We recently had the chance to connect with Christopher Soriano-Palma and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Christopher, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Myself, and that’s my final answer.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Christopher D. Soriano-Palma. I’m a poet and writer born and raised in Watsonville, CA now living in Los Angeles.
I am the author of the poetry collection “the world is burning and i’m late for work” available everywhere books are sold. I am also a screenwriter and playwright. My plays in particular have been performed numerous times by El Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista and 14/48 Hollywood. I have three feature-length scripts ready for production, and two novels in the works.
I am also a writer for editorials/ publications such as Reclamation Magazine, and Alebrijes Review, with other features published. In addition, I am a writer and social media manager for Work In Progress (WIP) Productions, an independent film production team in Los Angeles. Feel free to give us a follow on Instagram at @wip.productions.la.
As you can see, I keep myself busy.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I think this is an odd question, at least for my case.
My first thought was acting in my high school plays. I was a theater kid and discovered myself singing and acting onstage. I felt the same way when I discovered writing poetry, which led to me choosing a writing career against all other financially reasonable options.
But the great irony is that I didn’t discover my creativity because I was empowered. On the contrary, it made me feel vulnerable, which manifested itself through those performances, words, songs, and so on. By showcasing and embracing my vulnerability was I able to feel confident in what I was doing. And that includes my career, my relationships, my everything.
So I think for me the better question is “what’s the earliest memory of feeling vulnerable?” Because that’s when I began to claim my own power.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
All the time. Yesterday. The day before that. Maybe even tomorrow or the day after that. I’m always ready to give up. That’s just life being life, especially for someone with mental health issues.
But here’s the thing about giving up: it calls your bluff. I moved to Los Angeles six years ago to pursue my writing career. Two years in, I left the city and returned to my hometown, only to remember why I left in the first place. Giving up reminded me why I set out to chase the dream I wanted. Giving up called my own bluff. I never wanted to give up. I wanted to keep going, but I needed to remember that, and why.
Needless to say, I managed to return to Los Angeles to continue that dream. And yes, there have been numerous times when I thought of throwing in the towel. But I get through it every day by calling my own bluff, telling myself over and over again: “You don’t really want to give up. Do you, Chris?”
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Let’s be kind to each other.
I’m not joking. I genuinely believe, perhaps naively, that there is not reason for us to be unkind to one another. Life is already difficult. The economy is bad. The political climate worse. Genocides. Fascism. The worst of the worst is happening every day, and has been happening for a very long time now.
Unfortunately, instead of having us all come together, a history such as that has led to an era of pathological individualism. We should only care for ourselves. Nobody deserves the best but me. I cannot trust anyone but myself.
I just don’t believe that. There can be something empowering with such a mindset. But it leads to isolation very quickly. Such a lifestyle is neither beneficial or sustainable. It’s an echo chamber. And it gets lonely.
I’m a poet, and I’m supposed to be the unacknowledged legislator of the world. My words can only do so much. I try to understand as much as I can through my words and poetry. Words and stories leads to empathy, after all.
And I think that’s what makes the arts so dangerous in an era of book banning and defunded art programs: art makes you empathetic. It makes you emotionally intelligent. It makes you care for others. When you lose the ability to care for others, you’re easier to control due to a predictable self-serving nature. But when you care for others through empathy, it makes you think twice about doing something that would benefit you and you alone.
Kindness is dangerous in an unkind world. It throws off the whole system. It is a skill, mindset, and lifestyle. And I’d like us all to make the world easier on ourselves through kindness.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I have no other choice, really.
Writing, and the arts as a whole, are not financially reasonable career paths. I pay my bills through my 9-5, not my writing. I hope that changes one day, but it hasn’t been the case thus far. And under capitalism, a path is valued most through profit. My writing has not made me profitable. Therefore, not really worth any value.
But there’s a reason why I keep doing it, why I keep writing as much as I do without too much to show for it: it’s who I am. I’m a writer, and a writer writes. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
And here’s another food for thought: in my experience, there is no such thing as a safe career. The mass layoffs across sectors and industries starting with the 2023 tech layoffs leading to the federal layoffs from DOGE/ Musk. Combine that with the existential threat of gen AI, inflation, and tariffs, and you have an economic disaster for anyone entering the job market. And that’s, unfortunately, going to be our reality for a good minute.
Ironically, my writing cannot be taken from me. I could lose my job tomorrow (I hope not, though). My production team might replace me with Gen AI to write their scripts (but please don’t). But I can still do my writing. I can still write the stories and poems I want to write. My love for poetry and storytelling will always remain.
So, of course I’m going to give it everything I have. Lack of praise has not stopped me before. It won’t stop me now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/chsoripalma
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ChSoriPalma
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chsoripalma/
