BA of the Week: Writer Eric Nelson

Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude. Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit — probably not.

Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week? Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.

This week’s featured broke-ass has, like myself, made the poor decision to become a writer. Luckily he seems to be keeping himself busy doing lots of awesome stuff. Just look as his bio below:

Eric Nelson is a writer originally from New Jersey. His short story collection The Silk City Series was published by Knickerbocker Circus in 2010 and his latest work “The Walt Whitman House” was published by the Crumpled Press in January 2013. He co-curates the Fireside Follies reading series and lives in Queens, New York.

Eric’s got some funny stuff to say about being a broke-ass. Check it out:

Name: Eric Nelson

Age: 29

Occupation: writer/curator/non-profit database manager

What neighborhood do you live in?: Ridgewood, Queens, home to Reginald VelJohnson from Family Matters and Die Hard

Best money saving tip: Start drinking off-brand soda like Tropical Fantasy, Top Pop and C&C. 1 million New York City public school kids can’t be wrong.

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Graduate school. I’m trying to avoid it, but I may give in some day yet.

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: This is weird, but my mattress and bed spring, it’s a full size.

How’d that feel?: Amazing! For once it wasn’t a twin mattress that was handed down from someone. It was the first thing I bought when I moved to Brooklyn into a loft on Stockholm Street and it happened less than a year after I lost everything in a flood.

Favorite cheap eat: Pork and chive dumplings at Prosperity on Clinton Street or either Vanessa’s location. Also the $5 box at Taco Bell on Myrtle Avenue.

Favorite dive bar?: Lucky Dog in Williamsburg, I lived around the corner from it when it opened. I write in the backyard there during happy hour sometimes.

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: Free ride on the Megabus from Philly to New York, it was a blessing.

Favorite free thing to do: Read in McCarren Park, sit on a roof in the summer.

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: My apartment in cash from my landlord, immediately followed by a gold front for a canine tooth.

Best hangover cure: Drink a pot of coffee and then hold your breath over the coffee table until you feel like you’re starting to black out. When you wake up, you’ll be bleeding and your hangover will be gone.

Do you own my book?: Unfortunately I do not.

Are you a hipster?: It’s become passe to talk about, ha! I dunno, somebody in Station North in Baltimore screamed out “Die hipster scum!” at several friends and I from his car once. So that guy thinks so.