5 Questions with Nate
Nate Barker began writing fiction in middle school when his father brought home the family's first computer, a beat-up Apple Macintosh Plus. Gaining a wealth of experiences working in television, marketing, non-profits, and other sundry fields, Nate’s fiction bends towards the fantastic and introspective.
He has written nonfiction for Anabaptist World, and contributed to the book Thank You For Asking. Nate is also a writer for the website ObscureHistories.com. He crafts “Choose Your Own Adventure” stories for the magazine MegaBytes, and self-publishes his fiction on his website.
Nate currently lives in the small town of Croghan, NY at the foothills of the Adirondacks. He is married with 3 children, a dog, cat and plenty of local wildlife; from coyote and mink to porcupine and black flies.
1. What’s the weirdest or most unexpected place an idea for your work has struck you?
I could tell you but then one of us would have to go (or go back) to prison.
2. What’s a non-creative job or task you’ve done that unexpectedly feeds your creative work?
This is a trick question. I was talking with a friend about this and we both agreed that there are some of us who find creativity is embedded into everything we do. We’re called the over-thinkers and day-dreamers. To quote the unsinkable Mary Poppins, “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and snap! The jobs a game.” On second thought, screw Mary Poppins, she was a domestic despot who used children and the elderly to perpetuate her Marxist ideologies.
3. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself because of your creative practice?
I must have complete freedom in the creative process and simultaneously be okay with my limitations.
4. What's the most delightfully useless skill you have?
Ok! Picture this! Your arm is folded back with your hand at your shoulder and your elbow pointing straight out. On said elbow you’ve balanced stacks of coins, let’s say $4.32. You take a deep breath and then whip your arm down, catching the coins in your hand. Are you amazed? Maybe you have to see it done…
5. What’s something you swear you remember existing but no one else does?
Rationality.