Joy Marie Curtis
ORP: What inspired you to begin writing or creating? Has that source of inspiration changed throughout your life?
Joy Marie Curtis: I started writing because I couldn't say what I wanted to say. Even in elementary school, I stored everything I wanted to say in between the lines and pages of my journal. Later, I went to graduate school and composed a thesis when I couldn't share my ideas in class. Professionally, I publish articles and compose analytics. In short, I write because pen and paper have always been a safe place to park my unspoken words.
ORP: Does writing or creating energize or exhaust you? What aspects of your artistic process would you consider the most challenging or rewarding?
JMC: Sometimes, I feel like two artists live inside of me. One is consistent and dedicated, and the other is intense and creative. I used to debate which was better: my dedicated writing style, where I rely on routine, drills, and route practice, or when I am so overcome with emotion that the words leap onto the page. Recently, I have appreciated both my writing styles because I have started seeing them as more dependent on each other than opposites.
ORP: What does vulnerability mean to you as an artist and/or writer?
JMC: The other side of vulnerability is confidence. A little note: I don't think confidence is the same as arrogance — sometimes people define arrogance as the same as confidence, but I define confidence as the ability to recognize "confidently" what I know and "confidently" what I don't know. This definition of confidence complements vulnerability because I always feel vulnerable when I am confident when I openly share what I know and what I don't know with others.
ORP: What books have you read many times?
JMC: Utopia. Whenever I reread it, my imagination goes wild. I chose a character in that book: clergy, king, fisherman, or a farmer. Then, I read the entire book with my chosen character in mind. I imagine their life between the lines, from their untold childhood to their weekly worship and daily meals. That book never feels the same anytime I read it because every time I read it; I have a different perspective.
