I have a question for everyone who reads my blog: if I put some short stories I'd written together into a little collection and sold it at Lulu, would you be interested?
I ask this because I collected a few short stories into a limited edition chapbook for last year's PAX Prime, and it's been sitting here, in my computer, just sort of staring at me accusingly and asking why I didn't release it to anyone in the world who wanted it.
It's just four short stories – well, two short stories and two stories that are slightly-longer than flash – that haven't been collected in any other place.
It will be available worldwide (anywhere Lulu ships). I'll keep the price down, and offer it in print and digital editions (probably around $7 and $5 each, if I've calculated the economics on Lulu correctly) … but here's the catch: it will only be available for one week. (I don't have a good reason for that, I just think it's cool to make something that's a limited edition. Wait, that's a perfectly good reason; a cromulent reason, even.)
Here's the introduction to the PAX edition:
The Day After and Other Stories
Every year, before the summer convention season gets underway, I pull a few excerpts from whatever I plan to release in the fall, take them to my local print shop, and make a deliberately lo-fi, limited edition chapbook to take with me on the obligatory summer convention circuit.
I’ve done previews of Dancing Barefoot, The Happiest Days of Our Lives, Memories of the Future, and in 2008, I pulled together a sampler that eventually became Sunken Treasure.
While Memories of the Future is 2009’s “big” fall release, it didn’t make sense to me to release a Memories-based chapbook this summer, because one already exists.
It looked like there wasn’t going to be a 2009 entry in the traditional Wil Wheaton Zine-like Chapbook Extravaganza, until I realized that I have several pieces of unpublished fiction sitting in my office, just waiting to be published.
“Hey,” I said to myself, “people keep asking me to write and release fiction, and I’ve been waiting until I have an actual novel to give them. But these things totally don’t suck, and I bet readers would enjoy them.”
“That is an excellent idea, me,” I said. “And have I mentioned how smart and pretty you are?”
“Oh, stop it. You’re embarrassing me,” I said.
Together, myself and I collected some of my (mostly unpublished) fiction and put it into this chapbook, for safe keeping.
Even though this is limited to just 200 copies, it represents a significant step for me in my life as a writer, because it’s the first time I’ve collected and published stories that I made up. (You know, like a writer does.) I hope you enjoy it, and thanks for your support!
Wil Wheaton
Pasadena
2009
So, knowing all of this, are you interested?
so. this was a rhetorical question, right? cause i don’t think i can say HELL YES loudly enough.
Me, myself, and I had a booze-laden convo. The cats just looked on with mild interest. But who cares what those cats think, eh? Anyway, the interpersonal convo was short, loud, and we arrived at a unanimous “YES”. Secret handshakes were exchanged after.
I would gladly pay $10 for an Audiobook version, but I’d be happy to settle for a $5 digital download.
Sure, I would buy one.
What would be even cooler is if you recorded it and put it up on podiobooks.com! 😀
xoxo
My Nephew’s Aunt Val
I am nuts about short fiction and would love to add some of yours to my collection. Especially if the one week it’s available is next week or even better the week after.
Definitely. Absolutely. Yes!
Yes, publish! However I’m with the audiobook folks here. If you were planning an audio version, I’ most likely skip the e-text or print version in favor of that.
I’d get one, if the one week was the week I got paid… otherwise I’m more likely to scrape the money together for an audiobook than a words-on-paper version, cos I like the way you read aloud. And I can listen to it and do other stuff at the same time, which is nice. Speaking of which, when’s our next RFB??
Nah, sounds daft.
I am of course kidding! I would totally buy that!
Oooo saw some of your replies Wil.
I would pay for an audio book, as you say though with the work involved versus return and it being on release for a short time if you do it timed.
It might not pay for itself 🙁 I guess if its audio then a week wouldnt cut the mustard for your costs and time ?
Look, Wil, I’m pretty much on board with any project that involves giving you money, because everything you do is something I find entertaining. So, count me in.
I’ve got copy 117/200 from PAX, and I thought it was a great read. Definitely worth selling to the masses. At that price point, I might consider getting another copy myself because it would be neat to have both versions.
Funny story, I uploaded a picture to flickr for the Wheaton’s Books in the Wild group, and while it was a picture of Memories of the Future I put The Day After in the background just for kicks: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35905012@N06/4048238487/
I’d seriously consider getting it digitally. I might even pony up for Memories of the Future at the same time. 🙂
Given the teasers on FicIy, I’ve been waiting for the chance to read some of your fiction work, so add another to the “yes” column. An audiobook version would be great for the car or the gym, but I guess that does sort of take it out of the “limited edition” arena.
Very much yes
Even more so if signed limited edition.
Yes please!!!
Yes! Yes! A thousand times YE … er, I mean, that would be pleasing to me and I would purchase a hard copy with great rapidity.
Well, since I think I have all your other books, I probably should break down and buy this one too. So, count me in.
I would definitely purchase a print edition (It’s hard to see how a limited edition in a digital format would stay limited for very long). I’d especially purchase it at such a low price as $7.00! I’d also pay more for a signed copy if that option was available.
That sounds like a great idea. I’d love to buy that book. 🙂
i have loved all your non-fiction i’ve read so far and would be very interested in reading some of your short fiction. sign me up for a hard copy!
I’ve been waiting for you to make those stories available, so YES I would buy it at Lulu. 😉
Does Lulu have the ability to deliver it as a .mobi, so I can peruse it on my trusty Kindle? Or would that be too sweet?
(*Chris*)
YES. PLEASE.
The answer to your question is most definitely YES!
I have one suggestion though: being that you plan to release it for such a short time, and during the summer (I’m assuming?) may I suggest you give us a week or more notice of the release date? That way no one has to miss it if on vacation or such.
I can’t wait!
YESYESYESZOMGYES! Also, did I mention that yes, indeed, I would be more non-sad to have an(other) excuse to support both Lulu and your good self, sir? Personally, I’m all for the print edition! (there’s just something about holding a physical book in my hands)
yes I would be interested. I wonder if Lulu has an app for iPad/iPhone yet.
Uh yes!!!!!!!
dog and cat anecdotes yes
pace yourself and us… the debit card is a dangerous thing 😀
Digital definitely, unless shipping paper to UK suddenly gets much cheaper 🙂
Also would love/pay to read your Red Dead Redemption story, having just finishe the main story tonight!
Sounds like a capital plan, sir. (See what I did there?)
I’d certainly by a DRM-Free ePub, and maybe a dead tree version.
(I’m not a fan of limited editions. Does this mean my nerd membership will be revoked?)
I’d also buy two, of your Wil/dog tweets, if you call it “Conversations with Dog.”
Then I’d sneak one onto my Mom’s bookshelf right beside her Neale Donald Walsch books and see if she’d notice.
Hehe.
I’m sort of embarrassed to say, I have heard your name bandied about the Internets, but I just started following you on Twitter because one of my followers RT’d you. I guess you are pretty famous.
But as one writer to another, I’d tell you, yes, do it. My husband won a Kindle in some contest recently, and he’s always downloading books, and I see that most people here are asking for digital, so of course, do it both. Does Lulu still go on Amazon? I heard there was some kerfluffle with those two a while ago. Lulu sounds so much friendlier than Amazon, anyway.
I don’t know if I’d buy it. But you should do it anyway. That’s what writers do. They write and if they can get over the angst, they publish. Get over your angst and do it! I guess if you do, I’ll buy it for $7, okay?
Interesting idea. That’d be a cool way to flex some muscles that don’t get flexed too often.
I think it’d be a riot to listen to some of the submissions.
Maybe have a Top 5 that could be listened to online and voted upon.
Gladly. I’d prefer a hard copy (because I’m a snob like that), but I’d definitely take a digital copy if that was the only option
ABSOLUTELY. I would buy a digital copy in a FLASH. *flash!*
Yes, yes, and more yes. I’d buy one of each. One digital and one physical.
I’d definitely purchase a print edition – I’m a newcomer here and mostly a lurker but I’d be very eager to read your work (I haven’t purchased any of your books yet but this one would be very easy on the pocketbook!).
I’m also into self-publishing/POD and a bit of a fiction writer myself, so that would make me doubly interested. 🙂
Yes. Digital. Especially if you get your writer friend John to do a nifty intro for you… or Neil, again… or your dog… or Neil’s dog!
Anywhichway a nifty intro always seems to me to add some value to something already over-brimming with valueness.
Hell yes. Only a courtesy please, if it’s a one week limited offer, please let us know beforehand. It’d be a shame to miss the opportunity because of work/vacation
I would gladly purchase it!
I would be very interested. You’ve often mentioned writing fiction but, I think, very little has been shared with your audience.
That said, I own all your books in audio format and, honestly, I don’t know if I can go back. Your readings and additions to the material in audio format turn each of your audiobooks into a performance, and simply reading your printed words at this point would make me feel as though something was missing.
Audiobook please!
Sure. I’ll be all over an international digital edition.
You can never have to many yesses. yes’s? crap. Yes.
Let me think about this… you + writing = win! I would def buy this if you released it. Especially since you plan to keep it at a reasonable price.
Yes please!
I’m too fat in debt to justify your full back catagloge just yet, but if this were out only a week, I’d have to justify it.
Good plan Wil Wheaton!
I’m all for saving a tree and having a permanent copy in digital form to read on my iPad, but I’m digging the idea of a physical copy of a limited edition item. I’m in for a physical copy.
Now, how can I get it autographed?
YES PLEASE! I was so sad I missed out at PAX prime. My friend and I were waiting in line and I could see your book stack get smaller and smaller as we got closer. You got rid of the last one right in front of us. 🙁
But then I got to chat with you briefly. I got an autograph and even got my picture taken with you. I forgot all about it and was happy once again. 🙂
YES
I’m a little late to the party so I know you may not get this far into the comments, but I want to let you know that I have bought copies of all of your books and really enjoy them. Your story about Felix is one of the most emotionally affecting pieces that I have ever read! Please keep the books coming!