I was drawn to David Kennedy because his academic path — with storytelling at its center — is not unlike my own PhD program. He also grew up in DeLand, FL, where I lived for the last 18 years before moving to Kettle Falls, WA. This Q&A with him will run for the next five days.

Bio: David A. Kennedy is a multimedia specialist with a master’s degree in interactive media from Elon University. He was born in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and has worked as both a journalist and copywriter, writing for magazines, newspapers and corporations. Nothing enthralls him more than a good story, so he writes, hoping to enthrall others. To find out more about him and his work, visit his website and his blog, (e)INTERtain.

Q&A with David Kennedy, Question 1:

Q: You are pursuing my master’s degree in interactive media from Elon University. To what extent has storytelling been part of your master’s program? You list some possible fields you might want to get into upon your upcoming graduation. How is that thinking developing, and to what extent do you feel storytelling will be part of your future work?

A: I chose to pursue this degree because storytelling exists at its core. I originally wanted to obtain a MFA in creative writing. But every time I tried to finally decide on that path, it didn’t feel right. And I couldn’t shake that. Until I discovered Elon’s program.

To me, interactive media represents storytelling’s future. I wanted to be a part of that. I’m not saying creative writing is a dead form of storytelling either. I still get out my pen and write poetry or song lyrics longhand. But creative writing is just one aspect of interactive media, and to take on the challenge in integrating images, audio and technical tools with writing, my first love… well, it’s a challenge I couldn’t resist.

Look at my multimedia portfolio; there’s a story in every one of those projects. It’s at the core of how we communicate.

I graduate May 20, and don’t have a clear path in front of me yet. But I know, no matter what, storytelling will be at the center of whatever I do. Whether it’s multimedia journalism, digital public relations, educational technology or something else, I can’t not tell a story. I’m a writer at heart, but all writers are storytellers.

Paul Auster, one of my favorite authors, said this: “Becoming a writer is not a “career decision” like becoming a doctor or a policeman. You don’t choose it so much as get chosen, and once you accept the fact that you’re not fit for anything else, you have to be prepared to walk a long, hard road for the rest of your days.”

No matter what, I’ll keep walking that road.