Three Questions for Political Writer Kacey Carpenter

Kacey Carpenter is a community organizer, volunteer, technology innovator, parent, author, and our April Featured Member.

Carpenter published his first book, My Journey with Bernie and is working on his second book, Ready, Set, Go Playbook for Candidates, Campaigns, and Causes.

He says, “Bernie’s 2016 campaign changed my life and inspired me to volunteer as a community-based organizer for grassroots groups focused on progressive candidates, campaigns and causes.”

His journey began organizing 300 volunteers from 30 states to go to Iowa for the 2016 Democratic Party caucus.

“This was the first step in my journey organizing and mobilizing grassroots volunteers and traveling around the country to get out the vote,” he says.

He hosted Bernie Sanders campaign staff and volunteers in his home prior to the California primary and was elected and served as a Bernie delegate at the DNC convention in Philadelphia. This experience inspired him to run for local City Council, helped pass a local measure for rent control, and be elected as a delegate to the California Democratic Party, all documented in his book, My Journey with Bernie.

Prior to his activism, Carpenter had a three-decade professional career, managing global teams, and launching successful, award-winning digital campaigns, to lead initiatives for healthcare, justice, and “smart community” transformation around the world.

He has a passion for life, family, friends and loves the outdoors. In addition to writing and volunteering, Kacey Carpenter enjoys biking, hiking, kayaking, and traveling. Learn more about Kacey at his website, MyJourneywithBernie.com

Q & A with Featured Member Kacey Carpenter

What’s the most important piece of writing advice that you could give to other writers?

Create a routine to write every single day. You can write for an hour or ten minutes but create a habit to start writing. I like to take a walk after writing in the morning and think about ideas and reflect on my thoughts. I write in coffee shops, in public libraries, outdoors in parks and gardens, and indoors at home.

Each day, I find a quiet place to write or listen to music on my headphones to help me focus and find my creative writing zone.

What other writers inspire you?

I am inspired by both fiction and non-fiction writers including Naomi Klein, Cornel West, Robert Reich, Bill McKibben, and so many others.

How long have you been part of CWC, and what does membership mean to you?

I joined the CWC last summer and am so excited to be part of this incredible group that inspires me to focus on my writing and publishing my books.

Kacey will read a passage from his book at this Sunday’s meeting

Kacey is seeking to be a mentor and to find mentorship from other writers, in particular other political writers. He’s also interested in working with other authors to promote our works, such as through writing guest blogs. If that’s of interest to you, please say hello to Kacey at our meeting April 21st. Yes, we know it is Easter…but we think every third Sunday is a holiday, wherein you celebrate your writing career. Commit to your writing this Sunday!