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David Erik Nelson’s Followers (44)

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Jeska Dzwigalski

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David Erik Nelson

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.davideriknelson.com

Twitter

SquiDaveo

Genre

Science Fiction, Horror, Crafts & Hobbies

Influences

Stephen King, David Foster Wallace, Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut, Laura K ...more

Member Since

March 2008

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David Erik Nelson is an award-wining science-fiction/horror writer and essayist. His fiction has appeared in Asimov's, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, The Best Horror of the Year, and elsewhere. Find his fiction online at https://www.davideriknelson.com/FreeFiction
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Popular Answered Questions

What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

David Erik Nelson When it comes to writing craft and DIY, I've learned a couple things the Very Very Hard Way:

1) TAKE GOOD NOTES! (Including supply costs, where you sou…moreWhen it comes to writing craft and DIY, I've learned a couple things the Very Very Hard Way:

1) TAKE GOOD NOTES! (Including supply costs, where you sourced parts, stock numbers, etc.) Everything is clear and obvious while you're developing a project, but let it sit on the shelf for a week or two, and you'll find yourself wondering why you made the decisions you did and how the hell you pulled them off.

2) Work through a project while writing it up, even if you've done the project a hundred times. Actually working through your steps while writing, and then again while revising, makes it much easier to see the places where folks might go off track or get confused.

3) Don't fall in love with insider jargon. There are plenty of folks who never get into knitting, for example, because they can't get their heads around the jargon and codes that knitters use. Feel free to be the person who describes it differently, and thus opens that craft up to the folks who were previously locked out.

4) Learn to take decent photos. Publishers (and readers) will want them, and want them to be as clear as possible (non-distracting, solid-colored background; lots of bright light; soft shadows; no glare; etc.) Similarly, if your work is best described with diagrams, learn to use SketchUp or Fritzing or Pixelmator or whatever it takes to make the images you need.(less)

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What was the first homebrew instrument you made? And, do you ever sell the ones you've made?

David Erik Nelson My first homebrew instrument was Tim Escobedo's "synthstick": http://www.davideriknelson.com/sbsb/2... —which is a great project, although some of the…moreMy first homebrew instrument was Tim Escobedo's "synthstick": http://www.davideriknelson.com/sbsb/2... —which is a great project, although some of the materials (certain types of cassette tape and Mylar wrapping paper), which were just the most common back-of-the-closet junk in the world when I first stumbled across his design, are getting increasingly scarce. Still, it's a really great synth circuit to start out with, and I continue to use the same basic core design in lots of projects.

As for selling instruments, I don't, but folks are always offering to buy them (esp. the electric guitars), and I can never really fathom why they'd want to do that. It reminds me of this story I once heard about Jobs and Wozniak. This is back in their blue boxes and garage-tinkering days. Early on, when they were developing that first Apple computer, they got into an argument over whether or not there was a market for a computer, as a finished consumer product. Woz was of the mind that the fun was in building it--that a computer, at most, should be a kit--and Job was of the mind that the fun was in using it, that you should open the box and power up and immediately have easy access to doing something cool. Evidenced by the fact that I'm writing this on an Applie bluetooth keyboard mated to an Apple iPad while listening to music on an Apple phone and running Disk Utility on an Apple laptop, I guess we know who was right. But still, I'm a Woz kinda guy. I don't want to sell guitars and synths that are all just like the guitars and synths I'd build; I want folks to build their own guitars and synths, and then show me what they did and why it's better for them. (less)

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David Erik Nelson’s books

Average rating: 3.86 · 1,844 ratings · 365 reviews · 43 distinct works • Similar authors

	This Place Is Best Shunned 3.42 avg rating — 105 ratings — published 2011 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	There Was a Crooked Man, He Flipped a Crooked House 4.13 avg rating — 53 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make with Your Kids 4.02 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2010 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Nölmyna 3.40 avg rating — 53 ratings — published 2025	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Tucker Teaches the Clockies to Copulate 3.78 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2011	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Junkyard Jam Band: DIY Musical Instruments and Noisemakers 4.50 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2015 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Women's Issues in Margaret Atwood's the Handmaid's Tale 3.68 avg rating — 19 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Perspectives on Modern World History: Chernobyl 3.29 avg rating — 17 ratings — published 2009 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Soldering (21st Century Skills Innovation Library: Makers as Innovators) 3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings — published 2014 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The New Guys Always Work Overtime 4.14 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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David Erik Nelson's Blog

“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” 🎃(Sketches of the Week for Week 43 of 2026)

My wife has been taking care of the neglected community garden at the local middle school, winding it down for the end of the year. As a result, there are dozens of little pumpkins on my porch, and last week was thus Pumpkin Week in my journal.

The sketch on the right was for a postcard I sent to my son, who is now way up at Michigan Tech, but has always been a fiend for Fall Decor (see below). Th

Series by David Erik Nelson

New Guys Time Portal (2 books)
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David Erik Nelson (Goodreads Author)

3.90 avg rating — 10 ratings

David is Currently Reading

David Erik Nelson is currently reading

Carrie

by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 19, 2026 01:37PM

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In Search of the Light

by Susan Blackmore

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Oct 16, 2026 04:30AM

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Angel Down

by Daniel Kraus (Goodreads Author)

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Oct 16, 2026 04:30AM

David’s Recent Updates

David Erik Nelson wrote a new blog post “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” 🎃(Sketches of the Week for Week 43 of 2026) My wife has been taking care of the neglected community garden at the local middle school, winding it down for the end of the year. As a result, there Read more of this blog post »
Oct 30, 2026 01:06AM · like
David Erik Nelson is currently reading Carrie by Stephen King (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 19, 2026 01:37PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Carrie by Stephen King. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Carrie by Stephen King <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Erik Nelson is currently reading In Search of the Light by Susan Blackmore	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 16, 2026 04:30AM · like
David Erik Nelson rated a book liked it The Dark Wind (Leaphorn & Chee, #5) by Tony Hillerman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 16, 2026 04:30AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Erik Nelson is currently reading Angel Down by Daniel Kraus (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 16, 2026 04:30AM · like
David Erik Nelson finished reading The Dark Wind (Leaphorn & Chee, #5) by Tony Hillerman	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 16, 2026 04:29AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Erik Nelson rated a book really liked it Redshirts by John Scalzi (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
For most of the time I spent reading this I was leaning toward a three star review at best. This book often devolves toward silly school, but as is so frequently the case with Scalzi, what the novel lacks in rigor it makes up in heart. Dammit. 😢
Sep 27, 2026 08:58AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Redshirts by John Scalzi. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Redshirts by John Scalzi <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Erik Nelson rated a book liked it The Road To Ruin (Dortmunder, #11) by Donald E. Westlake	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Sep 27, 2026 06:11AM · like
David Erik Nelson rated a book really liked it Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a reread (really relisten) for me. I first read Neuromancer probably just 10 or 12 years after it was published. We all did. And we went and made the Torment Nexus anyway. I don’t know what the hell we were thinking.
Sep 27, 2026 06:10AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Neuromancer by William Gibson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Neuromancer by William Gibson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
David Erik Nelson rated a book really liked it Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a reread (really relisten) for me. I first read Neuromancer probably just 10 or 12 years after it was published. We all did. And we went and made the Torment Nexus anyway. I don’t know what the hell we were thinking.
Sep 27, 2026 06:09AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Neuromancer by William Gibson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Neuromancer by William Gibson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Horror Aficionados : Pseudopod for your short horror fiction needs!	138	291	Jul 15, 2019 10:53AM
Horror Aficionados : Pseudopod	508	1108	Jul 15, 2019 10:58AM
Reading with Style: FA 20 Completed Tasks	951	104	Nov 30, 2020 09:00PM

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David’s Quotes

“Life isn't a support system for art. It's the other way around.”
― Stephen King

tags: art-on-writing

561 likes

“I had no faith in the wise choices of the Aunts: I feared that I would end up married to a goat on fire.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Testaments

2 likes

“So men had something in their heads that was like fingers, only a sort of fingers girls did not have. And that explained everything, said Aunt Vidala, and we will have no more questions about it.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Testaments

2 likes

“and then she smiled and said that we were precious flowers, and who ever heard of a rebellious flower?”
― Margaret Atwood, The Testaments

2 likes

“Right now I still have some choice in the matter. Not whether to die, but when and how. Isn’t that freedom of a sort? Oh, and who to take down with me. I have made my list.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Testaments

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David Erik Nelson’s Followers (44)

David Erik Nelson

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