This is one of the scariest things I've ever done: I'm releasing a short collection of short fiction, called The Day After and Other Stories.
Last year, I collected a few short stories I'd written and sold them as a chapbook at PAX. It was a scary thing for me to do, because while I feel confident as a narrative non-fiction writer, I am paralyzed with terror whenever I think about releasing something I invented out of nothing more than an idea to the public, and before I actually release it, I hear Carrie's mother screaming at me, "THEY'RE ALL GOING TO LAUGH AT YOU!"
A couple of things have happened recently, though, that gave me the courage to actually release this short collection of short stories to anyone who wants to buy it. First, Project Do Something Creative Every Day is making me feel less and less afraid of sucking. Like I said recently, the goal isn't to be perfect; the goal is to be creative. I don't think The Day After and Other Stories is perfect, but it is creative, and the few people I have shown it to told me they liked it.
Second, over 400 people expressed an interest in buying an autographed copy of The Happiest Days of Our Lives over the last couple of days. That really blew me away, and made me think, "Well, maybe there aren't as many people out there waiting for an excuse to laugh at you as you think. Also? It's adorable that you think you're that important to anyone, jackass."
I've had these files ready to put on LuLu for over a year, and it wasn't until this morning that I screwed up the courage to actually do it. I'm sticking to my original plan, which is to sell the paperback for a limited time (10 days) and then just offer the PDF version. I'm not quite sure why I wanted to do it that way, but it's nontraditional, and a little weird, so there you go.
Okay, now here are the details about this:
The paperback is $11, because it's available for a limited time. I realize this is pricey for a 50 page book, so if you don't want to spend that much (and I don't blame you), you can get the PDF version for $5. Yay!
The paperback will only be available until December 30th, so if you wanted to get one, do it before then.
Here's the introduction:
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!
The more astute among you may have noticed that this says it's limited to 200 copies; that's because this was originally offered as a limited chapbook at PAX, and we're using the same files. Think of it as a delightful legacy issue, or something like that, if you must. I don't know how many of these books I'll actually sell, but I doubt the number will be exactly 200. When the paperback goes to the Land of Wind And Ghosts, though, I suppose I can check to see how many were sold, and you can use your very own Red Pen of Doom to put the actual number into your copy. Hey! Look! It's interactive!
Anyway, now you know, I'm terrified that nobody's going to like it, but the goal isn't to be perfect; the goal is to be creative.
I'm going to keep saying that until I don't feel like I'm going to throw up.
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Know what you mean, I had 3 of Wil’s books in my cart, Cost me $11.97 to USPS ship $41.87 worth of books. But that was down right TAME to overnight the 3 books. I think it was $107 to overnight $41.87 of books! And I have an U.S. address!
My vote, if you can finish only one of them (and I would like to see more on all of them) is Room 302. Wow, it is short, but hits the nail on the head.
I work in an office with all kinds of goodies, so I just printed and bound my PDF. I’m hoping you come to PHXCC in 2011 so I can show it to you 🙂
Yay! I can't wait to see it.
Great, NOW Lulu sends me a code to save 15% off my order.
“15% off today’s order
Enter code: DEC21
Enter coupon code DEC21 at checkout and receive 15% off your order. The maximum savings for this coupon is $100. You can only use the code once per account, and you can’t use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes.”
To late for me to use it, but maybe it can help someone else.
Ordered!
The zombie story in this collection ended with me wanting more.
That's awesome. I'd hoped to leave the reader wanting t know more, because that's sort of where the characters are, too.
Yay! Ordered! 😀
No ePub or Kindle version? Check out http://2epub.com for a quick conversion job (assuming you have the non-PDF source at hand). I spend an ENORMOUS amount of money on ebooks every year, all in ePub or Kindle format. PDFs are not really ebooks.
Thanks in advance for considering this.
You. Are. Awesome. Now puke in this pail please. K, thanks!
I didn’t even finish reading this whole entry before I RAN LIKE THE WIND to go buy the book. There’s a reason so many people are (possibly creepily) enamored of you (other than the fact that you are so smart and pretty), and it’s because you manage to corral words into configurations we can all connect with and relate to and other phrases that end in prepositions.
I was SO heartbroken that I could not get this chapbook at PAX, so I’m thrilled that you’re offering it now. I have always and will continue to snap up any books you publish, because I enjoy them all, wholeheartedly.
That, and you are so smart and pretty that my husband puts up with my fangirly crushing and squeeing and mad flailing to buy any and all your books. In fact, I think he thinks you’re smart and pretty, too.
JUST SAYIN’.
Just sharing another Lulu code that might be of use to someone – 20% off with REMARKABLEYEAR305. Just worked for me here in the UK. Can’t wait to get the book now. Happy holidays everyone!
Christmas has come early!
Yikes! for me – it comes out to nearly 15 bucks (with shipping)!
I didn’t hesitate. Can’t wait for my Post-Christmas present.
The copy I got at PAX holds an honored place in my small collection of signed books. All good stories, some of which jump started my own creative juices.
Depending on how Lulu does its shipping (USPS, Fed Ex, UPS, etc.), there might be issues of fixed minimum shipping fees. There’s also the possibility of an incremental hike due to the massive load on the shipping companies over the holidays.
Omg, you’re so adorably vulnerable. Just ordered 2 copies – one for myself, and one to pass on. You’re livin’ the dream, man, keep it up! Your work is amazing and means a lot more than you realize to geek culture at large.
Oh yeah?! Well, Wil told me that I was awesome. I bet he didn’t say that to you, too…
Oh. He did? Oh, really. I’m going to have to talk to Wil about this…
(I think I’m going to have to order more books from him, just so I can continue getting emails from him. Is that too pathetic?)
I’m sure he said I was awesome, too, but… I deleted the e-mail. I cannot believe myself.
WW, Thanks for writing these!
I downloaded the PDF and read it all in one sitting on the iPod last night. The best short fiction always leaves you wanting more, and you succeeded with these stories. It was a good kind of disappointing to get to the end of them and realize it was the end. Each of these stories could easily become its own novel. The characters and settings and so forth are all very evocative and immediately interesting.
I will admit to having to read Room 302 two or three times before I finally understood (I think) what was going on.
Is there any word or news you can give us about MOTF Vol 2?
Ordered the printed copy yesterday. While I was there I read the preview for the zombie story and was immediately drawn in. Can’t what to find out what happens to the characters. Awesome stuff Wil! Keep it up!
Wil, I rediscovered you through MC Frontalot’s skit with you and song about you. Couldn’t be happier to have done so. You have given me lots of laughs over the past month. Anyway, if you haven’t already, read some of George Saunders’s fiction short story collections. Your writing reminds me a lot of his and he is awesome. I think it will motivate you to put more fiction collections together.
The trailer park in me wants to fight Gwendolyn and Grizwold. But Wil’s love has made me a better person.
I bought three copies of the print version. So tell your fear of writing fiction to put THAT in it’s pipe and smoke it! 🙂
“Project Do Something Creative Every Day” reminds me of the website 750words.com. Even though I have a Tumblr, which could serve as a psuedo-blog if I were at all unafraid of writing publically, I’m discovering that 750 Words allows for more inhibition to just write – it’s totally private, and it even has a point system! There’s nothing like instant gratification to motivate a writer through a block.
Also – I’m absolutely thrilled that you’ve published fiction, and I can’t wait until I can get some money in my checking account so I can order a copy. I have to admit, though, that I have a certain soft spot for creative nonfiction, and Just a Geek will probably remain my all-time favorite book – so I also look forward to catching up with everything else you’ve written since Just a Geek. (I fail at fandom, haha.)
I just wandered by after seeing Wil on Leverage – and then on a Criminal Minds rerun – and a StarTrek.com interview. (He’s having entirely too much fun on Leverage.)
And now, just for the heck of it, I’ve ordered a copy of “The Day After and Other Stories.” I don’t know much about Wil, but was surprised to see he’s been blogging since almost before the term was coined. He writes well, from what I’ve read. But what clinched it was the many supportive comments here. I’m looking forward to my first WW reading experience.
Open question: What other WW book/writing would y’all recommend? TIA.
I’ve only read Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek so far, but if I had to choose one to recommend, I’d choose the later. Just a Geek single-bookedly made me rethink everything I thought I wanted for myself as an aspiring writer – and, even more importantly, made me rethink everything I used to consider “success.”
Um..but this is Wil’s blog, so I’ll stop rambling. Bottom line: Just a Geek. Read it. 🙂
Wow, thanks for stopping by, and taking a chance on my writing!
I'd suggest starting with Sunken Treasure; it's inexpensive, and it's a sampler of just about everything I write, so you'll know where to go next if you like any of it.
I maintain a virtual bookshelf at wilwheatonbooks.com, where you can get more info and excerpts from various things, as well as two podcasts where I frequently read things I've written: radiofreeburrito.com and memoriesofthefuturecast.com
Wil, thanks for the suggestion – and for the personal reply. You’re obviously passionate about your writing (just how many sites do you maintain, anyway?) and passion is at least half the reason for doing it.
Hrm – Sunken Treasure or Geek? Heck, I can read both while waiting for the new one to come in the mail.
I’m curious: what was the inspiration for the title of Sunken Treasure?
Vkyohn, you see this as inspirational to the aspring writer? Huh – wouldn’t have guessed that from the descriptions. But now I’m even more intrigued. Thanks.
Uh..yeah, I guess it’s kind of screwy.
I hit a huge lull in any aspiration to write because I got too caught up in being “good enough” to put out anything at all…anyway. The short version is that Just a Geek taught me that an external locus of self-worth isn’t terribly conducive to creative output.
Plus, I love creative nonfiction that doesn’t sound like it’s written by a stuffy, self-important scholar, and I aspire to writing in a voice as relatable and memorable as Wil’s. I hope this doesn’t sound creepy in any way, but Wil’s voice in Just a Geek makes me feel as though I’m listening to him tell his stories over a cup of coffee – no pretention, no hype. I think any personal essayist should aspire to an honest voice like that.
Another +1 for a Kindle edition – check out https://dtp.amazon.com/mn/signin to see how easy it is to get started with publishing there 🙂
I see “Just a Geek” is Kindled… be nice to see your other stuff, and “The Day After” going on there too – and hopefully more short stories too!
Sunken Treasure was fun, but pricey by the time Lulu ship to the UK, so digital delivery makes a lot of sense for us on this side of the Pond.
Keep up the blogging, writing, acting and ENTERTAINING 🙂 – you’re good at it and keep a lot of us happy!
Ok, this better be good or TOR (actually it was a @tordotSF tweet I followed here) is going be in for it. However … a book with Zombies … well how could that be bad; going to Lulu now.
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Hey Wil, just wanted to join the chorus of voices telling you to keep writing. I just finished the book, and I have to say that I enjoyed it, especially the characters: I really felt like they were real and, despite the only fleeting glimpse we had into their lives, they live on in a parallel world. I very much look forward to reading more stories! Keep it up!
Hey Wil,
Just got the book yesterday and read it last night. I want to say a few things about it but am worried you’ll take it the wrong way. So, let me preface this by saying that I have Asperger’s Syndrome ( See: http://www.aspergers.com/ ) so if this comes across as overly unflattering it isn’t meant that way. It’s simply my reaction to the book.
There were three things about the book that struck me the most. First, the use of foul language in the first story didn’t seem to read as realistic. Now, this is likely due to the way I learned to swear as opposed to how you learned. I grew up in and around the Military and Headbangers. But, for whatever reason, I couldn’t really get into the story because the swearing kept interfering with the story immersion.
Second, your style of prose is easy to read. It’s very conversational, not overly stilted and formulaic. Like a “normal” person telling a story. Very nice, in my opinion.
Lastly, I’m afraid I didn’t “get” any of the stories. Just couldn’t figure out what they were intended to convey. I wasn’t expecting a great moral or life lesson or anything. However, it was like I caught half of a conversation yet missed the parts that made sense of everything.
Now, I’m not trying to rag on your writing. I haven’t (yet) read anything else you’ve published, outside of this blog. I am not a writer so I really have nothing to say about anyones writing skill. I just felt I should tell you how this book read to me.
Hopefully you will take this in the spirit it is meant (just one mans feedback) and not as a slam on your talent. It’s likely that my Aspie’ness is responsible for my lack of understanding. That is not an uncommon thing to happen. I’m still a fan and will be buying more of your books if/when I ever find some kind of income again.
Please don’t sick Evil Will on me.
Got a Kindle from Santa, and decided it could only properly be initiated with a full price, legal copy of Just A Geek. Finished it in 2-3 days. Don’t regret a penny or a minute of that. Just sorry I couldn’t get Dancing Barefoot too.
OH NOES. The PDF link is a 404. 🙁
I second the OH NOES. Senor Wheaton is on a boat, so I know he won’t see these until laterish? Anyway, I hope the pdf is still available, because, after all the build-up, I must haz.
What’s worse is that Lulu.com is offering 20% off store-wide right now through Monday (Jan 17).
ARGH! I WANNA GET ME SOME DISCOUNT WHEATON!