COLE STRYKER

27/m/nyc
writer
author
colestryker.com

This was my face when Overlook Press decided they wanted to make me an author. I got a book deal, guys! It’s going to be about 4chan, the mysterious, misunderstood image board defined by anonymity and anarchy that influences the way you behave on the web, whether you realize it or not. Working title: Epic Win. I can’t wait to show you. A year ago I got laid off from a full time, lucrative copywriting gig and experienced an unexpected, soul-destroying end to a long-term relationship. I was suddenly dead broke and alone in a lonely city, feeling like I’d squandered the last four years of my life. Just an absolute existential nadir from every angle. So I decided one day to move to New York with zero prospects (“Empire State of Mind” on the radio as the Manhattan skyline appeared on the foggy horizon, no joke), hoping that I could make ends meet with spotty blogging and copywriting gigs. I spent most of 2010 in an overpriced, windowless sauna on the Lower East Side writing screenplays, web shorts, blog posts, short stories, long stories, editorial, advertorial, jokes — just trying to find something that would stick. Here I am, almost exactly one year later (to the day), with my very own book deal. I feel lucky, but at the same time, like something good was bound to happen sooner or later. This city thrums with an underlying energy of impending human accomplishment. I’ve never been around so many amazingly talented people who are just making it happen for themselves in a way that was previously so foreign to me growing up in Small Town America, where life just sort of happens to you. eProps to the awesome crew (past and present) at Urlesque who put up with my constant emphasis on creepy underground web culture, my awesome agent Chelsea, and my girl Luckypaperstars who connected us.  Most of all, thanks to Nick Douglas, who showed unwavering enthusiasm for my creative work, welcomed me to the city (along w/ his lovely gf Rachel) and let me tag along to all the parties. He put his arm around me in the dead thick of my quarterlife crisis (ugh) and helped me find a way to kick ass again. We’ve been gchatting each other links almost daily for seven years now, and now we’ve figured out a way to turn that impulse to share cool stuff with each other into a living. Feels good, man. And to all of you! It blows my mind that so many of you have stuck with me for three years on Tumblr. Watching my little corner of the web putting out albums, comedy shorts, even movies has been both a thrill and a strong motivating force. Tumblr addiction is sort of a running joke, but I’m not ashamed: I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing than scrolling through your pages of world class wit, beautiful people making beautiful things, and curation of compelling ideas. Thanks for making me feel part of something special. I wouldn’t be doing this if not for you. Aaahhh! Everything is The Best! Everyone is The Best! Ask me stuff.

This was my face when Overlook Press decided they wanted to make me an author.

I got a book deal, guys! It’s going to be about 4chan, the mysterious, misunderstood image board defined by anonymity and anarchy that influences the way you behave on the web, whether you realize it or not. Working title: Epic Win. I can’t wait to show you.

A year ago I got laid off from a full time, lucrative copywriting gig and experienced an unexpected, soul-destroying end to a long-term relationship. I was suddenly dead broke and alone in a lonely city, feeling like I’d squandered the last four years of my life. Just an absolute existential nadir from every angle.

So I decided one day to move to New York with zero prospects (“Empire State of Mind” on the radio as the Manhattan skyline appeared on the foggy horizon, no joke), hoping that I could make ends meet with spotty blogging and copywriting gigs. I spent most of 2010 in an overpriced, windowless sauna on the Lower East Side writing screenplays, web shorts, blog posts, short stories, long stories, editorial, advertorial, jokes — just trying to find something that would stick.

Here I am, almost exactly one year later (to the day), with my very own book deal. I feel lucky, but at the same time, like something good was bound to happen sooner or later. This city thrums with an underlying energy of impending human accomplishment. I’ve never been around so many amazingly talented people who are just making it happen for themselves in a way that was previously so foreign to me growing up in Small Town America, where life just sort of happens to you.

eProps to the awesome crew (past and present) at Urlesque who put up with my constant emphasis on creepy underground web culture, my awesome agent Chelsea, and my girl Luckypaperstars who connected us. 

Most of all, thanks to Nick Douglas, who showed unwavering enthusiasm for my creative work, welcomed me to the city (along w/ his lovely gf Rachel) and let me tag along to all the parties. He put his arm around me in the dead thick of my quarterlife crisis (ugh) and helped me find a way to kick ass again. We’ve been gchatting each other links almost daily for seven years now, and now we’ve figured out a way to turn that impulse to share cool stuff with each other into a living. Feels good, man.

And to all of you! It blows my mind that so many of you have stuck with me for three years on Tumblr. Watching my little corner of the web putting out albums, comedy shorts, even movies has been both a thrill and a strong motivating force. Tumblr addiction is sort of a running joke, but I’m not ashamed: I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing than scrolling through your pages of world class wit, beautiful people making beautiful things, and curation of compelling ideas. Thanks for making me feel part of something special. I wouldn’t be doing this if not for you.

Aaahhh! Everything is The Best! Everyone is The Best! Ask me stuff.

1 year ago

  1. eliotglazer reblogged this from ilanaglazer and added:
    Good things come to those who deserve it. - Fortune Cookie/Me YAY COLE!!!
  2. kellyreeves reblogged this from stryker and added:
    Congrats, Cole!!!! Is...proud mom? No? Maybe more like
  3. chrismenning reblogged this from urlesque and added:
    Your constant attention to the gritty and grimy underbelly of the web only enhances my own. :) Keep it up! Can’t wait to...
  4. emmyblotnick said: “I’m looking for the Cole Styker tome.” — Me at the Library of Congress when you’re PUBLISHED. Congrats!
  5. bonnieam said: Congratulations!
  6. thadeej reblogged this from housingworksbookstore and added:
    Wait a minute. I know this guy. Congrats, Cole.
  7. This was featured in #Lit
  8. housingworksbookstore reblogged this from stryker and added:
    day, y’all! Also,...author. Overlook
  9. ilanaglazer reblogged this from urlesque and added:
    woooohooooo! cole’s an author of a print paper book reading book!!!!!
  10. geekosystem reblogged this from stryker
  11. stryker posted this

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