I’m a writer, musician, and music teacher, as well as a some-time photographer, writing coach, public speaker, and editor. I’m the author of 15 books and hundreds of magazine and Internet articles, mostly about the outdoors, travel, and music (www.KarenBerger.com and www.hikerwriter.com). And I’m the founder and editor of www.BuckettTripper.com.
I live and work with David Hodge (www.DavidHodge.com, www.GuitarNoise.com) on the side of a ski area in western Massachusetts, where we try to keep roses alive in the summer, snowplow our curvy steep goat-path of a dirt road in the winter, write books, teach piano (me) and guitar (David; well he also teaches piano and bass and banjo), and host events and jams where people can play music together.
I’m happy about a lot of things, including my piano, the view from my desk, and the fact that I get to spend my work days doing what I love. And I’m really happy that I haven’t had to go into an office (except for an occasional visit to a publisher ) for more than 20 years!
Over the years, I’ve been asked more times than I can remember “how do you make it work?” — “it” meaning, a lifestyle where what I love to do is also what I can support myself with. I’m not a celebrity, I didn’t inherit any money, I don’t have a “day job” (or a partner with a day job — David is in the same tippy creative freelance boat I’m in); and I didn’t strike gold in either the lottery or the Internet boom. And somehow, those nice people from Nigeria who keep promising to send me lots of money somehow never quite get around to it. But, being self-employed, and working mostly in the fields of writing and music, I’ve managed to buy a house, fund a retirement plan, and pay my health insurance bills… along with travel all over the world, hike the Appalachian Trail, and fulfill a lot of other long-held dreams.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve started this blog, and the book project that is going along with it.
I don’t believe there is any single way to make this work, and I certainly don’t have an answer that will work for everyone. But there are MANY answers, and that’s what we’re going to explore on this site — so that you can find some that work for you (and maybe you’ll share some of yours with me).
I know a ton of other creative people who are making it work, one job at a time. We’re all making different decisions, and we have different priorities (especially when we’re in different life stages, with different life issues — kids, aging parents, health, etc. — to deal with). But we share the most important priority: We’ve decided to spend our life’s energy CREATING.
Many of us are what I call “complex creatives,” meaning that we work in several fields — for example, you’ll meet an actress who designs art clothing; a musician and recording engineer who writes children’s books, a film-maker who runs a guitar website, and a photographer who owns a photo store and plays violin, harmonica, and cello on the side. On this blog, we explore how these people, and others like them, make it work. And hopefully, YOU will chime in too: We can swap ideas, commiserate when necessary, celebrate our successes, and keep on creating — one project at a time.
I love your blog! There is a lot of interesting reading here.
-Susan R. Paradis
Thanks Susan — Please feeel free to let me know if there are any subjects you’d like me to cover that you feel would help people who are trying to make their livings as independent creatives!
Hello!
Do we know each other have we been in touch? I received a “Google alert” and it linked me to your lovely blog, and there was a link on Mostly Music. I have the feeling we exchanged emails or something. Your writing is filled with joy>
I am trying to keep the joy afloat while preparing for my Weill Hall concert in Feb. Alternately euphoric and frightened. i wrote books about this!!! and yet…..
Anyway Happy New Year!
Carol M
Karen, I purchased your book, Piano Chords; enjoyed reading it but I have a few questions. Is it possible to email you directly? Thank you for your time. Don
Karen,
I tried to e/mail you re: a cross-country hike,
literally. I want to hike the American Discovery Trail
from San Francisco[Point Reyes Beach] to Delaware.
I need a tentative, pack-contents list for this type of duration hike. Do I need pepper-spray, for example, to discourage hunter-animals? If I proceed, I may be trekking
solo. The logistics have yet to be considered. En route, I will log a journal. It is a formidable journey, so anything you share would be vastly appreciated.
Sincerely
& Best,
Brant Souers
San Gabriel – Calif.
[brantcloyd@yahoo.com]
ps. it is to be a 2010 -spring/summer trek
I’m so glad I found your blog! You rock, lady!!!!!
Dear Ms. Berger,
Thank you for publishing such an informative blog with so many valuable resources for adults in the creative industries as well as parents who would like to give their children the gift of musicality. Unfortunately I couldn’t find another way to contact you otherwise I would have done so, but I would like to request that you post a link to my friend’s online music lesson web page if it matches the feel and temperament of your blog. Please contact me via email if you would like more information about who we are and what it is that we do. Thanks, and thank you again for providing such a valuable resource to the arts community.
Sincerely,
Nicholas DiCostanzo
Hello Karen,
You have a very impressibe site / life! Would you be interested in sharing any of your tips, photos and/or stories to the Navy SEAL Survival Manual? It would be an honor to include some of your work. And we would grant you foll credit in the book.
Hi, Karen – I have just found this blog from your Suite profile, and I’m definitely going to come back when I have more time. I live in Eastern New York, on the Connecticut border, so we are practically neighbors! Have a great day! – Robin
Your website is beautiful. A joy to read and wander through. Clear, inviting and really well done! -Lindsay
Thanks for the kind words!
I Am Going To have to come back again when my course load lets up – nevertheless I am taking your Rss feed so i can read your site offline. Thanks.