Meet Brandon Diamond-Nelson of Enough; Sometimes Too Much in Whittier

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Diamond-Nelson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Brandon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Reading has always been a highly influential part of my life. As a child, I found it fascinating how many different types of literature there were and how ideas and stories could be conveyed in such a variety of ways. When I was in middle school, I had this really amazing English teacher named Mrs. Nagy who was really tough, but also very kind. Her assignments encouraged my imagination and allowed me to think outside of my normal perspective. I feel like she truly enabled me to understand various aspects of literature that I hadn’t previously been exposed to. A few years later, I was lucky enough to be able to take more courses from her after she transferred to my high school. In these classes there was more of a focus on poetry and philosophy, as well as writing structure and writing styles; I instantly fell in love with writing. I began to write daily. It started off almost like an informal diary, just thoughts and ideas scribbled in a notebook.

Over time those ideas evolved into short stories, essays, and poetry. I found that the more that I wrote, the more I found myself processing my emotions through poetry. As writing became more of a staple in my life, the idea of publishing my work became less of an idea and more of a goal to work towards. It was something that I began to focus on more and more. As time passed, the stacks of legal pads filled with poetry grew and grew. I finally felt that it was time to progress towards the goal that I had set for myself years earlier, publishing a book. Through a lot of good and not so good times in my life, writing has always been a constant for me and has led me to where I am today. I’ve recently published my first book, I still write constantly, and I’ve even found some new ways to express my creativity.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For me, I feel that my biggest obstacle has been myself. Writing, or any creative outlet for that matter, carries emotional value. I think it’s often difficult to put emotions and feelings into something and then turn around and show that to the world. For me, it was especially difficult because I hadn’t really shown much of my poetry to many people that weren’t extremely close to me. It was hard to intentionally put myself into a situation that allowed the angst of my younger days to be seen by everyone. The best advice that I’ve ever received is, “Get over yourself”. It’s really hard to lay your ego down and just be seen, but for me it has been very liberating. After I decided to move forward with publishing a book, it was somewhat overwhelming begin the process. The most daunting task was finding a publisher that was a good fit for my work and also allowed me creative freedom with stylizing the book itself. I finally decided to self publish and found a company online that encouraged a hands-on approach. By choosing to self publish, I was able to exercise complete creative control over every aspect of the design and format. Creative freedom was important to me and it was exciting to use one of my photos as the cover art.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’d say that the accomplishment that I’m most proud of is publishing my poetry. I’ve been writing most of my life and it was a truly surreal moment to receive my own book in the mail. Holding a physical copy of something that I had been focusing on for so many years felt incredible. To be able to share so vulnerably and have such positive reception was a huge moment for me. Though the focal point of my writing has evolved throughout the years, I would say my most common themes deal with self-actualization and a search for meaning. Recently I’ve been using photography to explore these themes and find this process very rewarding. As a writer and photographer, I think the ideas and emotions that I’m attempting to capture are universal. Everyone has felt similar feelings, and pondered the same questions; I’ve just been lucky enough to be in a place where I am able to depict these ideas in various types of media for others to enjoy. The response to my work has been amazing so far and I look forward to continuing down the path of creating thought-provoking art.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I think that so much can be determined by a person’s geographic location and I’ve been lucky enough to live in Los Angeles most of my life. I think that the accessibility to resources has really made a huge difference in how I have produced and distributed my work. I feel that Los Angeles is the perfect environment for both budding creatives and established artists looking to hone their skills. I find Los Angeles to be teeming with inspiration for my writing and photography. I think that as a creative professional it’s very important to surround yourself with like-minded individuals, and this city has it all.

One of aspect of living in LA that has been extremely beneficial for me is the accessibility of local organizations who support their members and encourage growth through collaboration. I recently joined the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and I am thrilled to have had several of my photos featured on their social media pages. I have experienced so much artistic growth by utilizing the expertise and partnership shared by my peers. A place like Los Angeles can seem overwhelming, but I believe if you focus on your goals and surround yourself with the people who share your vision, opportunities will present themselves.

Pricing:

• Paperback copy $12.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.amazon.com/Enough-Sometimes-Much-Brandon-Diamond-Nelson/dp/1689688955/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=enough+sometimes+too+much&qid=1572921555&sprefix=enough%3B+some&sr=8-1
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quabityassuance/

Image Credit:
Brandon Diamond-Nelson

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