Meet Derek Kamal: Teacher/Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Derek Kamal and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Derek, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Work/life balance is the ever-shifting target. I was just asked today, “How do you find time to do it?” and the fact is kind of don’t. I stumble upon time, rather than find it. On a good week the inspiration is there to drive me into that time, and that is when the most work gets done. The rest of the time it’s a matter of grabbing a moment by the scruff and getting what you can out of it in between rest and family time. One important factor is to understand oneself and interrupt one’s bad habits. I have a habit of procrastinating if I’m not “feeling it,” so having a writer’s group or inviting collaborators or other such forces will cause me to interrupt myself so that I *have* to do a bit of writing. The foil to this is being in charge: if I’m the one controlling the project, I can cancel my own deadlines, so that is important to avoid. And then life throws you curveballs and you have no choice but to move deadlines and the target shifts again. I have drawn a strong, thick line between work and life, so thankfully it’s less difficult for work to step in when I’m trying to be creative or simply live my life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Speaking as an artist, I don’t have much to tell. I’ve been a lifelong reader and readers often want to write their own books. I started when I was a kid and never really stopped. Being impatient and holding a certain of disdain for the agent-publisher monopoly, self-publishing was the next natural step when I felt I had a book that was worth putting out into the world. I should say the same for music: releasing things myself is rather satisfying, even if it means very few people will access those things. It’s easy and yet it’s not easy. Sitting down and completing a piece of art, whether it’s a book or a song or visual art, takes great practice and habit and soul searching, even if you think you can dodge that introspective bit (you can’t). Times being what they are, releasing something out into the world comparably easy. Whether it’s good or not is another story. Once the things are out in the world is where I tend to fall short. I’m not good at hustling or marketing, so my “brand” as such is lacking. I’m much more interested in spending my time working on the next thing, rather that pushing the previous thing. This is unfortunate but it’s a means by which I can remain true to myself in this moment. I would encourage anyone who is interest in creative work to simply do it. Find a habit, build it, and don’t ignore yourself when feelings and thoughts intrude. Decide what you like and what you want to express and do it as well as you can.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Oh man. What a weird question to respond to in these trying times. Having not done much outing since, say, March, I will do my best. Here is a list of some of my favorite spots in no particular order. Random back alleys around the Marietta Square Viking Alchemist Meadery EAV (we’d have to find a metal show at the Earl) Arabia Mountain Nicola’s Botanical Gardens Midtown/High Museum Antico Pizza Slutty Vegan anywhere in downtown Decatur lunch on the porch at Six Feet Under Cloudland or other north Georgia trails Krog St tunnel Westside Cultural Arts center

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I must needs shoutout my wife and children for their love and encouragement in all things. More specific to my most recently released book, Good Heart, a major shoutout goes to my friend Krista WIlson and her father, Tom, who were early adopters and great encouragers. They believed in this story and those characters before anybody else. Finally, again regarding Good Heart, I must thank all the Kickstarter backers for getting us the necessary funds to produce the final work.

Website: http://www.ShorelessSkies.com
Instagram: @shorelessSkies
Twitter: @shorelessSkies
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShorelessSkies

Image Credits
Art by Jacob Hunt photo by Justin Snavely