We recently connected with Karly White and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Karly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I worked a full time job for some time as the sole breadwinner in my household; I did dull, tedious work writing business plans and doing market research for many years, but always wrote my own personal work on the side. After having children, I quit and committed to being home, both to raise my kids but also to focus on writing creatively. I don’t miss the work, I do miss the sense of stability, of knowing when and where a paycheck is coming from. But even more than that, I think–and I don’t mean to say the money and financial stability is inconsequential, many of us don’t have the luxury of shrugging at that–I miss having a job people think is worthwhile. You may be doing something soul crushing, dull, and that ultimately has little benefit to humanity (market research for yet another office? not exactly world changing) but because it earns a steady paycheck, our capitalist society will add a marker of respect that you are trading the time in your one “wild and precious” life for it. But the second you pursue something that, I think, actually has objective meaning and value aside from monetary–whether that’s pursuing art or raising children or whatever your passion is–then it becomes questionable, and your worth as a person is as well. It’s bizarre to me to suggest that these things–things that are so necessary, so good, are seen as less valuable than generating endless paperwork in exchange for hours of your life and a paycheck, but that’s where our priorities are. I don’t miss being part of that grind. But I wish people saw how backwards our society priorities were.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a writer, and have written creatively since I was about 6 years old. I have gone through times freelancing or doing technical writing, and currently now I am pursuing creative writing full time. My work has been featured or is upcoming in a number of publications such as Fathom Magazine, The Pomona Valley Review, Alternative Milk Magazine, Relief Journal, and more. I currently write nearly daily poetry on my instagram and weekly updates on my substack (both as @mrswhiteinthelibrary).
I am proud of the works I have written and while I do not have a large fanbase, as it were, whenever I am doubting my abilities or what I am putting out into the world, I have been so encouraged by the readers I have and the amazing journals and magazines I’ve submitted to to keep going. I am grateful for the many opportunities I’ve had to share my works with the world in publications and even reading and speaking engagements; through my writing I have shared my work at the LA Times Festival of Books, Cal Poly Pomona, and Universal Studios.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I believe we need to detach our ideas of worth as financial– obviously we need to eat and pay the rent, and I am not saying that we don’t need to meet our basic needs–but we have this idea that art and creativity is only valuable if it generates money. Elizabeth Gilbert, in her book Big Magic, about living creativity, says that sometimes it asks too much of our art for it to fulfill us spiritually and creatively and ALSO pay our bills. As a society, we should view art and creativity as inherently valuable whether or not you have to have a “side gig” so to speak, to keep the lights on. Obviously, I’d love if we could come together and pay people for the amazing works they creative and not force them into meaningless office jobs and dead end careers just so they can afford to live, but until we can creative a totally supportive society, the least we can do is not tie success to art with whether or not it generates money. Art has meaning, beauty, truth, and value, whether you ever see a cent from it.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being true to myself. Being able to write the things that no one else can. I’m not saying I’m the most original or innovative person in the world–there is truly nothing new under the sun. Many is the book I’ve read that expressed ideas I know I’ve had better than I ever could. But my unique experiences and perspective are still my own, and I am able to bring something to my work that no one else can. I believe this is one of the most powerful things about art–everyone brings themselves into it, fully, and tells the story in a way only they can. It’s not just about self expression, though that alone is obviously an incredible thing art gives us–but it’s also an incredible way to show others they aren’t alone. I’m sure all of us have had the experience of reading a book, seeing a painting, watching a film, that made us realize we weren’t the only person going through the things we were going through or thinking the things we were thinking. Sometimes knowing that is the literal difference between life and death, and it can come from the most unexpected places. I’ve had profound moments watching films others thought were terrible or reading books intended for a very different audience. Those things had incredible meaning even if they weren’t the finest works of art, because they shared a unique perspective that spoke to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mrswhiteinthelibrary.substack.com
- Instagram: mrswhiteinthelibrary
Image Credits
Doreen Kajumba
Karly White