Author: Nick DeWolf

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BOOK REVIEW: “Fights: One Boy’s Triumph Over Violence” by Joel Christian Gill – Reviewed by Nick DeWolf

I gave this book to my kids. I’m not necessarily saying you should do the same, but I chose to. And, in all honesty, some people may think me a bad person for doing so. Joel Christian Gill’s graphic novel is a harsh, stunning, guttural, cutting, painful tale. It depicts so many things parents in the middle and middle upper class feel they should shield their kids from: sex, violence, racism, hate, sexual assault. But because it’s how the author handles these issues that I believe it’s important for people living without them to see, both adults and children.

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Review of “Woman: An Intimate Geography” by Natalie Angier – Nick DeWolf

This review is going to start with an anecdote. Yes, this is an inherently self-centered way of writing, but I can’t think of a better example of what this book can mean.
I live in a metropolitan area which is relatively progressive. I was reading this book on my way home from work, while riding the subway. A man took the seat next to me and we rode in silence, me reading, him doing his own thing. As we went, I could see him taking peeks. I adjusted my position, to allow him just a bit more access to the page, hoping it inspired him to find his own copy.
The train began to slow, and he gathered his things. In a friendly voice, he said, “so, what is that, an instruction guide or something?”

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HOW TO GET REVIEWS OF YOUR BOOKS!

But not, like, a bazillion. Because let’s be honest, if I knew that, I’d be too busy filling a private pool with dollar bills and diving in. And if you happen to already be one of those lucky authors who has thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, A – this post is not for you and B – please tell me your secrets, including which dark lord you made a sacrifice to and what said sacrifice was. I’d love to know. For research purposes.

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Nick DeWolf’s Review of “A Dirty Job” by Christopher Moore… or… “Word Salad” by A Usually Solid Writer

Moore is regularly a bright, funny, poignant writer who fine tunes his books the way a great chef would a recipe, removing all excess ingredients and giving us just enough of each of the primary flavors that our senses are delighted and intrigued. This time, it he took whatever was in his fridge that wasn’t quite rotten but not still fresh, poured it into a casserole dish, set the oven to 450, and prayed. Then when it didn’t come out right, he slathered it in cheese, added some 150 proof rum, and lit the top on fire. And as such, I will politely decline the offer of seconds, thank you.

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Let the Hate Flow Through You…

**DISCLAIMER: There will be no more Star Wars references going forward**

There is a place in the world for the bad…

So it was about ten years ago. Maybe more. Wait, how old are my kids? Good lord, I’m old.

Okay, it was more than ten years ago, but not quite twenty, and I was younger and energetic and doing a lot of theater. Primarily an actor, I also did lighting and directing and dance. Writing had been limited to short plays for children, so no experience with real, full-on adult drama. Still, I knew what I loved about theater; the art, the precision, the work ethic. Creating great product was more important than making dollars. I was passionate, and part of being passionate is working on thoughtful, interesting, insightful works which are seen by a handful of people, yet touch each of them deeply.

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Why I Hired Sensitivity Readers

Because it’s 2019.

Because I’m a white guy living in the U.S. who is purposefully writing characters who are anything other than white, and I don’t want them to be stereotypes.

Because just making them not stereotypes isn’t enough.

Because I haven’t lived as a POC and there will be things I get wrong.

Because I haven’t lived as a woman and there will be things I get wrong.

Because part of being a writer… no… part of being aware… no… part of being a decent human being is letting go of your ego.

Because if I want diversity in my books, and diversity in my readership, I need to have diversity in the creative process.

Because Google Translate doesn’t really speak Spanish.

Because I have unconscious biases. As much as it hurts to admit and as scary as it is to face, it’s true.

Because POC deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and energy and cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.

Because women deserve respect. Part of that is me putting in the time and the energy and the cost of getting things right, when creating something to (hopefully) represent them.

Because sensitivity readers aren’t hard to find. Seriously. Go to Twitter, type it in as a hashtag. Easy. No more excuses.

Because they were professional and polite and more than one showed appreciation that I was trying to be better. They didn’t have to do it, and I didn’t expect it from them. Still, it warmed my heart.

Because they made my book so much better.

Because I learned things about myself. Some of them made me sad. But sadness is good. Sadness is a tiny wound, and now I can heal it.

Because I learned things about others. Some of them were beautiful. Now, I can carry them with me and go back to them and smile.

Because words matter, and I have a duty to use mine for something good.

Because there’s no good reason not to.

Because it’s time for me to be better.

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The Path

Everyone works differently.  I’m going to focus on writing, here.  Not that it’s what I do best (that would be eating cookies while singing in the shower), but because it’s something I put a lot of thought and thinking time into.  As a note, it would be better if I used that time for actual writing, but that’s hard and I’m tired and stop telling me what to do.

One thing most writers do is talk to other writers.  We discuss the craft, the process, the joys and the pains.  Well, just the pains.  There are no joys.  No, there are, but they’re not really joys.  They’re just the absence of pain.  Important thing to keep in mind.

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Writing Q & A with Nick DeWolf

I was recently honored with title of Author of the Month for a Book Review Bloggers group.  Part of this was making myself available to answer questions posed to me about writing and myself.  Below, I’d like to share one of the exchanges.

QUESTION: Which book did you most enjoy writing and why?

I don’t know if “enjoyed” is a word that applies. Writing a book, for me anyway, is like raising a child. The beginning is always that wonderful mix of scary and exciting. You have all these ideas about how things will go. You can see it all in your mind, step by step, each little bit and moment. How you will soothe and smooth, putting things just as you imagine them, and watching as it grows into the something wonderful you believe it to be.

And then, it shits all over you.

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