R.K. Nickel

R.K. Nickel

Troubleshooter, fiction, Issue 54, March 2021

R.K. Nickel works as a screenwriter in Los Angeles. His first feature film, Bear with Us, is available on Amazon Prime and DVD. He’s also the head writer for Arrowhead Studios’ upcoming video game and for the ed-tech startup Tappity. When he’s not writing, Russ is probably playing an escape room or some Magic the Gathering. Or drinking coffee. Mmm…coffee. For more, check out @russnickel on Twitter or www.rknickel.com.

Get to know R.K. Nickel...

When did you start writing?

I've been writing ever since I was wee! I think my earliest writing endeavor was running a newspaper about my cats that I would deliver to my parents. I'm sure the articles were very hard-hitting.

When and what and where did you first get published?

My first sale was to Galaxy's Edge. I was lucky enough to meet the late Mike Resnick at Worldcon, and he invited me to submit. Yay, networking! I feel like short story publication is about as much of a meritocracy as there is, but relationships never hurt!

What themes do you like to write about?

I've got a lot of fears and doubts and generally not-helpful thoughts running around in my OCD brain, so I pretty much try to analyze which thoughts aren't useful, then try to turn them into a story. Like how I overvalue the past because I see it through the lens of nostalgia. Or how I have trouble enjoying whatever situation I'm in because I fantasize about what I might be missing. Or how I measure my value based on my output of writing, ignoring anything else that might give life meaning. Was that the sort of answer this question was looking for? :P

What books and/or stories have most resonated with you as an author? Why? How do these stories and their characters find expression in your work?

I recently read Lexicon, and I loved the idea that words have so much power. They can inject emotion straight into your brain. Phonemes literally hack our minds and force us to do things. Insane. As for short stories, my all-time fave is probably “Unsound Variations” by George R.R. Martin. Such a beautiful exploration of being obsessed with your failures. As for how my favorite stories end up influencing my work, well...I try to copy them as best I can! Steal steal steal!

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