What is Underwhelmed?

For subscribers who don’t know me, I write lots of short essayish things about racism in schools, culture, writing tips and birds. Many of those essays here are free. Some are for paid subscribers only.

Subscribers will also get:

• Updates on my writing, where I’m publishing, where I might be submitting work. Could be anything really, even sample bits of essays being sent to other publications. I’ll definitely include little excerpts from American Fade, a novel I’m writing loosely based on my family.

• Discussions: Once in a while I may set one up for special projects.

Who is Nicholas Belardes

Some might think of me as an instigator who recently started a conversation about racist imagery in Central California schools. You might know me already as a Chicano writer of fiction and nonfiction. Pulitzer-winning journalist Christopher Knight called my 2020 essay in Boom California (University of California Press) “engaging” and included it in his epic takedown of racist imagery in schools. My other website is nicholasbelardes.com.

Why subscribe?

Many essays on Underwhelmed are free. You can gain access to all of them, and more importantly, support my writing, by subscribing for $6 a month or $40 a year.