Loving My Inner Geek or Why Being a Geek is Good For My Career by Eileen Cook

The incredibly nice Eileen Cook entered the YA scene during the last days of 2008 with her second novel, What Would Emma Do? Eileen's clever combination of bright humor and social commentary ensured that her novel was well received by teens (and in general), particularly by those who could empathize with Emma's suffocating, small town atmosphere. Luckily, Geek Fest watchers will have a chance at getting to know Emma better by winning What Would Emma Do? in a contest occurring later today!


The original definition of geek meant a carnival worker who bit off the heads of live chickens. I can honestly say I would never bite the head off a chicken, unless it was made from chocolate, in which case the bird is asking for it. Thankfully, the definition of geek has expanded to include non-beak ingesting activities. Wikipedia defines geek as “a slang term, noting individuals as "a peculiar or otherwise odd person, especially one who is perceived to be overly obsessed with one or more things including those of intellectuality, electronics, etc.”

I think I’ve always been “peculiar or otherwise odd.” For a long time I fought it. I wanted to fit in. I wanted to be popular. I wanted the term “odd” never to come into someone’s mind when they thought about me. I gave it a really good effort, but I was still different.

Somewhere along the way I realized I sort of liked being different. All my favorite people were quirky and odd. Suddenly, I couldn’t remember why it had been so important to fit in. Why “fit in” when instead I could blaze my own trail? I began to embrace my inner geek. So I snort when I laugh? All part of my charm. Do I have a love of Battlestar Gallatica and Buffy (not to mention pretty much anything Josh Wheadon creates)? You bet. I love knowing geeky historical details and I find ways to bring them up in conversation. I own more cardigan sweaters than Mr. Rogers and match them with vintage jewelry.

I’m convinced that being peculiar and odd helps me be a better writer. When you are odd, you see things from a different perspective. You watch someone fold their undies in a Laundromat and the term “underwear nugget” comes to mind and you write it down to use in a book. Non geeks would never think of underwear nuggets. I see the world through my own unique filter. Writing lets me share that view. If I hadn’t learned to love my geek-ness, then I wouldn’t be writing now.

I encourage everyone to find their own path, to learn to love what makes them odd and different. However, I would advise people to steer clear of the chicken head biting route.

Curiosity question: how has your geek-ness helped you in the past?