When I walked Marlowe this morning, I thought about what I was going to write here, and how I was going to say the stuff that I want to say about my podcast. I had to remind myself that this has existed in my mind and in various stages of not-quite-done for almost two years, and that my strategy is to allow it slow and organic growth, so it can find its audience. It’s only been one week, but early response and early reviews are enthusiastic and positive, and all signs are pointing in the right direction for me to keep doing this.
It’s so wonderful, and I’m so excited, I have this strong impulse to jump to the end, to the part where I find out if there is an audience out there that’s big enough to make this a self sustaining project that goes on for years. But am doing my best to stay in this moment, enjoy this moment, without letting expectations get in the way. I am trying my best to listen to something I have told my boys since they were little kids:
Never trade the journey for the destination.
Don’t skip past the joy of playing because you only care if you win.
Doing the thing is an incredible feat and achievement on its own. You did the thing, and you deserve to enjoy the thing. If the thing grows and grows and turns into A Thing on its way to being The Thing You Dreamed Of, then enjoy it! But if that doesn’t happen, it was still great that you did the thing, and aren’t you grateful that you enjoyed it at every step along the way?
Like, that’s pretty solid Dadvice, if I say so myself, and I’m doing my best to hear it.
So with that in mind, here’s my introduction to this week’s It’s Storytime with Wil Wheaton. José Pablo Iriarte tells a beautiful story that landed in me in such a specific and heartbreaking way, I wasn’t sure I’d be able to narrate it without being overcome.
I love a good quest. The hero’s journey to find the golden fleece and bring it home has been a cornerstone of storytelling for all of recorded history for a reason. At some point in our lives, each of us will hear the call to adventure and set out on a quest of our own. A lucky few even manage to complete their quests, sometimes against incredible odds.
Some famous quests are for knowledge, power, or even to save the world, but we are about to embark on a quest for something far more intimate, far more personal, and elusive: it is a quest for connection, and redemption. And it can only be found using Proof by Induction.
It was a challenge, but I did it, and I am so happy with everything about it (though I discovered, to my horror, I mispronounced “Euler” and we all missed it. Use this note to help you imagine a little audio kintsugi, if it helps.)
One thing before I go, the Big Thing that I probably should have opened with.
I would love it if this podcast became my full time job. As I’ve said elsewhere, I have loved doing other people’s work. Ready Room was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and we should be doing more episodes for the upcoming season of Strange New Worlds (which looks AMAZING), but I don’t think we are, for the dumbest reasons imaginable. And it breaks my heart. Like, I have physical pain in my chest and very real sadness, I feel a tangible sense of loss, because I only get to be the host of The Ready Room, and all the other wonderful stuff that comes with that, when someone from Corporate gives me permission to do it. And if Corporate is like, “Nah, because of reasons, and also who are you?” there’s nothing any of us can do about it.
I don’t want to feel that loss again, or at least as infrequently as possible (it’s a fair price to pay) so I’m REALLY hoping that the podcast takes off and it’s this joyful act of creativity that continues as long as I want it to. t’s only one week old, just two episodes in, and we are already fielding requests for sponsorship and ad sales. That’s a positive indicator that our growth is along the line we’re all hoping for, and it also opens me up to the inevitable complaints about ads.
I get it. I always hoped I would have this High Class Problem, so from the very beginning, we’ve planned to have a Patreon with no ads and extra material available for subscribers. We’re offering a five dollar tier and a ten dollar tier. Both offer an ad-free feed, and some other cool perks, including recordings of my reflections on the story immediately upon finishing it. I loved it when LeVar would talk about the themes and the style and how he interpreted and felt about what he just read to me. I wanted to do that, myself, but I felt like it didn’t fit into the main feed. But it’s exactly the sort of thing that is perfect for Patreon subscribers. I have some other ideas, too, for fun stuff that I can’t do at scale, but can absolutely do for a smaller subscriber community.
Everything you need to know is right here. If you have any questions, I’ll be checking comments here all day.
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Hi Wil! The Patreon link isn’t working for me – it takes me to a “Page Not Found”.
That’s my bad. Patreon gave us a better URL than the one we had, and it got changed between my writing and publishing. I fixed it, and here’s the correct URL: https://www.patreon.com/storytime
The link isn’t working for me. Assuming just need to wait and try again later?
Oops! After I published, I got an email from my head of marketing that Patreon was able to give us an even better, simpler URL than the one we had. I changed it in the post, but here it is: https://www.patreon.com/storytime
Excellent. Now working and dollars paid. Looking forward to all the stories!
Hi Wil, I’m getting a 404 on the Patreon links. And by the way, while I’m happy to give you $10, I’d be equally happy to give you considerably more, were there to be a higher tier. Just saying!
Yeah, that’s my bad. https://www.patreon.com/storytime is the correct link.
The journey IS worth the effort, and your plan/thought for Patreon is reasonable, simple, and not bogged down in all kinds of vaguely connected swag – it’s about more story. Steady on Wil!
Yippee! I was hoping for a Patreon. Anything I can do to make this podcast last forever!
Awww that’s awesome! Thanks for your support!
Wil, I just want to say I’m loving the new podcast. I miss Levar’s podcast. Man if I had a podcast where Brent Spiner read me recipes, and Patrick Stewart recited dirty limericks I’d ne golden.
Shutupandtakemymoney!
Actually, though – https://www.patreon.com/itsstorytimepodcast is the first link in the post, but it’s a broken link. The second link works just fine. Loved the first episode, I’ll listen to the new in the morning. Yay, wilflail.gif!
I said this on Bluesky too but you might be more likely to see it here! I just grabbed a Patreon membership and I’m very glad to be able to support this project. I’m super excited about it and loving the stories you’ve featured so far. I’m a massive SFF short story fan, and this has the potential to bring a huge audience to a seriously underrated art form. I hope this becomes everything you want it to be! It certainly feels like it could be a massive success. Thank you for uplifting short fiction! 💜
Thank you! I appreciate your support so much.
I greatly enjoyed episode 1 of the podcast.
So happy that you are doing this podcast! I enjoyed the first episode, and I am happy there is a Patreon I can support.
Insta-sub. Now to track down the new RSS feed…
Listened to the first podcast last week and absolutely loved it. Looking forward to episode 2 on commute home. I would happily join Patreon for no ads and to support your podcast continuation. I have also been hankering for some old WWDN merch or even new podcast merch, perhaps down the road as part of Patreon would be a plus (but I am not the boss of you, haha). I still have my original WWDN merch. No matter what you have always had my support and will continue too.
I’m hoping like crazy that this thing because a THING for you and your full time job. I breaks my heart all the horrible crap you’ve had to deal with in you life. I’m in awe of you sir because even putting in the work I would be so jaded and angry and yet you just put forth kindness.
Question: if this becomes a THING would you stop doing audiobooks for other authors or would that still be….lets call it a side gig?
Also subscribed to Patreon.
I will never choose to stop narrating audiobooks, until it’s time for me to retire. I love doing that so much, it’s additive to my work on The Thing, and my work on The Thing supports my work narrating.
Thank you for your support!
I’m excited for you as this journey unfolds! I enjoy your blog, and I’m sure your podcast will be just as entertaining and thought-provoking! Best wishes from the Twisted Libra! 🎩💀🪦🖤
How long does a story have to be published for you to read it? Are you taking unpublished stories?
Generally speaking, somewhere between 7000 and 10000 words, I think?
We aren’t accepting submissions right now, but we will be in the future, provided we find our audience. If / when that happens, we will publish clear submission guidelines.
Thank you, Wil! I love your new podcast! I am VERY sad if there won’t be any new Ready Room episodes 🙁
Wil Wheaton, sure you were a favorite character when watching Next Gen but I absolutely enjoyed your recurring role on Big Bang. Also you were amazing in my favorite kid movie, Stand By Me, ‘lard ass, lard ass!’ So amazing being new to blogging and being a new author and I stumble across an icon from my childhood and adulthood.
Aw Wil! I’ve been worried about the fate of the Ready Room. Corporate broke my heart too. We will actively miss hanging out with you after episodes of SNW. Maybe that could be a Patron chat thing? Or is that too cross-pollination-y?
I don’t think I said last week, but I too am loving the podcast! Thanks for thinking of it.
The whole Paramount+ debacle and its impacts to Trek in general make me sad. Ready Room has become a key part of my enjoyment of Trek since it first started. Loving the podcast so far – and ran to Patreon to sign up! Any thoughts about the rumored Enterprise-D LEGO set that folks think might come out later in the year? There will be a Wesley minifigure!
Ugh, what?! No Ready Room?! Nooooo! What is going on with Paramount?
Anyway, I listened to this week’s podcast yesterday and I loved it! Keep doing what you’re doing!
Also, I’m currently listening to you read “When the Moon Hits Your Eye”. Just finished Day Seven.
The journey is the value. I’m having to remind some people to let others BE on the journey even if it takes longer to reach the destination. The destination is only part of the value (even in business).