Meet Karlee Warthen

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karlee Warthen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karlee below.

Karlee, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I seem to be in a long-term relationship with my purpose, as it comes and goes, and reintroduces itself to me all of the time. I first felt purpose on my thirteen year old bedroom floor at 2:00 A.M, when I stumbled upon Button Poetry’s YouTube channel. I was going through an emotional time, and felt inspired by the use of poetry as an outlet. I wrote my most choppy poem ever, and loved every second of it. I began writing poetry daily, crafting collages, and even creating visual art videography corresponding to my lyrics. It became an open faced diary for me, and I loved sharing my work online
Once it was time to graduate, I still considered this my hobby. Often purpose is cloaked as a “hobby”. I decided to major in Political Science, and minor in English. However, as most creatives experience in academic spaces, It just didn’t feel right, and it didn’t fit me. I was meant for creation not consumption. Long story short, I finally dropped out to pursue poetry full time.

I had no idea what that would look like. It began as me blindly submitting my work to accepting submissions. I worked at a thrift store briefly, and secured an old typewriter. I would hand print poems for friends on special occasions, and use the typewriter as my medium. Every time I sat in front of the keys, I felt channelled and pushed to write. Just last year, my dearest friend recommended me for a vendor event, slinging live custom poems. Because it piqued my interest, I went through with it. I was not expecting the mass acceptance and wanting of poetry… I was picked up by many STL local stores like, Ssippis, Tims Chrome Bar, MayPop Coffee Shop, Ethical Bodies, Laumeier Sculpture Park, Luminary Arts Center, and many other memorable events. It’s incredibly inspiring working with the public and keeping poetry alive. I’ve had a plethora of interactions that are still impacting me today.

I’ve slowed down energetically on these events, and have begun archiving and editing my live poems from the past year. Transforming my purpose from a hobby, into an experience, and then into an archive has been my fluctuating purpose. Now, I am working on a mailing list project, to print off poem to monthly members of Words of Bioluminescence. My purpose is always changing, yet fixated on creation. Although I remember Button Poetry as an introduction, my grandma has handed me poems that I was writing as young as six years old. Did I find my purpose, or did it find me?

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Words of Bioluminescence has many exciting expenditures this coming year. Previously, I have focused on private parties, vendor events, and writing workshops to share my love of literature. I am still open to these experiences, but have redirected my focus.

Currently, I am working on various projects. In terms of performance, I have an upcoming live poetry performance during a ballet recital in May. In terms of production, I have recently released my first poetry collection titled, Jouissance, through Myrtle Haus Publishing. This zine focuses on metaphysical contemplations covering nature observations. In terms of administration, and soon to come, Words of Bioluminescence is building a website for poetry friends to land on. This website will offer Postal Poetry, a mailing subscription curating monthly poetry recommendations, literature totems, and my original work. It will serve as a portfolio, blogging platform, and updates on my next projects. Simultaneously, I am still submitting my work to impeding applications.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Observation, Connection, and Courage. Observe the unnoticed, connect the observations to your emotions, relationships, and memories, and share this vulnerability without fear. I advise young authors to share your work, obtuse from opinions. Critiques are natural reactions to nonconforming expressions. I have been shot down more than I’ve been picked up, but without rejection, I would never have experienced acceptance. Take it slow, allow loved ones to witness you before strangers. Allow your work to transform and mutate. Allow yourself to create. Allow yourself to be.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

Id be reminiscent not to mention Word Alchemy, by Lenore Kandel. This poetry book changed my life. Most importantly, inspired my brands name. In the prologue, she explains how self censorship is the curse of the century, and that creatives cannot conform to conflicting narratives such as, academic, systemic, or cultural, without censoring their truth. She mentions how humans are Bioluminescent to other beings, but we are blind to our own glowing hue. Every single person obtains this inner light, and deserves to uncover it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wordsofbioluminescence.com
• Instagram: Wordsofbioluminescence

Image Credits

Andrew Peterson