Guyanese poet and author reflects on taking the leap into the arts and building a career rooted in passion, purpose, and identity.
FOR many creatives, both locally and internationally, a career in the arts is intimidating. While a number of hurdles exist for artists worldwide, Guyanese poet and author Carlene Gill-Kerr has made the bold choice to become a full-time creative. Growing up in the heart of Georgetown, she found solace in books and stories, escaping the noise of everyday life into worlds crafted by words. What started as a shy girl’s self-therapy through writing has evolved into a full-fledged career in poetry and creative arts, one that tackles social issues, celebrates Guyanese identity, and uplifts anyone who engages with her work. Today, she stands not just as a poet, but as an inspiration to a new generation of creatives to choose creativity.
Born and raised in the heart of Georgetown on Regent Street, Gill-Kerr was shaped by the capital city’s vibrancy and found her passion for creative writing through her family. As the third child in her family, she turned to books at an early age. “I have six sisters, two brothers. I am the third child, so I was kind of in the middle. That is probably why I started writing, because the big ones are too big, and the little ones are too annoying.” While writing was initially an escape for her, it soon became a way of having her voice heard. “I started reading very early. Whenever my cousin got paid, I would always get books because she bought them for me. I started reading stories and poetry from a very young age and just threw myself into books. I loved it. I just totally loved it,” she said. For a young, shy Gill-Kerr, writing was a form of self-expression.
Like so many Guyanese creatives after completing high school, Gill-Kerr was told that a career in the arts was not realistic, and although she was interested in psychology, that field was also difficult to enter at the time. Gill-Kerr turned to the next field she had an interest in that was accessible—computer science—a field she worked in for more than twenty years. However, her creative flair never died, as Gill-Kerr continued writing and performing poetry alongside her job as a computer technician. As Gill-Kerr explained, she jumped at every opportunity to express her creativity through continuous writing and performing. “Whenever there was a talent show or anything along those lines, I’m there and present.” Her staff and friends at work noticed her talent, as well as the vibrancy her performances brought, as she added, “My staff would say, ‘You realise whenever you do this stuff, you come alive?’ Because that is when I am doing what I really love.”
While she had balanced her creative flair alongside her career for more than two decades, several years ago Gill-Kerr decided it was time to change. A mother of two, she explained that while she pushed her children to pursue their dreams and passions, she found herself taking her own advice. “My eldest daughter hit her teens. I kept telling her, ‘Do what you love. Go after the things you really want. What is it you really want to do?’ And I began to feel like a hypocrite.” Through a five-year plan and commitment, Gill-Kerr was able to resign three years ago to pursue the creative arts full-time. As she added, “Here I was just doing my creative stuff on the side. At that time, work got stressful, so I said, ‘I’m going to pursue what I love to do.’ It took about three years to make the shift.” The shift was not random, however, as Gill-Kerr pursued a diploma in creative writing and graduated as the best student in her class. This gave her not just the qualifications but the confidence to pursue her passion.
This passion and confidence have pushed Gill-Kerr to publish three books in recent years. Among the earlier books were Waves of Emotion and Guyanese Waves, both collections of poems. Waves of Emotion in particular garnered Gill-Kerr attention; the book’s gripping poems on raw emotions were seen as inspirational by many. Speaking on the book, Gill-Kerr shared that, “This one here, ‘Waves of Emotion,’ goes through life and our emotions in all kinds of waves. I started doing a lot more inspirational, motivational stuff and realised I didn’t have them compiled, so I sat down and compiled them.” While successful, Gill-Kerr said the book served as a learning experience, and she drew on that knowledge in her most recent book.
Gill-Kerr’s book, Hey You I’m Enough, speaks to many of the same themes she has explored throughout her career, with the signature intensity she is known for. Published in September of last year, the book is a collection of uplifting poems written by Gill-Kerr as she navigated her own life challenges and changes. “’Hey, I’m enough.’ is about the fact that life may hit me from all angles, but asking yourself, what’s the strength I have within me? There are poems that say, ‘I am enough.’ There are those about the cost of giving too much of yourself, understanding that destiny lies within you.” The book also has a number of other inspiring pieces, as she added, “Then there are pieces on Guyana, culture, and my journey with Jesus—the doubts, fears, and wondering if I should keep going or what to do.”
Today, Gill-Kerr continues to perform, and her books continue to reach new readers. While daunting at first, she says she is happy with her choice to pursue the arts. She shared that although there were a number of hurdles and misconceptions, she continued to put her best foot forward; that, she said, is what has made her choice a success and what she hopes other young creatives take note of. “Make sure you do your best. Believe in yourself. Gather opinions from others. In the process leading up to making the decision to go full-time, maybe you need more honing of your skills, more understanding of the craft, and awareness of the opportunities,” she added. “Figure out where you see yourself fitting in, then go after it. It’s definitely a possibility.”
Gill-Kerr is as inspiring as her work. The journey of a professional and mother of two, leaving her 20-year career to pursue a career in creative writing, is truly unique. It shows, however, that it is possible to follow a passion successfully at any point in life, at any age. Gill-Kerr’s most recent work, Hey You, I’m Enough, is available on Amazon, at local bookstores, or through Gill-Kerr herself at 684-4080 for a signed copy.
