In Episode 35, we talk to writer, photographer, and RV-er Nate Jordon about masculinity, fatherhood, vulnerability, and coming into your own as a writer. We also talk about seeing beyond the myth of our literary idols, combining writing with other skills, getting involved in your community, pitching your work, running a small press, and writing from the road.
Nate Jordon is a writer and photographer in Pueblo, Colorado. After decades of traveling and working in several beautiful states, Nate has finally planted roots in 2020. His passion for Colorado began in 2006, when he originally moved to Boulder for graduate school. Nate continues to travel with his wife and three kids, exploring the Centennial State and the entire Southwest. His musings about travel, his tragic attempt at full-time RVing, his misadventures in Dadhood and all things Dadlife and other viscera can be found at natejordon.com and screamsfromthetrees.com.
People and Texts Mentioned in the Episode
Some links may be affiliate links, which at no additional cost to you help to fund The Writing Remix. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Jack Kerouac
- The Sea Is My Brother
- The Haunted Life
- Naropa University
- On The Road
- Walt Whitman
- The Beats
- Allen Ginsberg
- William S. Burroughs
- The Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics
- Junior Burke
- Bobbie Louise Hawkins
- Keith Abbott
- Anne Waldman
- Elizabeth Robinson
- Reed Bye
- Brené Brown
- Screams From The Trees
- Neal Cassady
- Big Sur
- Desolation Angels
- Charles Bukowski
- Eddie Vedder
- Jack Collom
- Steve Dalachinsky
“I wanted to experience the edges of reality…My attitude was if I don’t have these experiences, I’ll have nothing to write about…Well, I’ll tell you, I kind of had a reality check.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“Having all of these life experiences that were basically one imaginary Beat party after another, to all of a sudden facing death, tragedy, grief, heartache, it not only transformed who I was, but it transformed my work.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“Our culture is built upon myth-making.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“It comes part and parcel sometimes with what we do; there’s drugs and alcohol involved, but the message gets misconstrued, and the reality is for all the drinking and the drugs that are involved in the arts, it doesn’t really create art. It just creates alcoholics and drug addicts. It destroys lives and relationships. That’s the truth.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“What really matters is the work.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“In writing, I think there’s this idea of having a plus one. Like if you’re a good writer, that’s great…but if you add another skill, it makes you a little more marketable…[Photography] was my plus one.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“I started getting involved in the community, and that led to a book deal.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“Learning about the publishing world was transformative.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“”If you write it someone will listen…If it’s just one person, maybe that is who you need to be writing to, not trying to meet the arbitrary demands of an audience you don’t know about.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“I wake at 4:35 in the morning to write because I love it, not because anyone is paying me for it.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“It’s not about the money, but at some point the money does become important.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“Vulnerability is the most powerful force behind all art.” @NateJordon
Tweet
“I opened myself up and started becoming more human in my work.” @NateJordon
Tweet
This episode was recorded on November 9. Because we recorded via Zoom, there may be occasional audio hiccups. Our theme song is “4 am” by Makaih Beats. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Stitcher and follow us on Twitter @WritingRemixPod.
Writing Remix Podcast 