I have been at this forever, it seems. I began my storytelling journey 44 years ago, after turning six --- and in 2010, fifteen years ago, I started this blog. My goal was to promote my work, encourage aspiring authors to succeed in this ever-changing literary landscape, and share with readers my love for books... Continue Reading →
"Is he . . . writing?" "Yes. Yes, he is." I heard my nurses saying this, the ones who'd been taking care of me for over the month of May as I was getting treated for acute myeloid leukemia. Now let me just say, chemotherapy is a real bitch. It's straight-up poison they pump directly... Continue Reading →
The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, a brooding emo-rogue type hero and run-of-the-mill Gary Stu who suffers through all the usual cliches: mysteriously killed parents, living in poverty, attending a magic school with comically cruel teachers, etc. While Rothfuss’s writing flows smoothly, painting a vivid albeit generic landscape, the book lacks... Continue Reading →
Every streaming service wants to make the next Game of Thrones. Barring the last two seasons' abysmal ratings, George R.R. Martin's book-based drama had studios the world over greening with envy, and because of that, viewers have been subjected to a flood of poorly conceived imitations the likes of which we haven't seen since the... Continue Reading →
Writing is hard and storytelling is even harder. It is a fool's errand paved with heartache and disappointment and oddly placed metaphors. So, if you're dreaming big, wanting to see your name appear at Barnes & Noble next to the big shots of the literary world, do yourself a favor and step away from the... Continue Reading →
Amazon ads? Scam. Bookbub? Allauthor? Awesomegang? Scam. Scam. Scam! What about review sites like Goodreads? IndieReader? Kirkus? All scams. I have spent the past several years trying to game the indie scene, but it simply does NOT work. Having wasted God knows how much money, I've had to rationalize these expenditures, telling myself it's a long-term... Continue Reading →
The indie publishing industry is an embattled landscape of scams, schemers, dashed dreams, and desperation. Thanks to Amazon and the advent of POD printing, we are inundated with dreck novels by would-be authors, while the truly rare, standout storyteller often goes unnoticed.
My two most popular posts involve scams. I've received thankful messages from hundreds of writers for steering them clear of Olympia Publishers. Yet, I feel I've done nothing but drive them into the bigger scam that is the independent book industry. Don't get me wrong. If you want to see your name in print or share... Continue Reading →
If you've ever wondered, "Who's this Nick guy, anyway?" Well, this episode is for you! Learn all my dirty secrets as I reminisce about my long, winding, and sometimes harrowing literary journey, from my childhood days writing on the backs of pink pizza tickets to kind-of inventing Power Rangers to dragging my dad to NYC... Continue Reading →
On October 7th 2015, I traveled five years into the future to interview my future self, and that day is TODAY! It's kind of mind-breaking if you think about it, because back then I thought of my current self as future Nick, but now future Nick is me, and the person who had been current... Continue Reading →
The Art of Storytelling 
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