Rising Stars: Meet Nicole Miras of South Bay

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Miras.

Hi Nicole, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a creative writer. Initially, I thought I would be writing primarily for children, though upon reflection, I think this had more to do with the fact that I was young myself. When I was 23, I signed with a literary agent. I was quite naive about what that signified – I thought that having an agent at a prestigious agency would be my ticket to success as a writer. Over time, it became clear to me that it wasn’t the right partnership, so at 25, I made the (admittedly scary) decision to leave. But around that time, I also began posting short videos on social media. I’m a fantasy writer, so these often had to do with folklore, history, art, etc. I was able to gain a following on Instagram and TikTok, but soon became disillusioned by short-form content. I couldn’t delve into the stories I was telling in any kind of depth, and I find social media to be an incredibly toxic space to be working in. About a year and a half ago, I made the pivot to writing on Substack. My newsletter, The Crossroads Gazette, allowed me to finally share my writing with the world and amass an audience who are genuinely interested in my work, rather than passively swiping through short videos. However, I still missed creating videos about folklore. This led me to my most recent project: a new show on YouTube called Fireside Fables, all about folklore, fairytales, and things that go bump in the night. I have big dreams for that business, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road (with plenty of potholes, rejection, and setbacks), though I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’ve had to learn to overcome perfectionism and fear of judgement, and I’m grateful to have gained that perspective at a younger age. As you get older, you come to realize that so many people will reach middle age and still struggle with how others perceive of them. I am in the very early days with Fireside, but I can say that caring what others think about you is the single greatest thing that will hold you back. If you want to be an artist, start a business, or both, it’s essential to let that go and move, move, move.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My specialty is storytelling, both as a writer and a video creator. My goal is to create a storytelling ecosystem with Fireside Fables, which will hopefully one day include books and other products. I’m proud of how I’ve developed my skills as a storyteller, but I am especially proud of my ability to persevere through hardship.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
There’s no such thing as overnight success. As I’ve learned more about different artists and writers throughout history (particularly for essays I’ve written for The Crossroads Gazette), I’ve come to appreciate how most of them toiled for years before gaining recognition, and more often than not, they had to push and fight for the proverbial foot-in-the-door. I would also encourage anyone who wants to work in a creative field to focus on building a real platform for yourself, and keep your eyes open to business ideas that will get your work in front of people. There are aspects of the culture today that are deeply frustrating, but the decline of traditional media presents unique opportunities for creative individuals with a strong sense of discipline. And finally, when you’re in the weeds with building a business or completing a large project, try to insulate yourself from negative news and social media. Be protective of your mental state, and don’t listen to people who say that it’s selfish to do so. Humans were not meant to consume an endless stream of bad news; it’s good to be an informed citizen, but doom-scrolling or engaging with the news all day is a poor use of your time, and you’re not helping anyone in the process. It may sound trite, but on bad days, I always remind myself to stay positive and stay in motion.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crossroadsgazette.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolemiraswriting/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FiresideFables_Official