“I like to make people laugh, but I also want to make them feel” – Karina May on writing rom-coms, travelling for inspiration and dirty first drafts
Debut author Karina May was born to write rom-coms. She’s the kind of funny that leaves you gasping for air, and her sharp observations have a way of injecting life into tired romance tropes.
Karina’s first novel, Under the Influence, will be released on 1 September under the HarperCollins imprint Escape. It follows banker Louise Lane and philanthropist Blake Goldfield as they grapple with their unravelling lives, the weight of society’s expectations and their unlikely attraction as their paths cross in flashy Sydney and beautiful Peru.
I’m so excited for the launch of this book, not only because I got to work on it at both structural and line-editing stages, but because I know exactly how much dedication and determination has gone into this incredible achievement.
I met Karina when we were both working as editorial assistants for a niche publisher of craft magazines. Back then, our biggest creative hurdle was coming up with headlines for articles about sewing techniques and scrapbooking tools. It was seriously tough work and whenever we were stumped, our foolproof formula was to simply add ‘-tastic’ to the topic of choice. Tassel-tastic! Cushion-tastic! Quilt-tastic! I’m happy to say our standards have lifted significantly since then.
While I stayed in magazines, Karina was savvy enough to opt out of the declining industry early, moving into the booming world of digital marketing. She kept her creative muscle flexed writing rom-coms for fun, and here we are! Under the Influence is out now and Karina has another two novels in the works for next year (more on that below).
I used my considerable influence with Karina to ask her about her journey to published author, her writing routine and, of course, how she feels about the editing process.
Your first book, Under The Influence, is out on 1 September. Congratulations! How long have you been dreaming of this moment?
Thank you! I think I’ve dreamt of this moment for as long as I’ve been writing creatively – around 10 years or so! Like so many of us do, I changed the goal posts almost as soon as I started. Initially, I was writing a book just for fun – to see if I could actually do it … but that quickly changed to wanting to get it published!
Can you give us a rundown of your journey to becoming a published author? When and why did you start writing?
I have a background in journalism and studied communications at uni so I’ve always loved writing. My first couple of jobs were in magazines, writing articles. When I was growing up I actually wanted to be a foreign correspondent. I did a uni placement at an English broadsheet in Bangkok and quickly realised that a foreign correspondent was not the same as a Getaway reporter (LOL), so I ditched my Catriona Rowntree fantasies and went into magazines. I wrote non-fiction stories exclusively for years until the unfortunate decline of magazines pushed me to re-skill in digital. Once I wasn’t writing as much in my day job I found myself with a bit of an itch to scratch. I’ve always enjoyed being a storyteller, so I started jotting down funny anecdotes – mainly dating stories – then tried to string them together to make a book. Note: this is not how you write a book!
Writing a novel around a full-time job is no easy task. How do you juggle your fiction writing with your day-to-day life? Can you share any tips for being consistent with a writing routine?
For sure! When I first started writing I was working in a pretty demanding full-time job. I wrote in the evenings as a bit of an outlet, and on some weekends. Now, I’m lucky enough to work for myself as a freelancer so I can choose my hours (to a degree). I’m someone who can’t really write in short bursts so I typically structure my week around writing blocks – at least one or two hours. I normally write first thing – which is a big change to how I started – as I’m less likely to skip the writing this way. My client/paid work has to get done, so I know that I’ll get to it after writing and I’m normally happier once I have some words down, too. So my main tip is, writing first! Even if that is before the sun is up (vom).
Travel is a big theme in your work. What role does travelling play in your creative process?
It plays a massive role. My writing ideas are mostly sparked by being in new environments. My senses and observational skills are heightened and the juices start flowing! It could be an experience, a conversation, or even a look that gets the imagination going. It’s almost like when I’m away, I give myself permission to play – I’m now doing my best to give myself the same permission slip when I’m home. It’s about harnessing that ex-pat mentality and curiosity in everyday life.
I know you’re a fan of writing getaways – I’m always jealous to see you writing in beautiful locations! Where, apart from Sydney, did you pen Under the Influence?
Oh yes, I’ve lost count of the number of writing getaways I’ve done (so very lucky!) I actually started writing Under the Influence in Berlin in late 2019. I was there for six weeks and wrote the first 30,000 words in my studio apartment in Kreuzberg and in surrounding cafes. The rest of the novel was written during Covid time. Between lockdowns, I managed to escape to Patonga on NSW’s Central Coast with my amazing writing pal, JoJo Swords, for some editing. Editing can be very painful so I like having a change of scenery (and a buddy).
“The main thing I love about the editing process is help with identifying my blind spots”
Speaking of editing, I’m lucky to have worked with you on a few manuscripts now, and I know you’ve worked with other editors and beta readers too. What do you find most helpful about the editing process?
Gosh, I’m so lucky to have you edit my books. You make them exponentially better! I think the main thing I love about the editing process is help with identifying my blind spots. By the time I’m done, I’m normally so close to the story that I can’t see the wood for the trees. It’s so helpful having expert assistance to suggest which parts of the story need attention and why. I think the why is just as important, as I’m not going to make any changes unless I truly believe it’s going to better the story.
How important is it to you to get that outside perspective when you’re shaping your story?
It’s imperative. I think it’s helpful to get the advice of an expert editor to help with the technical elements, like ways to raise the stakes, and a handful of trusted beta readers to tell you in non-technical terms what they love and what might not be working as well. Once you have multiple opinions you can identify trends. If everyone is saying the same thing it’s hard to ignore!
What writing or editing rule do you love to break?
Haha, I love this. Apart from thinking punctuation is entirely optional (sorry, Penny!), maybe the rule that you should write a dirty first draft. I’m not someone who can get my thoughts down fast. I am certainly of the school of thought that you can’t edit a blank document, but I’m also cautious about making more work for myself by writing too much nonsense. I don’t make myself write every day, so if I’m writing rubbish I won’t persist. I personally like to write a pretty clean first draft. I write leanly, then add.
What do you want Karina May books to be known for?
Oh, that’s a tricky one. I’ve been told that my stories are ‘lively’ – I think that means that I have big plots with big characters. I like to make people laugh with my writing, but I also want to make people feel. To make big feelings, ideas and themes more accessible by delivering them in a palatable way. Palatable? I’m not sure I would buy something marketed as palatable, so let’s go with spunky. I also want my books to just be a bit of fun! I have so much fun writing them – especially the travel aspect – so I want people to have fun reading them!
What advice would you give aspiring writers hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Seek out expert advice! Whether that’s a course at the Australian Writers Centre (where I did the Write Your Novel six-month course, twice!) or listening to writing podcasts (my current faves are The First Time pod, Talking Aussie Books and Writes4Women), and when the time is right, engage a professional editor like Penny! [Ed’s note: I did not pay her to say that!] Not only does being tapped into the writing community provide you with support and accountability to help you stay motivated, it will set you up with the foundations you need to create a manuscript worthy of publication. And, read lots! Everyone says this – because it’s true. Reading widely will help your writing, and it’s also useful for staying on top of trends and understanding where your manuscript fits in the market.
And finally… when can we expect the next Karina May story?!
Ooh, 2023 is going to be very exciting! I recently signed a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan, so I’ll have new books out in March and December next year. I’m also going to start work on my fourth book. I have an idea for the one after that too, so for the moment it’s writing, writing and more writing!
You can pick up Karina’s delightful debut Under the Influence here or follow her on Instagram @karinamaywrite