, lover of crafting and a martial artist. Follow my site to learn about me and my process writing and creating!

To start, I want to highlight a bit about my journey to becoming an author!

During 2020, I was stuck at home teaching history on Zoom at the local community college. I was approached to write a new text book for my Colorado History course. I was reluctant at first but was looking for a challenge so I accepted. From that came my first "Booms and Busts: The Story of Colorado". Though few have read it, I found I enjoyed writing, and a few short years later, I had had enough of teaching and was looking for a new path. I took classes in project management, data analysis, anything I could get my hands on, I just wasn't happy, and looked for a change. I had met a career coach at a conference the year before and decided to reach out and see what I could be doing with my life. The first thing I had to do was list 100 things I love and from that I was able to see that, my passions are creative leaning, and that maybe a career in the arts may be a good fit. I had remembered I had started writing a book about 5 years before, but had never finished it. With a new found energy I got cracking and finished my first novel "My Elbert" which was published this March! It has been a long journey but I am happy and am loving writing. I have two more novels in the works and have many more ideas coming! So check back and learn more!
Karen
Want to buy my first novel? check out my publishers page!:Spring Cedars

Enough said.