I have a few friends who are in rock bands, and they all tell me that when they come back from a tour, they want to re-record their albums, because they’ve lived with the material night after night for months at a time, and they’ve discovered nuances in the work that they didn’t even know was there when they made the album.
That’s the way I’ve been feeling about Just A Geek the last few weeks. I’ve had a chance to make this material live and breathe in front of a few very different audiences, and I’ve discovered a lot of nuances in the material. I’ve struggled against a mighty tide to help people understand that this is not a Star Trek book, or a self-serving celebrity bio, and in these performances I’ve intentionally focused on material that communicates, I hope, what the book is really about: what do we do when the hopes of our twenties don’t match up with the reality of our thirties? I can’t begin to tell you how hard it’s been to get that message out. I know that it’s easier to promote the Star Trek angle, but it’s hurting book sales, keeping my story away from people who can relate to (and would presumably enjoy) the story, and preventing any recognition from the mainstream media. It’s kind of a drag, because my warnings about the doors Star Trek opens and the doors it slams shut fell on very deaf ears. There are times that I hate being right, and this is one of them.
The experience of bringing Just A Geek to the audience was very different from the experience I had with Dancing Barefoot. Because I worked with a publisher (rather than doing it myself with Monolith Press), I had to make some compromises with Just A Geek, and I’m really unhappy about some of them, (like the subtitle, which I tried to convince myself I liked, but I really hate), and I needed to include some things (most notably, the stuff about 9/11) that I thought was best left out. It’s been incredibly frustrating, and in many ways I feel like I’m working for Viacom or G4 again.
But when I perform Just A Geek live, there’s nobody between me and the audience, so I don’t have to compromise about anything. I get to present the material the way I believe it should be presented — the way it was intended. I get to perform it the way I want to, and bring it to life the way it sounded in my head when I wrote it.
I didn’t realize how important creative control was to me, in terms of content, marketing and publicity, until just a few days ago, and I’m really happy that I have these opportunities to do things the way I want to do them.
Even though I’ve only gotten to really “perform” the material (as opposed to just reading it) four times so far, (at Gnomedex, Linucon, Creation’s Las Vegas Convention, and at Dallas Comic-Con) it’s so much fun, and it feels so great when I do it, I have decided to take some of the material and turn it into a full-on show, similar to the staged reading that Patrick does with A Christmas Carol. Look for it at ACME sometime early next year.
Until then, I continue to work on the audio version of Just A Geek, which has become more of a “director’s cut,” including off-book comments (audio footnotes, I guess) and some of the changes that I’ve discovered during performances the last few months. I’m about 2/3 finished with it, and I understand that the post-production process will be very quick, so it should be ready pretty soon — definitely in time for the holidays. Initially, it will be available for purchase online (yes, it will be at iTunes and Audible), but once we get enough capital, we’ll make actual CDs, with cool artwork and liner notes and stuff, too. David Lawrence is producing it, and he and I are talking about including a conversation about the book, like a bonus interview, or something, which would serve as the introduction.
Maybe, if the whole thing works out, I could put together a little tour of 99 seat theatres and universities! I could start in Southern California, and maybe go back to the Southwest. If it was successful enough, I could take it other places as well. I could call it “My Big Fat Geek Tour.”
Har.
Wouldn’t that be cool?
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I think we could fit 99 peeps in my house, will you come speak there? It isn’t like Oregon is far.
Go north, young man. That Powell’s crowd eats up everything you do with a spoon (and I can tell you, the Powell’s crowd can turn vicious in a heartbeat. It’s SO happened.) You’re a hit in P to tha D to tha X, yo, so head this way. We’d love to have you.
-DarthVerso
(I tried to get you to be in my movie, remember?)
Hey Wil!
Bring that One Man Show to Oregon! Plenty of campuses around here for you to fill up.
And I will buy the Audible version of JAG when it’s out, in hopes of providing capital for the CD. 🙂
wil, get your talented ass to the U.K I want my copy of JAG signed!
Wil
You should look into the new Dual Format CD/DVDs that are coming out. I hear that the cost is comparable to CD only, and then you can add video of a reading on the DVD side.
Hey Wil, that sounds like a geektacular idea. I just saw “Ray” yesterday. One of the coolest things is that when he was courted by a new record company he demanded full control over his masters. That was unheard of back then, but it eventually gave him full control over reproduction. What I’m saying here…is you should be in a position to demand full creative control over your work! But, even if you’re not in full control with one aspect, these days there’s so many options available to you, you can eventually get it!
I’ll definitely buy JAG on iTunes and throw it on my iPod with the Gnomedex Show.
Also, if you get a tour together, put St. Louis on the list. We’ve got a number of small to medium venues you could play.
Count me in…Having seen just two stories read I would love to see the rest!
I’ll definitely buy JAG on iTunes and throw it on my iPod with the Gnomedex Show.
Also, if you get a tour together, put St. Louis on the list. We’ve got a number of small to medium venues you could play.
Wil, your comments about creative control really hit home. For what it’s worth, I have to say that JAG’s subtitle is a great one, and may increase the likelihood of people picking up the book (the title might be a bit stark otherwise). You may never learn to like it, but I think it’s very effective. Just my $.02.
Does the southwest include Colorado?
I hope so
I can make you a sandwich if you come 🙂
Yes! Come to San Antonio – it’s gorgeous here in the winter and the Riverwalk is wonderful! It’s the only Texas city you haven’t been to this year 🙂
And, I can’t really make you a good sandwich but I make a mean Margarita! lol
It would be great to see you. Good luck with all that.
Hey Wil,
I hope someday you’ll bring your books to Atlanta. I’d love to see the show! I enjoyed reading JAG very much.
That sounds like a great idea. I’d get the CD and even see the show (if you came to Cleveland). I just finished reading JAG, and I’d love to hear audio commentary on it.
I know when I was with a band, the challenge of touring an album was usually learning the songs you’d just laid down piece by piece. It’s one thing to have the time to pause tape and change instruments, tunings, keys, or whatever and another entirely to be able to pull it off live. Yes, in a lot of ways, the live experience pulls it in and makes it yours. But people who have the book will have certain expectations to be met as well.
Try Pittsburgh? 😀
*geeks out and earns strange looks in Creative Writing class* YAY! I want Wil Wheaton in my stocking this Christmas (or birthday since it’s only a week before Christmas)! …oh course I always want you in my stocking *innocent look*..doodle dee dum! If you tour, visit Tampa, Fl. PLEASE! *puppy dog look* I’ll be your best friend and wuv you forevers…did the baby talk work? *pleading look*
It will be on iTunes??? YES!!!!!!!!! Wil, you’re the bestest!!! Thank you!
dude will i would love to see a real performance of your book (even if it is titled “my big fat greek tour” ;)! you should definately do that. and dont forget about your good ol’ hometown of arcadia/pasadena. we love you over here.
-just a geek from Borders
p.s. when is your nesxt booksigning in the area??? wil???!!!
Wil, to reassure you, your live performances are helping sales, at least in my case. I was curious about JAG (and Dancing Barefoot, for that matter), but hadn’t thought about buying it until I listened to your Gnomedex performance on IT Conversations.
The quality of your performance just blew me away and coincidently, my birthday was a couple weeks after that, so I bought (with b-day money) JAG and D.B. on Amazon. I was blown away yet again by your writing. I laughed, I cried, I related to those books as a geek and as a human being.
If you want creative control, take it. I think your vision will be better than someone else’s trying to interpret it.
You need bring that show to the East Coast. Not eveyone gets to live in California.
You can tour CDs and record the readings for a DVD called “An Evening with Wil Wheaton” or “Evening Harder”.
Wait, no, that’s been done…
Your Canadian friends wait with baited breath.
*drools at the thought of the tour* Good thing I live in SoCal, now I’ll just need to make sure its late enough on the weekday that I don’t need to worry about work, and its not on Tuesdays. ( Darn GE, I want to Graduate )
Adding another ‘come to Oregon!’
Seriously, you should come up here for your book performance. I think Oregon has good mojo for you. 🙂
I just finished reading ‘Just a Geek’ a few days ago.
Have 2 things to say.
1. VERY good book. (like bring in your car and read at stoplights, cause you can’t put it down good)
2. Talking with my mom today about things Trek. (inherited love of sci-fi from both parents) I told her, “hey, did you know Wesley was in Nemesis, but they cut his scenes out?”
Mom, “no, why’d they do such a terrible thing?”
Me, “They said it was too long, but they brought Wesley back to the Enterprise at last.”
Mom, “They should make the next Star Trek series with Wesley as the central character.”
*I wig-out, cause I have never thought of this utterly wonderful idea*
Me, “Yes! Think 15 years after TNG… Captain Wesley Crusher and crew!
I would start a petition for this wonderful idea, but after reading your book, I’m not sure ~you~ would appreciate it. 😉
Thanks for a great read! And I totaly agree with your thoughts on it being a book to appeal to a wider audience than just Trek people…
I am almost same age as you and it hit me in lots of little ways.
I’m with DarthVerso. I can fit 99 people into my place at a squeeze. Is the East Coast of Australia too far to come for a reading?
Hmmm…chances of a JAG reading at my sucky little NC college seem low…maybe I should move to Oregon!
Please, please, PLEASE come to Oregon! My husband and I would so be there!
What Hannah said, except for the husband part because I don’t have one 🙂
I know you’re on the Powell’s train (and really, who isn’t?) but Southern Oregon would love to see you too!
Please please with cookies on top!
Dude! A show made out of the book? Very, very cool. It really is very entertaining to hear it out of your mouth. I did get the feeling hearing it live twice and listening to the Gnomdex recording of just how you wanted the book to come across and more of “the essence of you” got through. It was very cool.
It must be very frustrating to have it referred to as a “star trek” book. There is one copy that I saw at the Barnes & Noble by the UT-Austin campus and where is it? With the Star Trek novels. (Maybe it’s in more than one place. Let’s hope they’re going for a double strike. I should check the computer section…) When I try to get my friends to read JAG they ask, “Who’s Wil Wheaton and what’s it about?” I try not to bring up Star Trek saying,”Uh, well… he’s been on Screen Savers a lot… uh… movies… Aqualad in Teen Titans… it’s about maturing and figuring out the important things in life to you and.. uh.. he was Gordie in Stand By Me… uh… You still don’t know who he is? Uh… Oh, he was Wesley on Next Generation.” To which I get,”Dude! I h*te Wesley! It’s about Star Trek?! Is he still bitching and moaning about that?! Get a life!” And when I try to maintain that it isn’t really about Star Trek they say,”You want to keep talking about the Star Trek/Wesley book or do you want me to not kill your cleric RIGHT NOW?” It’s very hard to avoid the ST trap. We know it isn’t really just about Star Trek or some ego trip you’re on, but most WWdN readers are the choir. We don’t need to be convinced. Gosh, I hope that battle gets better.
So, that one-man show needs to tour through the UT-Austin campus. Dude. It would rock. The Texas Union Student Events Center would love to have you, I’m sure. Distinguished speaker or entertainment committee or something. They bring people in all the time. Very cool stuff. My Big Fat Geek Tour! Nice. 🙂
JAG/Dancing Barefoot are great books. Keep that material you didn’t get to put in for the next book. Keep up the good work.
Ummm, when are you headed to the center part of the state’s again? Oklahoma City is kinda the boonies I guess, but we’d love to see you!
I’m waiting in breathless anticipation for the audio version!
Wil,
I want you to know that I was passingly familiar with your post-Star Trek geekdom before I read JAG, but I wasn’t a regular reader of WWdN. I saw your book in a bookstore and bought it right away and had read several chapters before I left the mall.
Your ongoing struggle to be move on/come out from your Star Trek past without trashing on it or disparaging it really resonated with me. I’m a Presbyterian minister but I hate the stereotypes and expectations that go with the profession. I’m not a damn evangelical right wing nut and I’d love to be as geeky as you.
All of this is just to say that even if JAG isn’t all you wanted it to be, your story was more than enough to give me some wind in my sails to keep struggling with similar things in my life.
Peace.
EAST COAST. We won’t bite…
Since it seems the West Coast is fairly well represented. I am going to have to request you to come read in my hometown of Rochester, NY. Look it up if you need to. LOL
By the way is there a e-book available of JAG?
That would be so cool.
not shiny, yet shiny. almost irradacent. somewhat reflective of dark with hints of light.
Another good prose writer discovers the poet’s secret! No piece of writing is complete until you breathe life into it. Especially true with personal work (memoir, anecdote, fictionalized biography), you can never be sure what’s maudling, what’s whiny, and what plain doesn’t work until you speak it aloud – and not even _to_ someone. Often you can hear yourself what parts don’t work.
And remember, there’s no rule that says a spoken word CD has to be simply vocal transcription of the book. Inhabit and perform the work the way it wants to be performed!
But then, you just said you already know that.
Sign me up as another Audible subscriber. The Jacket would be nice and all, but aside from 5 total minutes of lookin’ at it, it’d just be relegated to a bookshelf.
HEAPS of thanks for the IT conversations mp3s AND turning me on to Soul Coughing! (And by extension Mike Doughty’s other works)
JAG on iTunes! Woo hoo. My iPod is so ready! Good luck finishing the post production and getting everything going. If the recorded stuff you’ve already put up is any indication, it’s going to be some fun listening.
Hope you had fun voting today. No matter who wins, I am happy to see so many people become a part of the process. Just hope that the country and the system can survivie.
Melissa
Will, I just stumbled across your blog the other day and so far I think it’s great.
I understand where you are coming from when you are talking about the difficulties you had working with a publisher. I know a few authors (of technical books) and a close family member is an editor/publisher so I’ve gotten both sides of the story. I think that once you find a good publisher and editor you will be a lot happier with the whole process. There are folks out there in the publishing industry who are really interested in working with the author to create the best book possible. I know that a number of authors will follow an editor that they like from publisher to publisher as the editors career progresses.
The idea of a tour sounds like fun, I know I loved Henry Rollins spoken word tour. If you do it, don’t forget about us Canucks 😉
Phil
Come to the East Coast Wil. We won’t bite AND we have Guiness here too! Plus there are plenty of us Geeks that haven’t had a chance to see you perform any of your writing.
Hey Wil,
I can imagine how it must’ve sucked to have your editors semi-force you to make changes to parts of your stories. It’s always a bummer when people step on your creative toes.
But don’t forget that there are oodles of people who would love the chance of getting paid to write. (myself included!) So when you get down about it, remember that it IS getting paid for something you enjoy.
I hope you don’t take this as bashing or anything… its one of those friendly reminders to “Look on the bright side!”
Get your butt to Canada somewhere in that tour too, Wil! But maybe wait until the spring…your cushy California butt might not survive winter here unless you happen to own longjohns – know what those are? heh.
Seriously, we have lots of theatres you could fill. And we would love to have ya come! Toronto awaits you!
Dee