Athlete to Author with Nick Peck

The podcast episode with Greg Glynn, founder & CEO of Pliable features guest Nick Peck, a former college athlete and award-winning journalist who transformed his football experience into a debut novel called "Only Way Out."

Nick shares his journey from high school football to becoming a successful author, discussing his writing process and the themes of his book which follows a high school athlete seeking escape through sports. The conversation concludes with discussions about marketing strategies, including potential NIL opportunities, and Nick's advice for athletes, while Greg promotes Nick's social media presence and future collaboration possibilities.

Football to Fiction: Nick's Journey

Nick discusses his football career, starting as an offensive lineman in high school, then transitioning to long snapping in junior college and later at Upper Hour University. He explains that writing has always been his true passion, and he used his athletic career as a stepping stone to become an author. Nick then describes his novel "Only Way Out," which is loosely based on his life experiences. The story follows a high school senior named Jalen Pierre who seeks to escape poverty and family issues through football. Nick emphasizes that the book's themes are common among athletes using sports as a means to improve their circumstances.

Nick's Journey and Writing Process

Nick discusses his process of writing a book, waking up at 4 AM daily for six months to write 10 pages a day before his day job as a journalist. He explains that he wrote from a third-person perspective to allow readers to put themselves in the story. Nick shares that his book aims to inspire by presenting a raw, genuine story of his journey, and he plans to continue writing books throughout his life, viewing it as his new purpose after his athletic career.

NIL Opportunities for Student-Athletes

Nick discusses the benefits of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for college athletes, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. He expresses that he would have appreciated NIL opportunities during his time as a student-athlete, as he worked four jobs to make ends meet. Greg suggested that Nick could potentially use NIL to market his book by partnering with current athletes who resonate with his story, an idea Nick finds appealing.

Author's Marketing and Writing Journey

Nick discusses his approach to marketing his book, which includes leveraging social media, utilizing his connections from sports, and working with a publicist. He mentions becoming an Amazon bestseller and his efforts to showcase his post-athletic career. Nick currently works as a journalist covering the stock market for a publication called "With Intelligence," while also pursuing his author career. He has already started on his second book, which he plans to continue writing throughout his life. Nick is based in Austin, Texas, but enjoys a nomadic lifestyle, having lived in five different states and visited 47.

Nick's Writing and Athlete Advice

Nick discusses his sources of inspiration for writing, mentioning role models like Kobe Bryant, Nipsey Hussle, and Patrick Willis. He explains that his book is available on various platforms and that fans can best connect with him through his Instagram account @nickpeckauthor. Nick offers advice to athletes, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and gratitude, encouraging them not to quit and to appreciate their journey rather than chasing fame and glory.

Links:

Website https://www.nickpeckauthor.com Social media accounts: Instagram: @nickpeckauthor