I’m going to start this post with a conclusion. A resolution. Something that I have never done, and until recently, never saw as feasible. I want to publish a book, and when you read the rest of my story, you’ll understand why.
I’ve been sharing my life online for nearly 15 years now. In fact, my fifteenth year of online journaling/blogging is coming up in 2012…
As all of my readers know, photography is at the forefront of my creative passions, and it’s a passion I’ve had since I was very young. As a wedding & portrait photographer, I absolutely love taking pictures for my clients — as well as for my family and myself. As a teenager, I went through roll after roll of film every week.
Here’s an image of me captured by my associate photographer — I started laughing when I realized a guest was “dancing” with me while I was shooting at a recent wedding:
However, photography wasn’t always #1 in my life. When I first started blogging, I had just turned 15 years old, and while I always enjoyed taking pictures, writing and poetry was all I thought about! I had countless journals, which I still keep tucked away (see the photos below), and they are filled to the brim with the desires and disappointments of my youth, all in the form of poetry, prose, song lyrics, and stories.
I brought my notebooks to school and my friends used to ask to read my newest work just about every week. I really loved the way it made me feel, and it drove me to keep writing. I felt deep down that I had a gift for poetry. I also had some really intense pieces that, to this day, I’m not sure if I could even share with my own mother, and to think I wrote them in high school! Hah! At one point I even considered doing a minor in creative writing in college, but my life ended up taking a different path.
I continued to write when I entered college, but after I met my husband when I was 19, the writing muse faded away slowly until finally I just stopped writing all together. Maybe it’s because I was already beginning a serious journey into photography? Maybe it’s because my happiness with my husband meant I no longer needed to rely on my muse for support? I’m still not sure.
I reminisce about that period in my life quite frequently. I miss it, and actually keep a small notebook in my bag at all times, since sometimes my muse returns when I least expect her, and those snippets of thought are written down and stuffed away, until I have the time to consider them again.
Don’t get me wrong — I feel totally fulfilled with my photography job. It allows me to be creative every day of my life and do something that I feel is truly rewarding. I love what I do, and if this is my only path to take in life, then I can honestly say that there’s nothing else that would suit me better… But… Writing, especially poetry, has always been a thought in the back of my mind, and I’d love to get back into it in the same way that I experienced as a teenager.
Someday I’d love to take both of these dueling passions and incorporate them into something I can truly proud of — a book featuring my writing and photography. Β I’ve never published a book before, not with poetry or photography, and to combine the thrill of writing a great poem with the same excitement that I experience taking a meaningful photograph would be such an incredible feeling!
In fact, just writing this post has stirred my soul and motivated me to pursue this goal!
I hope that one day, I’m able to fulfill this dream and create a beautiful book of words and images. I’m still looking for my writing muse… I haven’t given up. I think she may be right over my shoulder, or just around the corner. Sometimes I can see her out of the corner of my eye right before I fall asleep. She’s not completely gone, I suppose – just hiding. And as for me? Well, I’m on the hunt…
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I’m writing this post as part of an entry inΒ The Divine Miss Mommy’s contest to win a trip to the P&G “Have You Tried This Yet?” VIP Media Event in Miami Beach on February 17th.
As part of our contest entry, we’re asked to describe a P&G product that we’d love to try, and my choice without a doubt is Charmin Ultra Soft! I’m already a fan of Charmin, and the Ultra Soft would be a perfect choice for my little boy’s soft skin as he learns to potty train this year. And with less diapers to change and dispose of, maybe I’ll even have more time on my hands to spend working on my poetry once again! π
Check out The Divine Miss Mommy’s site, too, and you can enter this contest yourself if you’d like!
Karen, this story is incredible. I remember that girl who wrote the beautiful poetry!
I think that you should definitely pursue this goal. Wouldn’t publishing a book be amazing? It’s totally possible, too. There are people doing some amazing things with Lulu.
If you publish a book? I will totally be your first customer. π
You should definitely do that! You already make such great albums for your photography clients, making some for yourself that feature your poetry would be wonderful to see!
Karen, you know this resonates with me a GREAT deal — our paths are so very similar in certain ways, and to think that we’ve known each other this entire time. It’s amazing!
You absolutely should do the book, and I would buy it! π
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I know you’ll do great, go for it! If you need a copyeditor, that’s what I used to do at the newspaper. π <3
Go for it, Karen! Going by your blog, I’d buy it.
All the nights you stayed up on the computer when I thought you were sleeping payed off. Your passion and creativity are so evidenced by your wonderful blog and your beautiful photography. From a mother’s point of view I am glad you are living your dream. Daddy and I are very proud of you! XOXOXO
Keep working on that dream Karen! You can do it!
so you’ve moved from telling stories with words to telling stories through pictures. Maybe now it’s time to combine the two?
You are truly talented and you can do anything you put heart into.
I remember those days well! That girl was great and so is the woman you are now! π
I would really love to see a book with your name on it π I think you should call it A Skyward Obsession, in homage to your old zines!
awesome post. the images of the journals and the neruda book (thank you thank you!!!) brought back a flood of hs and college memories. you really should write a book, as your sensitivity and creativity would garner you many many readers. π