Viking_Yearbook_78

82 Karen Kellow is a writer who plans to leave her mark on the literary world beyond Portland State. " I want to achieve complete literary fame," says Karen. " It's such an idealistic thing now ... I know you have to start out at the bottom-1 just don't want to get caught in the little-fish-in-the-big-pond syndrome." It doesn't seem likely. Karen has the distinction of being the only person at PSU this year associated with every major campus publication. She is associate editor of the Vanguard and is working with the staff of the Portland Review. She also freelances for the Viking and Metropolis, PSU 's urban affairs magazine. Karen 's goal of becoming a writer is virtually lifelong. " I started writing and illustrating stories for my dad when I was five years old," she recalled . Now-20 years later-Karen sees journalism as the best way for her to " break in." " It has been said journalists don't make good novelists," commented Karen . "I disagree– look at Hemingway. Being a journalist forces you to be a good observer of life and people-you can use those in– sights in your own work. You have to force the public to put you in demand. You have to have something they need . " The beauty of being a writer is that you leave something behind in the world-you leave a part of yourself that is longer lasting than leaving a child . A human being is so temporary when you look at how long literature has lasted. " Karen is a senior at PSU working on a double degree in English and Arts and Letters. Because PSU doesn't offer a journalism degree, Karen feels her double major and jour– nalism experience will offer her the background necessary for a smooth transition into a newspaper job when she graduates. Karen's travel experience will also prove useful to her literary career. She has studied French and art at Alliance Francais in Paris, lived with a farm family in Germany and traveled extensively in Europe. Although she claims she's "a lazy writer," Karen writes constantly. She just finished a novella and is currently working on several short stories. " It's really important to get into the habit of writing in volume," noted Karen. " It's a discipline you really have to work at. You have to have more than just raw talent-you also have to learn about structure and all the technical aspects of writing. "I would really be pleased if I could write something that is simple and beautiful." - --- - ---------------