In this Business Blast podcast episode, host Tyler Wagner interviews science‑fiction author Bill McCormick. McCormick shares a formative writing lesson from a college professor—focus on observation rather than self‑centered, gonzo journalism. He emphasizes that rigorous research is the most valuable skill for a sci‑fi writer and criticizes companies that publish without proper fact‑checking. His business advice is two‑fold: stay away from Bitcoin and, more broadly, ensure every project is organized before acting impulsively. He offers personal life advice to his younger self—join the Marines instead of touring Europe with a rock band. When asked about happiness, he cites Aristotle’s idea that one can only judge a happy life after death, and he lives day‑by‑day with optimism and preparation. McCormick’s favorite book is Heinlein’s Expanded Universe, which he admires for its multiple perspectives and its introduction to Paul Dreyak, the antimatter inventor. His favorite quote is a line from Animal House: “It’s not good to go through life fat, drunk, and stupid.” Finally, he directs listeners to his websites billmccyphy.com and BillMcSciFi.com for more content and merchandise.
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All right everyone, welcome back to the Business Blast podcast. This is your host Tyler Wagner. Today I have a very special guest named Bill McCormick. He is a professional science fiction author. So welcome to the podcast, Bill.
Thanks for having me, Tyler.
Of course. So we'll dive right in. The first question is, what's the best story from your life that has an underlying valuable message?
Actually, you know, when I read that question, I just like, there were so many, but my answer would have to be When I was first learning how to write, I had a teacher in college, guy named Arnie Wolf, who said, you're not writing about yourself. Forget about gonzo journalism. Write about what it is you see, write about what it is you hear. And in other words, use your eyes and your ears and quit using your mouth. And boy, has that helped me no matter what I've written since then. You learn so much more by just shutting up and letting the world teach you.
And what's the most valuable piece of information we should know that's within your expertise or industry?
I think the most valuable piece of information you could get out of, especially being a science fiction writer, is learning how to do research. Everything I do, not everybody knows everything, but you can find people who do know it. And so I'm very into doing in-depth research. I don't like just making stuff up. And I see, you know, I see companies do that. They release stuff and it's like, you didn't— look into that at all, did you? That's just wrong.
And what's your best piece of overall business advice?
Stay away from Bitcoin.
No, wait, let's dive in a little deeper on that real quick. Are you for cryptocurrencies or against them?
I think cryptocurrency is probably going to be the next wave of money. The problem they have right now is that cryptocurrency is a finite the amount of currency that they can use. So it's much like a hard gold standard.
Yeah.
And that's easily corruptible, as we found out with the Great Depression and other events in American history. It's easy to throw that completely to the wind. And I think cryptocurrency is going to have to go through a shakeup like that before it becomes a stable fiscal alternative to hard cash. But I think it has a future.
Gotcha. Okay. Um, well, yeah, I guess so. I still let you answer the question, like, besides stay away from Bitcoin.
Um, I think the most useful piece of advice that you— or the most, uh, meaningful thing you can learn, or in anything you do, is to make sure that everything you've got is in order. Uh, people do so much willy-nilly, seat-of-the-pants stuff, and that's fine But you still need to know what it is you're doing and what it is you're working from before you can go running off and break all the rules.
And if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would that be?
Go ahead and join the Marines. Forget about touring Europe with a rock band. Although I don't know if I would trade that for the world. I had experiences other people can't pronounce.
And in your opinion, what's the key to happiness?
Ah, you know, I read that question when you sent it and I still don't really have a hard answer. Aristotle once said you can't find out if you've lived a happy life until you die. And I think that is my key. I just go face each day as best I can. I, you know, hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and have as much fun as I possibly can. And that seems to work for me.
And what's the best book you've read and what was the number one thing you learned from it?
The best book I read was a thing called Heinlein's Expanded Universe. And it was— the one thing I loved about it was that the multiplicity of points of view, everything from a military standpoint to a social standpoint, he covered a wide range of subjects, both in little short stories, but those parts that I liked, were his narratives, just him talking, you know, like he went to Russia and this is what he dealt with, and he went to Europe, and he went to NASA, and he went and testified in front of Congress. And it's just his thoughts and random stuff, and it's really wild and very inclusive. It was also my introduction to Paul Dreyak, the inventor of antimatter, founder of antimatter. So there you go.
And besides the Aristotle quote, unless it is, what's your favorite quote and why?
My favorite quote, um, is, "It's not good to go through life fat, drunk, and stupid," uh, from Animal House. Just think that that should be tattooed on a lot of people.
Um, well, thanks for coming on, Bill. The last question, uh, that I have for you is, where's the best place for people to find you online?
Uh, that would be at my website, billmccyphy.com. It's got a ton of cool stuff up there, and you can even spend your money up there. So that's really the goal, spend a lot of money. Yeah, BillMcSciFi.com is where to find me.
Great. Thanks again for coming on, man. We appreciate it.
Thanks for having me, Tyler. Bye.
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