Tumblr . Tweet by Shea Serrano, from San Antonio, launches an avalanche of donations to the food bank The heartbreaking images of thousands of cars lined up at the San Antonio Food Bank distribution on Thursday caught the nation’s attention and prompted some to seek their wallets to help, including the successful author Shea Serrano. It took two years to do. Because nobody asked me to come be on podcasts when I was a teacher. As a result, Serrano sold more than 31,000 copies of Basketball (And Other Things) in its first week, putting him at number two on the New York Times Best Seller list. I write about things for a living. This interview has been edited and condensed. "This is me. Best-selling author Shea Serrano is raising thousands of dollars on Twitter Thursday to  give back to the first publication that taught him to be a writer, the Houston Press. But if a person has a medical bill or they need to pay for a thing or we're just making a donation to a nonprofit and you show up with $25,000 to give to them, everybody feels good about it. You don't just email somebody. Medical workers react as the United States Navy's Blue Angels performed a flyover on the old Memorial Hermann helipad Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Houston. Where I do feel it, though, is that there are expectations now that come with whenever I put a thing out. What it feels like is, "Oh shit, I was able to do this thing that this other person was able to do. This location of the free Kroger Health free COVID-19 drive through testing is open from 9am to 4pm and will continue through Thursday, May 14. Why can't it be me who's the one who does it? ", Bryan Anderson, directs a group shot of the Nassau Bay, Webster, and Johnson Space Center first responders from a bucket truck for his personal project, "First Responders Texas Strong" at Space Center Houston, in Houston, Wednesday, May 13, 2020. Allan Anderson ties a blue ribbon around one of the trees that surround Memorial City Mall on Friday, May 8, 2020 in Houston. This location of the free Kroger Health free COVID-19 drive through testing is open from 9am to 4pm and will continue through Thursday, May 14. It said something along the lines of, “This is who I am. Ashley Armendariz, left, Amanda Trimble, center, and Noelia Flores, right, along with other staff members of UT Physicians Clinics watch the United States Navy Blue Angels flyover from the parking garage roof during a tribute to healthcare workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Houston. Some fucking action movie shit. Noah Cantu shares a laugh with Lake Creek High School Principal Phil Eaton as seniors at Lake Creek High School picked up graduation appeal and yard signs, Friday, May 8, 2020, in Montgomery. Councilmembers plan to meet over video for future sessions, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Raymond Scholwinski Friday, May 8, 2020, as it leaves Memorial Hermann hospital in The Woodlands, TX en route back to Houston. "The place that I learned how to be a writer was the Houston Press, the big-alt weekly in Houston--this was like 2008 or something--I didn't have any real experience or know any real writers or anything--I was like a guy with access to the internet," Serrano posted on Twitter. Because if you start trying to just build up a thing that you aren't already naturally, then this means you have to remember a bunch of shit. It's easy to keep it out of the process because I'm not seeking out any of the comments. “‘Writer was on the list, and they had a little section: ‘What do you need to be a writer? So good luck.". On Thursday morning, Serrano launched a campaign via Twitter to help the Houston Press during a time of dire need in the coronavirus pandemic. Debbie Veselka, a Kroger pharmacy practice coordinator, is reflected in window as she takes a self testing kit from a driver at the COVID-19 testing site held at Montgomery County Precinct 2 Commissioner, 19110 Unity Park Drive, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, in Magnolia. That sounds about right. In the beginning, all you're looking for is somebody to email you back. We were getting married, she was pregnant with twins, and a few months into the pregnancy she had some pregnancy complications. Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer. Harris County Sheriff’s Honor Guard member deputy Darryl Peaks salutes as he practices for honor ceremony at the funeral service for Harris County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Medical school graduates Dr. Jayme Castillo, left, and Dr. Ashley Mack jump from the Alkek Fountain for a photo as they celebrate after picking up their graduation gowns outside Baylor College of Medicine on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 in Houston. I was having nightmares consistently: something is chasing me and it's going to catch me. "I'd rather people be safe. I didn't want to be another one of those people. 10k Followers, 1,269 Following, 1,345 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Larami Serrano (@laramiserranophoto) "First responders and medical teams need to be reminded we support them, ad they have each other's back. Now he's the leader of one of the biggest, friendliest Twitter armies on the internet. You need a computer and you need the internet,’” he says. I didn't have the first one so I guess I'll try the second one. How much of that sort of grudge mentality has actually driven you? Bartender Sarah Miller irons masks on the bar inside of the Maple Leaf Pub, in Houston, Thursday, May 7, 2020. Bestselling author Shea Serrano tweeted an Express-News photo of Thursday’s massive San Antonio Food Bank giveaway, and urged his followers to … Shea Serrano talks writing bestsellers, crowdfunding on Twitter, and shooting your shot—by passing a note in class. And if I don't do the work, then I don't get the money. They thought maybe it’d sell 15,000 copies in two years, so 500 copies a month. If your walls leave you feeling uninspired, maybe it’s time to spruce 'em up. Boy Scout James Custer with Troop 776 helps place small flags at the Montgomery County Veterans Memorial Park, Saturday, May 9, 2020, in Conroe. You feel the pressure of those expectations. Shea Serrano on Twitter: "we made a thing called WHERE DO ... Shea Serrano on Twitter: "here is my official statement ... Shea Serrano on Twitter: "larami went to a birthday brunch ... Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) | Twitter. Listen, one of you two is going to win. I was a middle school teacher for nine years. My first hater, professionally, was probably this guy that I went to school with. Julia Geer, center, shares a laugh with Piper Jones, left, and Addison Kaye as the trio visits using social distancing from the back of their vehicles at The Woodlands High School parking lot, Thursday, May 14, 2020, in The Woodlands. They also started hiring their other out of work friends to help them. Did you keep yourself on a strict pitching schedule? Ad Choices, How to Bet on Yourself, According to a Middle School Teacher Turned Best-Selling Author. And I wish I would have thrown the soda at him, beaten him up, and then stood up and been like, "Barq's really does have bite." All I had was the computer and the internet and I figured that shit out.”, Starting out at a small neighborhood newspaper called The Near Northwest Banner, Serrano pitched, hustled, and wrote his way to freelance jobs at the Houston Press and LA Weekly, before catching the eye of Bill Simmons, then at ESPN’s Grantland. Oh yeah. It doesn't work like that. Movies, Twitter, basketball, bulldogs (and other things) with NY Times best-selling author Shea Serrano Oct. 9, 2019 at 8:22 am Updated Oct. 9, 2019 at 11:00 am By Since he got his start as a writer back in 2007, Serrano has shown himself adept, in his four books and countless articles, at writing … Hong Le works on Antajea Hood's nails at Premier Nail Salon in Missouri City on Friday, May 8, 2020. There's a guy I've mentioned in interviews before. When you first started, were you like, "Oh I can do this," or were you kind of like, "Let's throw some shit at the wall and see what happens? Memorial City will Shine Blue, with blue ribbons and the buildings, bridges and garages lit in blue, in recognition of National Nurses Week and National Hospital Week and to honor those healthcare heroes fighting on the frontline against COVID-19. Stephen Olivares, left, talks with Antanique Landry as he disinfects her gym Friday, May 15, 2020, in Houston. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the medical school will holds a live virtual graduation on May 21, 2020. Photo Courtesy of Twitter. I turned around and I saw him, and I was just so filled with rage, from three years of being picked on, that I just chucked the Barq's root beer at his head as hard as I could. In Serrano's impassioned plea on Twitter, he paid special homage to his editors who helped prepare him for a career of writing. Writer was on the list and they had a little section: “What do you need to be a writer? Vernon Maxwell tells about time Hakeem slapped him at halftime. But teaching was better for my heart, because it allowed for those opportunities. Shea Serrano @SheaSerrano Twitter Fuck. Two minutes later, he had amassed $2,272. You might pitch 25 things and maybe you hear back about one. Doctor: COVID lungs look worse than the worst smoker's lung, Trump allies behind rally that ignited Capitol riot, The future is here. “Well, I have those two things. Even now. Before he was a best-selling author, a staff writer at The Ringer, and one of the rare souls still using Twitter for good, Shea Serrano was a guy Googling “work from home jobs.” He was a teacher at the time and needed to make some money after his wife, Larami, also a teacher, was put on bed rest after complications when she was pregnant with their twins. Viber. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels fly past downtown as seen from over the Buffalo Bayou, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Houston. Sgt. Best-selling author Shea Serrano is raising thousands for Houston Press on Twitter. … Their business is Grab Bag Masks.com. So I guess I'll try to do that. I learned on Cruel Intentions that that is not a romantic thing to do. Even if it's a no, you’re like, alright, cool, I'm getting somewhere.". Customers get their nails done at Premier Nail Salon in Missouri City on Friday, May 8, 2020. And I never forgot him. Alden Clark, owner of Salon on Kirby works on Pat Gilmore-Maass' hair at the salon in Houston on Friday, May 8, 2020. Yi-Chin Lee, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer, Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer. If you get up, the babies are going to come out and if they come out, you're going to die, and they're going to die. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Thunderstorms are forecast through Saturday. by Shea Serrano. Over the past few years, New York Times Best Selling author and “The Ringer” journalist Shea Serrano has made a name for himself. Maybe you go through the process, you understand what it takes, and you're like, “Maybe if I just do this with everything, I have a decent shot at it. Scott, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, has donated his plasma for a Houston Methodist study seven times since recovering from COVID-19 in late March. Print. I started playing pool—like a lot—right before I left for college. Art Car Museum preparator John Linden wears gloves to work on Thursday, May 7, 2020, in Houston at the museum now that it has been reopened to the public after many weeks closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. I just try to carry that forward with any of the stuff that I want to do. I got to pitch 25 things every week.” I was hitting every editor's email I could find, even if it didn't make sense. Harris County Jail clinic medical staff Shannon Kloeber, Cathy Rossi, and Beverly Howard wave at the United States Navy's Blue Angels from the rooftop of the county jail as they fly by on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Houston. Anderson, a local wedding photographer, has been photographing multiple first responder departments around the Houston area, shooting dramatic socially distanced group shots for a project he calls "First Responders Texas Strong". He researched plasma treatments himself before deciding to contribute. If we're talking about writing, for example, I might read a column by Wesley Morris or Sean Fennessey or Jia Tolentino or Doreen St. Felix and go like, "Oh shit. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer. Twitter. Bill and Shea reflect on the most recent season of Netflix’s surprise hit By Bill Simmons and Shea Serrano Jan 6, 2021, 8:05am EST Share this story And it didn't have anything to do with writing. So when we were looking for voices on confidence for season two of GQ’s Airplane Mode podcast, we thought: who better than a former teacher with a computer, the Internet, and a whole bunch of lessons to teach on how to ride your own wave all the way to the top? People use a sign urging people to practice social distancing as a net to play volleyball along Buffalo Bayou near Eleanor Tinsley Park, Tuesday, May 12, 2020, near downtown Houston. It's like replicating that teacher feeling all over again, in a quick dose. Raymond Scholwinski into a hearse to be taken back to Houston, May 8, 2020, outside of Memorial Hermann hospital in The Woodlands, TX. American Legion honor guard members Jack Clemons, left, and Ralph Massengill salute the American flag while wearing facemasks during a National Day of Prayer, Wednesday, May 6, 2020, in Willis. LINE. I stumbled forward, I dropped my french fries and shrimp. Monica Hughes, left, holds a sign for seniors as the graduating class at Lake Creek High School picked up graduating appeal and yard signs, Friday, May 8, 2020, in Montgomery. ReddIt. "That's why we're launching a membership campaign. Shea Serrano MUSIC ARCHIVES. There was no real expectations there. Prior to Movies (and Other Things) coming out, I was super stressed out. Having a large internet presence has helped Serrano achieve his goal of giving to others. And you start to feel that. I read that you originally met her by passing her a note in sociology class. I can never think in this way.". By Rob Harvilla and Shea Serrano December 3, 2019 Filed under: Movies; Daniel Kaluuya Is the Most Interesting Under-35 Actor in Hollywood. You had that chance literally every day you went to work. Serrano added that he was hoping to send one big donation to Houston Press, asking other fans of the publication to pitch in. 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