Yesterday, I taped another Best Week Ever, which will air this Friday. I had a wonderful time. I made myself laugh, and I made everyone else at the taping laugh. I really hope that I get to be a more regular part of that show, because it’s so much fun.
But check out This totally cool thing that happened in the parking garage when I was waiting for the elevator:
I gave my ID to the security guard and told him I was going to tape Best Week Ever. While he signed me in, the elevator doors opened, and a really cute girl walked out. (I only mention that she was really cute because . . . let’s face it, I’m a guy, and guys notice these things.)
She looked right at me and said, “I love your website.” She said it simply, and matter-of-factly,
I felt like I’d just won a million dollars, man. I didn’t even know what to say, so I just said, “Thank you so much!”
She walked past me and the security guard, and disappeared into the garage.
I felt like I was in this bubble of joy, where the rest of the world didn’t exist. She didn’t say that she liked this movie I did twenty years ago, or this TV show that I did fifteen years ago. She didn’t even say “You know, I don’t think Python sucked that bad . . .” She said that she loved my website, this thing that I’m doing now. Like I mentioned last week, I haven’t done much in the acting world over the last few years that I’m proud of . . . but I’m very proud of my website.
Is it okay to say that? I don’t want to come off as a dick, and I’m keenly aware of the Pride coming before the Fall . . . but I really do like what I’ve been able to do here.
My whole life I wanted to write, but I never did because I thought I was supposed to be an actor. But every morning, I get up, drink way too much coffee, and spend the next three or four hours doing what I love: I work on Just A Geek, or I write something for my website, or something for ACME . . . most of the stuff I write I don’t even publish. I just do it so I write every day . . . and it rules. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s utter crap, most of the time it’s just sort of there . . . but it’s mine, and when that girl said that she loved my website, I felt like I could own the joy her comments brought me, because what you read here is really me. I’m not playing a character, or trying to make a shitty script into something worth watching . . . I’m creating images and recreating scenes from my life, without a director or a producer or a studio getting between what I want to create and what the audience gets to see.
If I stare at this much longer, I’m going to lose my nerve and not publish it, so I’ll just say: If I wasn’t writing, I’d be a nervous wreck right now, waiting for feedback from that audition, and freaking out about why they aren’t calling back . . . but I’ve got other stuff going on now.
A few days ago, I bought the 2004 Writer’s Market, because I’m going to face my fears of rejection and see if some magazines or anthologies are interested in publishing some of my stories. I never would have even dreamed about doing that last year, but you guys who read this site have given me so much support and encouragement, and O’Reilly is so excited about Dancing Barefoot, it seems like the risk is justified. I don’t want to get too excited about stuff that hasn’t happened yet, but I’m happy right now.
I guess that’s what this post is about: I’m really happy right now. It feels like some of the risks I’ve taken in the last few years are starting to pay off, and I wanted to share that with anyone who reads WWdN, because without you guys, none of this would be happening.
178 thoughts on “cobwebs fall on an old skipping record”
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That’s SUPER, Wil!
I really like your website, too.
Thanks for putting yourself out there and taking those risks – the rest of us get to enjoy the benefits!
Very, very cool.
Will
I think this web site is fantastic. And I share your thirst for writing. I have sent you a email, but Ill take a chance and put the same thing here incase you dont get to read my email (since you get so much) – but we are looking for someone to do writing for our network of sites (technical / developer related) – drop me a line!
Sweet I will have to tape that show on Friday!
That’s fantastic, Wil. What an amazing feeling that must have been!
For the record, I really like your website, too, and I keep telling people how awesome it is. And I’m glad that you appreciate our support, and that it makes you feel good, because by allowing us into your life this way, you make us feel good too.
Writer’s Market rocks! You may also want to take a look at “The Writer’s Handbook” — also published yearly, and with much of the same info, but somehow I prefer it. I think it’s because the articles seem more useful and inspirational than the ones in the Digest.
Anyway, I digress when all I wanted to say was I’m so glad you bought a digest! I loved “Dancing Barefoot” and can’t wait for JAG, and any steps toward more published stuff from you = more fun reading for me. Many thanks for that.
Best!
Long after this internet fad gives out…we’ll always have writing. You are putting out some good stuff Wil. Your success seems to be coming full circle. Excellent! More folks are following you than you probably know as your most recent posting indicates. Here’s to continued success and thanks for being a good role model to those older than you as well. 🙂
(Er … sub “market” for “digest” above.)
/doh moment
first off – thats just plain awesome. you deserve it. whats really cool about it all is your reaction to it. its so much better to give a heart felt compliment to a person who actually appreciates it.
second – damn. this is my first time commenting. nice moat around the gate here darlin. i was not expecting all the info query. is my keyboard trackin my fingerprints too?
third – i have been reading now for a couple of weeks. someone directed me here when you wrote about the san fran marriages and political frou frou. i was hooked when i couldnt stop giggling, and felt the need to share that post with my mother as support to my argument on the matter.
By the way its
[email protected]
Web site is
http://www.developershed.com
Seriously, you have a really cool site. I’m very impressed. I talk about it to the rest of the IT/IS department where I work. And when Dancing Barefoot comes out mainstream I want to get the site I write reviews for to let me review it. Because then maybe people will read it and come to your site and love the site.
Well done.
Life is a journey full of risks some pay off some don’t. I think it is great that you are willing to take more risks, whether they pay off or not I have found that I always learn something to better myself. I do like your website mostly because it is fresh, and quite frankly it usually makes me laugh or at least brings a smile to my face when I need it the most! So no, THANK YOU!
How cool. 😀 Good to see you met someone with some taste on your way to the taping. Oh and I came here because I was curious, but I stayed because it was interesting. *wink*
*OtterHuggles*
That’s really cool, Wil. 🙂
And she’s right: your site really is cool. It’s always fun to read your stuff.
Finding happiness in what you do in ANYTHING is the pot of gold. If you have the love of someone special along the way, that’s just all the more richer.
(chuckling about “while John Travolta dances with Nancy Allen”)
Nice post. I find myself wondering if the “really cute girl” will post in the comments and admit who she is.
as much as we want to see you on film or on tv, seeing you in print is just as good, if not better..
speaking on behalf of the loyal fanbase you’ve amassed, i can honestly say, …
dude…you rock \m/
Wil, Wil, Wil. I love this site. I love that you’re a writer. You give so many people so much just by giving a shit about them. I was in a car wreck on Monday and all the rescue people asked me was ‘What does ‘WWDN’ stand for?’ I gladly smiled up at them and said ‘Wil Wheaton Dot Net.’
I’m a bonafide Monkey now.
We love your website too…we just don’t run into you on elevators. It’s awesome that everyone has a chance to self-publish these days, and it’s awesome to be read. The fact that you write funny, relevant and engaging stuff doesn’t hurt either. Never stop.
oh yeah SURE! every week you get comments from people who LOVE your web site and tell you often to boot but when a random hottie from the ‘vator tells you this IRL, it’s “stop the presses!!!”
sheesh!
😉 nah just taking the piss atta ya, luv! kidding!
seriously you’ve developed over the year a wonderful a kick-ass site that’s permenantly bookmarked on my browsers! it’s funny, it’s sweet, it’s subversive, it’s heart-warming, it’s
The site is fabulous. I’ve spent time exploring it, enjoying it, describing it to people… And when I bought and read “Dancing Barefoot” and handed it off to my skeptical husband, he liked it so much that he said, “So… what’s Wil’s URL again?”
You amuse, inspire and entertain. Thank you.
Before I saw your website I thought of you as, well you know “The Boy”. Now I can read Your thoughts and Your dreams(if you choose to write them). And after checking everything out I came to a conclusion “Oh my god! Wil Wheaton is cool.” The kinda guy you could just hang with, talk about deep crap, or talk about nothing.
Bottom line, your writing changed my perception and your courage to lead the life you love is helping me to do the same.
Carpe Diem.
Wil,
I’ve been thinking about sending this in email, but I figured that you wouldn’t get it, or that I wouldn’t send email you’d read (since I admittedly use crappy web-based mail), so here goes…
I admire you. You’ve taken many many steps that are beyond what people are comfortable taking, especially in your work on JAG. You’re a husband and a father. You’re intelligent and funny. It’s true that you are known for being an actor, a child actor at that, but you have evolved and grown into so much more than that. You are an actor, a writer, an awesome super-web-guy. There’s a reason we’re all here reading this, and that’s because of you. We’re behind you. Most of us have your book on pre-order, and can’t wait to get our hands on JAG.
We as humans are more than the sum of our parts, and you are an excellent example thereof. Stand up and take your bows. You deserve them.
I’m a long time lurker, and a seldom feedback giver, but I felt like I had to poke my head up out of the woodwork to say a few words to you after reading this note.
I really do enjoy your website. I enjoy your writing – and feel that it’s very relavent, and very “real”. You seem like a down to earth person, and have a way of making your entries into your journal, for example, seem like they’re being read by each individual person, rather than the “masses”, if you will.
Thanks for keeping this up. Thanks for making such a good site and gathering place. And thanks for keeping it real. 🙂
Will, I’m a writer myself, and it’s has been a pleasure watching you get better at the craft over the time I’ve been a fan of your blog.
Anyone who visits my page will see that you’re at the top of my Blog Roll.
I read a lot of internet stuff, but your blog is the one I read first.
BTW, I still liked your acting stuff, and I hope you get to do more of that stuff if that’s what you want.
I’ll tune in tomorrow to read your blog!
Write on, fellow wordsmith!
Didn’t someone once say that you were an author who thought he was an actor…
?
Just saying.
That’s really cool, dork. I mean, Wil. 🙂 That’s fantastic. It’s good to be recognized for anything at all- let alone something good. But it’s a whole other story to be recognized and obviously genuinely appreciated for something that you enjoy and are proud of. Expressing yourself and allowing other people to see themselves through your insights, observations, and maybe learn a thing or two along the way- that’s a gift. Having people that actually want to sit down and read what you have to say- consistantly- well quite obviously Wil, that’s talent.
I’ve very glad you’re doing what you love, and not compromising yourself in any way just to ‘be in the game’. What’s the point if you lose your soul, your self worth, your own value along the way?
Here’s to not having a desk job (which is my vision of hell) and not ‘growing up’ and throwing away your passion.
Keep up the good work!
Man I love you site too. You are such a fantastic and gifted writer. I love the way you describe not only things that happen in your life but how you feel inside. Dancing barefoot was an awesome book that I read in one sitting becuse I could not ut it down and I am just dying with anticipation waiting for Just a Geek.
Of course I am not cute or a girl but i did mean what I said. Keep up the great work and thank you for sharing all of this with us.
I guarantee you, we are all content with your contentment, and pleased with your pleasure. 🙂
Hey Wil,
I’ve bookmarked several sites over the years, but yours has stood the test of time of not being deleted.
I’m so happy for you to be doing what you like. May I get there someday, too.
Warm fuzzy feelings,
lee
An essay in a much older edition of the Writer’s Market was by Stephen King. It went something to the effect that “Have you written a piece. Has it been purchased by an editor. Has the check cleared? (this is important). Then you’re a professional writer and don’t let the litarati tell you any different.” So yeah, one published book out there, which had enough interest to be bought up by a second publisher? You’re definately a writer, Wil.
And a pretty fine one at that.
I wish you continued success at it.
-HH
I love your website too, Wil. So does my wife, for that matter.
Why do you think so many people keep coming back? I am so happy for you right now.
You really are a very talented writer and I am glad you are finally “getting” the fact that people like what you are doing TODAY!
Who knows if you even read all these comments, maybe that is why you only comment on the ones given to you by cute girls in elevators. I keed!
I love your site, I spend much of my afternoon at work checking back to see if you have posted something new. I am also very excited about the imminent arrival of my copy of Dancing Barefoot which I just ordered for Amazon. Woo hoo. You are a great writer, keep up the good work.
Ha, I’d die, if something like that happened to me.. 😉
If you don’t mind not getting paid for your writing, then there’s a website you may want to check out. It’s http://www.deviantart.com/
You can post writing, photography, drawings… Basically anything artistic. I have my stuff up at http://daymare01.deviantart.com/
I love being able to have people see my stuff, and comment on it if they so choose.
And for the record, I love your website also.
Wil, your writing is so well-crafted and engaging, I think you’ve made a brilliant move in buying that Writer’s Market. I’d love to see your work in the Gettysburg Review or Ploughshares; I think you’re totally at their level. The sad truth about the Writer’s Market, though, is that you should probably go ahead and buy a recycle bin for the rejection cards — it’s a numbers/luck game, much like roulette. But for you, I think, the lucky numbers will hit soon and often!
Writing is one of the most satisfying things I do, whether related to work or not. I’m not at all surprised you get so much out of it, and I’m grateful you write in ways that you can share with all of us!
I’m a cute girl and if I walked out of an elevator, I’d tell you that I love your website, too! 🙂
But seriously, congrats on finding your happy place. It’s a wonderful place to be in. Here’s wishing you more warm fuzzies!
cool story. cake rocks.
Wil,
I was debating on whether or not to email this to you yesterday, but I didn’t want to be an annoying fan-type so I held off. It seems appropriate to mention, now 🙂
I was reading an episode summary of “Angel” on televisionwithoutpity.com and one of the characters (Wesley Wyndham-Pryce) was pontificating about something or other and the reviewer added in her own comment “Oh, Shut up, Wesley!” I died laughing.
So you see? That phrase doesn’t apply to your character anymore! It’s been passed on! Your days of playing Wesley are over, and you have grown so far beyond it. People are moving past associating you with something you did like a MILLION years ago and are learning to appreciate you for the amazing person you are!
At least that’s what I got out of it…but I could be reading into things 🙂
That’s awesome, Wil.
It’s great to hear you sounding so happy! 🙂
That, my dear Wil, is the feeling you get when you’re doing something you love.
Got to say we love your work too, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.
Congratulations on a job well done!
Wil, I ordered your book from Amazon and I can’t wait to read it. Cute girl knows what she’s talking about. I love your website to.
So very many congrats to you, always; for everything you are and do. The ‘StarTrek Communicator’, issue 149, has a small, but important note on you, my friend. The mention of your liturary genius; those are my words; in fact that O’Reilly Associates are publishing 3 of your works. We know your good! I want so much to come your way; keep up the good work. As ever, all my best, Russell’s Mom……Donna
Wil! We love you! You have every right to be proud and every right to say so! I absolutely love this site along with all the other millions of super fans out there. I have been reading the old archives from september, august and july 2001 and have laughed so many times (constantly over sponge bob vega$ pants!)and have been deeply moved by your honesty, almost to tears in your times of angst. I hope things continue to get better and better for you, you deserve it! You truly are my hero!
You have every right and reason to be proud of your site work! Great post! 🙂 I love keeping up with your updates!
Wil, I love your website; but, I never would have come to it, nor would I have subscribed to updates, if I hadn’t been a ST:TNG fan.
That brought me to the site the first time; so, THERE IS some good in those old TV episodes and movies!
When you DO get published, many ST:TNG fans will buy or subscribe to your publications because YOU WERE in the show.
Well, this is going to come out as being an intensely left-handed compliment; I don’t give a crap about what you *used* to do, because it’s not what you’re doing now. You’re not sitting there basking in the glory of your past accomplishments and sucking up the fan-worship. You’re joyfully growing as a person and finding the elusive *thing* that makes you happy and fills you up inside in the way that nothing else does.
There are so few people who grow and change as they get older, and even fewer that keep their eyes on doing what brings them joy, rather than just bringing them money.
I like your site because of your writing, and I look forward to what you bring to us tomorrow and the next day and the next…Thank you for sharing yourself so openly here.
Rock on!
I think a lot of your readers do understand about the horrible waiting after an audition, at least in concept. We’re antsy because we feel like we’re waiting too.
Congrats on that woman’s off-hand comment about the web site. Having a one to one comment about something that you’ve done is really terrific, and something you know is genuine and your own.
By the way, don’t worry about being proud of something that you’ve done; there’s nothing wrong with that. “Pride coming before the Fall” is a problem when the pride gets so out of control that you completely lose the ability to judge your own work, and I don’t really think that’s happening to you.
Can’t wait to read JAG [soon to be a film starring Tom Cruise! :-)]