Ever since I can remember, I’ve been on a relentless quest to express my creativity. It’s like I was born with a sewing needle in one hand and a notebook in the other, ready to jump in and do whatever I could to fulfill my need to create.
Sewing? Did it for years.
Embroidery? Check.
Vinyl tshirts? You know it.
Painting? Some.
Poetry? Not to brag, but I am an award-winning, published poetess. ;-)
Cooking? OH, I LOVE expressing myself through food.
Baking? I've been known to frost cookies.
Diamond art? Yep.
Gardening? I'm not good at it, but I've definitely used this medium to be creative.
Photography? You should see the camera I have sitting in my closet.
Dance? Does Zumba count?
Candles? Fuck yeah, I even made them smell good that one time.
Blogging? Well... this is my second attempt at blogging. Let's see how it goes.
I think, at this point, you get the picture. I am a jack of all trades and a master of none. I want to do it all but never stay with one medium long enough to master it. Am I good? Of course I am. To this day, I will hem my kids' jeans into shorts after the winter and create a tshirt that says, ✔️ Down ✔️Bad ✔️Crying ❌ at the Gym. (Tell me if you get it. haha.)
However, for the last four years, I have switched my medium of creative expression to writing. I've written and published 18 books. Through that process, I have found a gateway that brings me more joy, more satisfaction, and more vulnerability than I ever could have imagined.
I've always had this deep-seated belief that my destiny was to use my creativity to produce an income and livelihood that allowed me to always keep creating--whether through writing or not. I question this thought process almost daily, though.
As I've gotten older, I've discovered that expressing creativity is not as simple as throwing words on a page. It's a complex dance of emotions, ideas, and—let’s be honest—lots of procrastination. I’ve spent countless hours staring at a blank screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard like they’re contemplating a life-changing decision. I guess, in a way, they are. Because I genuinely hope that my writing can one day change my life and maybe even the lives of people who read and understand my words for what they are.
Then there’s the whole vulnerability thing. Writing is like standing on a stage in your underwear while everyone you know (and some people you don’t) stares at you. When I write, I’m not just sharing stories but exposing my soul. And let me tell you, my soul is a messy place filled with half-finished projects, questionable decisions, and an alarming number of funny gifs and memes.
Learning to be vulnerable in my writing has been a different form of creativity altogether. It’s like trying to juggle flaming torches while riding a unicycle across a tightrope. Sure, I could fall and get burned, but what if I actually pull it off and become a circus sensation?
What if I actually write a bestseller? What would that look like for my life?
Sometimes, I feel like I am better suited for the circus. If you've followed me at all or know me personally, then you know how true this is. I'm a shit show on top of a hot mess express train headed to loony-ville. My brain and thoughts bounce around so much that I confuse even myself daily.
But oh my God, it feels incredible when I write it all down and let it go.
So, as we head into 2025, I may be down, I may be bad, I may be crying... but I won't be at the gym. Fuck that. I'll be right here, behind my keyboard, continuously on my quest to overcome anything that holds me back while writing stories that make people FEEL all the things. And if that means occasionally embarrassing myself in the process, then so be it. After all, if I can make someone laugh—or at least chuckle softly—while navigating this wild journey of creativity, then I’ll consider it a win.
-Katie
I have a feral need for that shirt!! 😂