I'd like to be able to send a message back in time to my teen self and answer this question:
I am a socially awkward nerd. How can I become more social and mainstream?
Being social is something everyone learns, just like talking or writing, so you just need to approach it as such.
The number one thing to do is to get practice by talking with more people. It doesn’t matter if these are co-workers, members of a hobby club, or people in a class. Just get outside your home and talk with people.
Don’t worry about the “nerd” part of your question, focus on the “more social” part.
If you’re not sure how to behave, here are some tips:
About the Manual
The Nerd Manual is meant to be both a useful resource for nerds and a guide for the people involved with nerds. If you're a nerd you can find information here that will help you improve your life and perhaps better understand yourself. If you're close friends with, dating, or married to a nerd, I want to give you insight into things nerds do that a lot of people have difficulty understanding.
I hope to avoid offending anyone--either nerd or non-nerd--but please understand that the manual will get into some sensitive topics, stray into contentious territories, and even use stereotypes to illustrate points. It's OK to disagree with something, but keep your comments civil.