Hello, my name is Nick Miller.
In the enthusiastic and counterintuitive spirit of avoiding waxing lyrical about how I am engaging in a mission to share myself with the world through this website, here is my way of introducing myself:
Who Am I?
I am writing something right now that is consuming my life. I hope I can finish it soon. I idolize Haruki Murakami. His book Norwegian Wood may have changed my life. I have a fiendlike love for literature. My current love affair is with Truman Capote. I think he might be The One. My fascination with early 20th century novelists is still unwavering. I may or may not read this letter from Hemingway to Fitzgerald every night before bed. I love the contemporary stuff, too—Franzen and Eugenides are damn talented. I adore independent films with troubled, misguided but talented protagonists.
See (for a complete list write me):
- Half Nelson
- Love Song For Bobby Long
- Crazy Heart
- Factotum
I am also obsessed with all Woody Allen films. If you have neglected seeing Annie Hall or Manhattan, please change your ways.
I once lived here in Italy for 6 months with a family and became conversationally-fluent in the sing-songy, beautiful Italian language. I have an insatiable appetite for warm, delicious food, and I secretly idolize people who know how to cook a tasty meal. I read cook books and watch cooking videos. Cooking a steak has never been this easy and enjoyable.
If I am passionate about something, I’ll be the hardest working person in the room. I’m also very fascinated with talented people. If you’re truly good at something, anything, I’ll take time out of my day to watch you, listen to you, or read about you.
I love Moleskines.
A Plan for Life.
To not die until I have accomplished something worthwhile. To not hurt anyone. To not let my beard get completely out of control. To have a few lovers here and there. To write about it. To travel. To buy things for my family. To stop making my Mother cry. To have a house in Victoria Beach. To have a ranch in Montana. To eat good fresh food. To cook well. To have barefoot excursions and hooded sweatshirt conversations with pretty-eyed girls. To have a huge bed. To have a collection of vinyl records. To have wine parties with old friends who have wondered where I’ve been. To be friends with the invisible people in the invisible towns. To have the local wine shop owner greet me by name as I walk into his store. To watch the sun rise a few times. To watch the sun set every time. To write a perfect sentence. To dream about what could have been. To see a perfect opportunity for love and walk in the other direction. To make people think.
October 29th 2009
55 notes
In August, I was asked to write a letter of recommendation for a friend who was applying to graduate school at Northwestern University. He found out recently that he was accepted with a scholarship. His whole life is about to change.
I received a package recently from this newly announced grad school bound friend… After curiously unclasping, my eyes landed on a beautiful vintage typewriter. I later came to know that it had been refurbished and repaired to a workable unit. I also came to know that the machine is the same model used by an iconic 20th century novelist known as Ernie to his friends. This gesture is undoubtedly the most thoughtful I have ever known. I will treasure this gift until my last supper.
He may have believed that my letter was a positive influence on those that controlled his fate. However, I still hold the contention that his superlative qualifications were enough to garner that stamp of approval. Nonetheless, congratulations my friend. The west coast is sad to see you go.
Lastly, one of my favorite parts of this gift was the cleverly typed message on the page within the typewriter that read: “Miller, may you channel your inner Hemingway…”
Beautiful…
Posted at 11:46pm and tagged with: thoughts, nonfiction, commentary,.