Inspiring a generation of young writers to reveal their voices and utilize creative outlets, Geraldine Kim's words are spreading through SF State's campus - and the nation - at an infectious pace.

At the age of 22, Kim's first play "Donning Cheadle" premiered in the One Act Festival last month at the Little Theatre on campus. Her debut book "Povel" was published by Fence Books over the summer and was the winner of their modern poetry award.

Both accomplishments serve to illustrate how young writers with limited connections to the literary world can break into the industry with honesty and integrity.

"It's really strange to be a writer, I don't get why I'm here," said Kim, a New York University graduate of English, and current SF State student completing her master's of fine arts degree in fiction/poetry.

She said her success does not stem from the fact that she is an overachiever. Rather, it can be attributed to the fact that she is realistic about money and is capable of devoting a great amount of time and energy to one thing at a time.

"I want to do huge projects, immerse myself in it, breathe it," she said.

A native of Massachusetts and a first generation Korean-American, Kim said many consider her a commentator on race and identity, a position that arose unintentionally.

She said she sometimes doesn't feel like her parent's child or an American female, and writing serves as an outlet for coming to terms with who she is.

Her play even became a study of her own identity in relation to another, that of actor Don Cheadle.

Her play was based off a dream she had waking up as Cheadle and dating Queen Latifah, so to explore her mind she had to confront the issues involved with being a Korean girl dreaming of being a black man.

Her friends celebrate her writing and persona. "In every single way she makes language sound flourishing," said 22-year-old Danny Nguyen, Kim's close friend and an alumnus of SF State's creative writing department.

Although Nguyen said Kim did help him with his writing, and is a self-proclaimed fan of her work, he said the intelligence and charm of her character left a deeper impression upon him. "She's very inviting and carries a strong humility," he said.

She considers herself a satirist, and her humor is original. For her biography in the book she used President George Bush's biography but made it her own by replacing all the pronouns.

"I'm most comfortable when I'm trying to be someone else," said Kim.

Kim wrote "Povel" expecting it to not be published. She said writing it was a way for her to figure out what she wants to be doing. Although she is pleased with its success, she said it's not a project that she would repeat.

The glimmering prose that composes the flowing pages of "Povel" reveals Kim taking careful and fully observant notes of her own stream of consciousness, and her revealing voice reads much like the name of the book implies, a poem novel.

"It's almost like a Rorschach inkblot, it's like a piece of vomit on the floor," said Kim describing the book. "I made it, but I don't know exactly what to think of it, it's smelly and messy but I had to do it."

Immersed in creativity and deep thinking, Kim played violin for most of her life, but is now devoting her energy to making graphic novels in which she also draws and does playwriting.

But her interests have no foreseeable end, as she is currently interested in studying organic chemistry and physics.

"I want to be something other than a writer for the rest of my life," said Kim. "I don't want to be a symbol, the Maya Angelo of Asian American girls, I want to be me."