198: Exploring the Depths of Motherhood and Imagination with Kristen McGuiness

What if you could write your book? Imagine if you started today and just kept going even at a pace of 10 words or 10 pages every night? What if you could write your own story and in parallel navigate life’s reality that includes loss and grief and the realities of marriage? What if your book could be your own revolution around a topic you held close to your heart? 

Today’s guest is a mom of two, a caregiver to her grandmother, a partner to her best friend, and a working mom who found a way to write her book during a seven-year journey a book that touches upon complex grief, mass shootings, and being a single mom. Introducing Kristen McGuiness the author of Live Through This, her debut novel coming October 10, 2023. Before sharing more about today’s guest….

This episode is brought to you by Fertile Imagination: A Guide For Stretching Every Mom’s Superpower For Maximum Impact – My book that will be available on October 2023. My writing process took me two years and like Kristen, the key to my success was to keep writing whether I was sitting in fancy cafes or while kneeling at the foot of my bed during our global relocation from Australia to the USA. Grab a free chapter on www.fertileideas.com. Once you sign-up you’ll have a chance to join my virtual launch party and snag the Kindle version of the book for only 99 cents on Halloween yes October 31 at 10 am EST! 

DM me on Instagram @melissallarena just type the word FERTILE and I’ll share the link if that’s easier to get to fertileideas.com for all the details you need to celebrate your own Fertile Imagination!

About Kristen

Kristen McGuiness is the author of Live Through This, her debut novel coming October 10, 2023, and the bestselling author of 51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single Life, which was optioned by Original Films/CBS Cable with Alison Brie attached to star. In addition, she is the publisher of Rise Books, launching in 2023, which publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry of radical inspiration, and currently runs the book coaching company, Rise Writers, which provides book coaching and management for emerging and established authors.

Kristen has over twenty years of experience in book publishing, as an author, editor, and book publisher, with such houses as St. Martin’s Press, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins. She is also the co-founder of Row House Publishing, along with President and Publisher Rebekah Borucki. Kristen has appeared on the “TODAY Show,” in USA Today, and in Marie Claire, and has written for numerous publications, including Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Shondaland, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Psychology Today, Salon, and The Fix. She lives in Ojai, CA with her husband, two children, and a dog named Peter.

Join us as Kristin takes us deeper into her literary journey, delineating the highs and lows of editing and persevering in writing. She takes us back to the creation process of her bestselling memoir "5150: The Adventures of a Single Life" and the challenges that came with it. Her wisdom around the power of determination, the importance of thorough edits, and recognizing when to proceed to the next phase in the writing journey is an eye-opener for budding authors – like you! 

In this episode, you will hear these ideas expressed:

How did Kristen establish her habit of writing? Why did Kristen write about complex grief, marriage, and mass shootings (i.e. gun violence)?  What might a writing retreat look like for you? Kristen shared her love of hotels Where did Kristen find the motivation to keep going for seven years alongside her daytime ghostwriting career? What is Live Through This about? Is there a way to edit your book based on how you also tend to evolve especially if it takes you some years to write? How can our kids bubble-wrap our sanity even during grieving times? What are ways to make the process of writing enjoyable? Ways you can write or publish your book….there are many! Balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and a writing career is possible The power of imagination and creativity can help mothers to achieve goals and create profitable businesses with their children.  Writing a book requires not only commitment but also the ability to recognize when to proceed to the next phase in the writing journey.  External motivators such as deadlines and payments can help to stay focused during the writing process.  Writing a book about personal experiences and societal issues can give a fresh perspective on topics like motherhood, grief, and socio-political tension.

SHARE this episode with a mom founder, entrepreneur, or creator who wants to write a book and needs some encouragement.

Similar conversation:

https://www.melissallarena.com/the-backstory-to-being-published-in-fast-fall-women-edited-by-gina-barreca-my-book-preface-episode-195/ 

Evaluating business ideas for mom entrepreneurs: https://streamyard.com/4fnc6rdd78yd

Supporting Resources:

www.risewriters.com   

https://www.kristenmcguiness.com/ 

Instagram: @risewriters

https://www.instagram.com/kristenmcguiness/ 

Facebook: @risewriters

https://www.facebook.com/risewriters/ 

 

Subscribe and Review
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I’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast for writer moms. 

About Fertile Imagination – www.fertileideas.com 

You can be a great mom without giving up, shrinking, or hiding your dreams. There’s
flexibility in how you pursue anything—your role, your lifestyle, and your personal and
professional goals. The limitations on your dreams are waiting to be shattered. It’s
time to see and seize what’s beyond your gaze. Let’s bridge your childhood daydreams
with your grown-up realities. Imagine skipping with your kids along any path—you,
surpassing your milestones while your kids are reaching theirs. There’s only one super-
power versatile enough to stretch your thinking beyond what’s been done before a
Fertile Imagination. It’s like kryptonite for impostor syndrome and feeling stuck when
it’s alert!

In Fertile Imagination, you will awaken your sleeping source of creative solutions. If you
can wake up a toddler or a groggy middle schooler, then together with the stories in
this book—featuring 25 guests from my podcast Unimaginable Wellness, proven tools,
and personal anecdotes—we will wake up your former playmate: your imagination!

Advance Praise

“You’ll find reality-based strategies for imagining your own imperfect, fulfilling
life in this book!” —MARTHA HENNESSEY, former NH State Senator
“Melissa invites the reader into a personal and deep journey about
topics that are crucially important to uncover what would make a mom
(and dad too) truly happy to work on...even after the kids are in bed.”
—KEN HONDA, best-selling author of Happy Money

“This book is a great purchase for moms in every stage of life. Melissa is like a
great friend, honest and wise and funny, telling you about her life and asking you to
reflect on yours.” —MAUREEN TURNER CAREY, librarian in Austin, TX