Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kim Berkley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kim thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

One unexpected issue I’m still learning to navigate is the difficulty of saying “no” to opportunities and increased workloads.

Freelance life is freeing, but the cost of that freedom is a lack of stability and job security. Some writing gigs are temporary; the workload in others may fluctuate from week to week and even day to day. Even gigs that may provide a relatively stable working schedule at first may change down the line based on the whims of the client. So it’s easy, especially in leaner times, to fall into the mindset that you have to say “yes” to every opportunity that comes your way.

But even in the beginning when you’re having to hunt—and hunt hard—for work, you don’t want to take on work that doesn’t serve your goals as a creator if you can help it, and you certainly don’t want to take on gigs or clients that will undermine your reputation or your mental/physical health simply by engaging with them.

Once you get to the point where the work becomes easier to find—and maybe even comes to you—you have to be even pickier. I found out the hard way earlier this year that that is something I need to work on. I liked and respected everyone I was working with, and I enjoyed all of the work I was doing, but I was trying to do way too much of it, and the stress and strain of constantly being behind and trying to reach an impossible quota really got to me. Even when I realized something had to go, I resisted, because it felt too much like giving up—and it hurt. In the end, I did finally manage to say a few (admittedly tearful) goodbyes, and while it was difficult at first, I felt so much better (and was so much more creative) once I had room to breathe again.

It’s not easy to let go of work and clients you love. It’s not easy to say “no” to new opportunities that sound fun or interesting simply because the timing is wrong and you’re not in a place where you can take on more work. But these skills are every bit as necessary to survival as a freelance creative as finding and securing work in the first place.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The simplest introduction is to simply say “I’m a writer.” I tell stories for a living.

I’ve worn many hats under that umbrella over the years; currently, I’m a freelance writer as well as a narrative designer. The exact definition of a narrative designer is still under debate, but for me, it means I’ve written the scripts and in-game text, as well as designed the overall narrative arcs, for several story-driven games. At the moment, I’m also involved in editing English-localized content for a major Korean MMORPG.

I’m the author of the interactive fiction novel, ‘The Harbinger’s Head,’ as well as the IF novella, ‘chiaroscuro.’ I’ve got two more projects in the works—’The Dragon’s Last Flight,’ a visual novel, and a dark fantasy IF novel that will (eventually) be published in the official Choice of Games library.

I also write traditional (non-interactive) fiction and have several novels planned (and in some cases, drafted) for future publication.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Oh, yes. I could go on for days, but here are a few recommendations:

‘Zen in the Art of Writing’ by Ray Bradbury: This isn’t a very businessy book, but Bradbury’s words of wisdom echo in my mind every time I start to get lost in the weeds and lose touch with the joy of writing.

‘The Crossroads of Should and Must’ by Elle Luna: Again, this is less about the business side of things and more about inspiration, but I reread it anytime I start to feel overwhelmed or trapped by too many responsibilities.

‘Ctrl Alt Delete’: Emma Gannon’s podcast recently ended, but is a treasure trove of inspiring interviews and entrepreneurial insights for anyone looking for guidance and motivation to start or continue their creative journey.

‘The Creative Penn’: Joanna Penn’s podcast (ongoing as of this interview) is a must-listen for all things related to the business of writing. She’s also written some good books on the topic.

I’d also recommend keeping tabs on Jane Friedman’s blog for writers—there’s always something useful and interesting being posted there.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think most writers contemplate giving up writing at one point or another; I know I’ve done so several times, and once or twice, I came very close to doing so. This was often a result of the usual causes—burnout, creative blocks, frustration, etc.—but also because of my health.

I’ve struggled with migraines all my life. They are agonizing, nauseating, and often impair my vision—so, next to impossible to work through. They are part of the reason I chose the freelance life, but they have also made it difficult in the past to put in the amount of work I wanted and needed to in order to sustain a liveable income. (Lack of sleep and too much screen time are both among my migraine triggers.)

But every time I started to daydream about becoming a bookseller or librarian instead—or better yet, running off to become a wise woman of the woods and live off the land—I’d remember all the days I spent at home as a child, sick in bed with a migraine. Stories saved me from those days when nothing else could.

So I keep choosing to write. Even when it’s hard, and it often is. Even when I feel like a fraud. Even when I have to hunt the words down and drag them onto the page kicking and screaming. Somewhere out there is someone who needs a story now and again to help them through a difficult time, and who knows? Maybe the next story they need will be one of mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://storytellerkim.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyteller.kim/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storytellerkim.berkley/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/storytellerkim

Image Credits
Kim Berkley