So, the new year looms and I start to slowly, groggily come out of my holiday coma (just before I tackle New Year’s Eve and guzzle liquor with friends) to start prepping the terribleminds Kickstarter for the New Year. The Kickstarter, as noted, will in part go toward making this site financially viable, but it will also have a concrete goal of updating this site somewhat (a terribleminds 2.0, if you will).
What I’m asking is, what do you want to see here in the new year?
Both in terms of content and in terms of changes to the actual site itself.
I do plan on putting up an e-store with merch. Though I’d love to know what kind of merch you’d be interested in seeing? Any suggestions would be appreciated and high-fived and sloppily-tongue-kissed.
But really, I’m talking about anything: what would make your terribleminds reading experience a better one? Give a shout. I’ll see if it goes on the list.
Joshua Wood says:
A vial of your blood so we may summon the writing demons from hell?? Then again a shot glass of jack would make a good substitute, no?
In all honesty adding an e-commerce aspect to ANY site can be a blessing or a curse, much like the world of writing. I personally would LOVE to see a number of t-shirt designs with the monkey on it, I love that monkey.
Printed ‘Manifesto’s’ of random articles, unique/unused pieces, in the style of your books I bought on Kindle, 250 things, 500 things, penmonkey this…blah blah blah, There are a number of print on demand services that could compile them in a notebook looking, handwritten style, the sort of thing I and people like me would gobble up.
OH GOD…..one of those fucking things that you punch and it pops back up again. With your face on it, or the monkey’s.
That is all I can think of for now, you may send me my royalty check in the mail
December 29, 2011 — 12:50 AM
Samantha J. Mathis says:
I would love coffee mugs. Terribleminds flavored.
As far as content, I’m not sure about new ideas, but I super love all the writing advice and the flash fiction challenges. So, as long as that stays around, I’m happy.
December 29, 2011 — 12:53 AM
Sigil says:
G’day Chuck,
Well the first thing that springs to mind is….
‘MORE HILARIOUSLY ELOQUENT PROFANITY!’…
Ahem..
Slightly more seriously (but only slightly!), as a relative new comer to the site, I’ve been so impressed by the audience you have (in terms of their positive willingness to learn, practice and give feedback) and the advice that you give that I thought it might be an idea to have a forum attached to the site primarily for the purposes of providing a venue for getting feedback on our efforts at writing.
I know that the potential moderation requirements that come with it can sometimes be a pain, and that you generally prefer us to link back to our own sites anyway so I understand that it might not be something you want. Just an idea that struck me after a while of surfing here.
Oh – and on a more specific note, would love to see one of your interview pieces with that friend of yours that does all them Black Library books. An unpronounceable surname, so I’ll just call him ADB.
Anyway, have a great New Year.
December 29, 2011 — 12:54 AM
Sarah Brand says:
This might be closely related to the article on financial screwups writers make, but it would be incredibly awesome if you would write “25 Things Every Freelance Writer Needs to Know” or some such, and/or advice for people thinking about freelancing who would be starting from scratch. Happy New Year!
December 29, 2011 — 1:28 AM
Jo Eberhardt says:
Um… more of the same?
In terms of merch, I love the desktop wallpapers you had available a few months back. Mousepads or coffee mugs with those designs would be amazing.
And more of the same.
December 29, 2011 — 1:34 AM
Dylan says:
For your content, I absolutely love your writing advice, but I’d also like to see a bit more straight-up humor? Search Term Bingo was fucking amazing, and your older essays on here have not disappointed in the least.
One thought — what about passage analysis? Take a paragraph or a sentence that just doesn’t work (or really really does), and tear it to bits in order to make a point. Like frog dissection, but with a hammer.
Also, I’m seconding the mugs. Hard. And maybe stationary with the penmonkey logo. PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY
December 29, 2011 — 1:35 AM
Dylan says:
One thought — what about passage analysis? Take a paragraph or a sentence that just doesn’t work (or really really does), and tear it to bits in order to make a point. Like frog dissection, but with a hammer.
Also, I’m seconding the mugs. Hard. And maybe stationary with the penmonkey logo. PLEASE TAKE MY MONEY
December 29, 2011 — 1:37 AM
Dan Wright says:
Merchandise wise? Well that’s easy. Chuck Wendig action figures, packaged with morning scotch and kung-fu action beard of course.
Honestly though, more of the same would be great. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it and this site sure as shit ain’t broke.
December 29, 2011 — 2:42 AM
Miriam Forster says:
Well, I don’t have many suggestions in terms of content. Most of your posts are pretty much hilarious, whether they’re writing advice or parenting observations. So maybe…stay funny? (Seems like a weird suggestion, but oh well.) I do have a suggestion for merch though.
Please make a mug that says “I am a writer and I will finish the shit that I started.” Because I would buy it.
Other things I would buy:
A t-shirt that says: “I’ll write later” (No you won’t) on the front and WRITE NOW in big letters on the back.
A mug/t-shirt that says any of the following things.
“This book is not the boss of my shit.”
“Your life is my fiction.”
“Beware of writer”
“Time to load the guns, brew the ink, and get to work.”
Mainly I would like these things because I need something to stare at when I’m writing besides Twitter. 🙂
December 29, 2011 — 2:53 AM
David Earle says:
I’d like to see the Gravatars replaced or augmented by some other silly avatar system, like logging in as a Facebook/Twitter account to post comments. The last thing I need is another avatar system to manage.
Beyond that, I trust you to continue providing mind-torquing content through the end of 2012. One thing I haven’t seen anywhere is an article on how to handle the business side of writing (read: setting yourself up as a business and paying your taxes properly) if you’re writing while you’re still gainfully employed in a 9-5 day job. So if you know anything about that and feel it’s worth your while to share, I’d like to read about it.
Happy New Year, and keep up the good work!
December 29, 2011 — 2:59 AM
terribleminds says:
@David —
No Gravatar system. Interesting.
I have to wonder how many comment plugins exist for full WP installations that let you log in multiple ways?
Gotta be some out there.
Might also mean I’ll need to be in search for a new theme.
Hmmm.
Thanks!
— c.
December 29, 2011 — 6:40 AM
BJ Kerry says:
Don’t change a thing.
But if you must.
Keep the writing advice and flash fiction.
Then mugs and tee shirts with Chuckisms (pantless one rules) or something like that.
I don’t know
I don’t have your wit!
December 29, 2011 — 5:17 AM
Pallav says:
+1 on coffee mugs, t-shirts, mousepads, mobile phone skins, badges etc.
Also, some kind of foray into the app market. Because you’re branching out into a lot of business areas, but apps for iOS and Android are something I’ve not yet seen from TM.
Good luck for new year!
December 29, 2011 — 5:28 AM
Vince Kingston says:
I would have to “+1” the comments above about not changing anything – at least with respect to your content. Keep it funny, keep it on target, keep it informative – all the usual goodness we’ve come to expect from your ramblings.
As for merch – I’d love a coffee cup…but sadlly got one of them new fangled single serve nespresso type machines, but “normal” sized cups just don’t fit in the dang thing 🙁 So now I’m not so sure…
Could always use a new cup for tea I suppose.
December 29, 2011 — 6:41 AM
terribleminds says:
I must say, I myself on a whim created a CERTIFIED PENMONKEY mug.
It’s really quite lovely.
— c.
December 29, 2011 — 6:42 AM
Jo Eberhardt says:
Can I also just +1 the term ‘Chuckisms’?
December 29, 2011 — 7:19 AM
Kate Haggard says:
Nested comment threads. After 50 or so comments it becomes a chore to follow conversations. I know it can look messy, but the right hide/expand nesting plugin might be the ticket.
December 29, 2011 — 7:34 AM
terribleminds says:
@Kate —
Word. Been trying to get that working here, but no comment plugins work with this WP theme. And I’m not enough of a WP guru to really figure out *why* exactly that’s the case (I’ve also tried to get Subscribe to Comments working to the same lack of success).
Noted!
— c.
December 29, 2011 — 7:43 AM
Amy Tupper says:
Love the “25s” and the flash fiction challenges.
The flash fiction challenges I enjoyed the most were the ones where it was hard – for example the crazy genre mashups. That really pushed me as a writer.
More flash fiction challenges requiring specific elements related to the “25s”?
And thanks for all the great content, advice, and profanity you shared with us in 2011!
December 29, 2011 — 7:54 AM
Steph says:
What Sigil & Amy said. Oh, and I need a new travel coffee mug, too :-).
December 29, 2011 — 9:33 AM
Todd Moody says:
I love what you do now but would love to see some merch with “Wendigisms” on them. For example
T-shirts:
Fleshy 3D Meatbag
Huff my word fumes
Unicorn Tamer
Excuse me, I’m having an art-o-leptic fit of imagination
Master of Manuscript Lovemaking
BTFO
Writer…beware my swirling hate vortex
terribleminds.com on the back with maybe a small icon of your beard
Mugs:
Embrace the rewrite…from behind.
Progress tastes like bacon
Kicked in the junk drawer
Pinnacle of Paroxysmic Pleasure
Beard the Fuck On!
I will be updating the Wendigisms page on my website with more pretty soon.
December 29, 2011 — 9:42 AM
victor gischler says:
Funny stories about chimps.
December 29, 2011 — 11:03 AM
Andrew says:
Still a big fan of your food writing, but perhaps you need a separate blog for that?
December 29, 2011 — 11:08 AM
Buffy Armstrong says:
I love the “25 Things” posts. I read them at work and I get laughing so hard my boss wonders what I am up to. I lie.
Would love to see some coffee mugs. Wouldn’t mind sporting a Penmonkey tee-shirt, either.
December 29, 2011 — 11:12 AM
Paul S says:
It might be fun to see you review other short stories, or maybe even your own. You could, for instance, give a line by line explanation of why you wrote certain sentences in a story.
December 29, 2011 — 11:33 AM
Michael Trimmer (@MichaelSTrimmer) says:
I’d say that I’d like to see more flash fiction challenges, but also more indepth ones. I really enjoyed the sub-genre mash ups. More of those please. Also, lets see some challenges based on style. IE Diary, fictional journalism etc.
December 29, 2011 — 11:42 AM
Jocelyn Lindsay says:
Merch I’d buy for myself, family, & friends:
Wendigism coffee mugs
Inspirational Wendigism Penmonkey posters
Book cover art posters (Blackbirds cover, anyone?)
Stickers badges to graffiti bus stops and backpacks with
+1 to all of Todd Moody’s examples. I’d absolutely tote any of those quotes around.
December 29, 2011 — 11:46 AM
Kirsten says:
I’d pay good money for a penmonkey t-shirt, or three if they came in a girl/women’s fit.
I’ve loved the shorter Friday fic challenges (100 words makes it much easier to enter and read everyone’s), and I giggle like a lunatic at the 25 Things.
The Blackbloom project is FASCINATING.
December 29, 2011 — 11:47 AM
Arachne Jericho says:
Keep flash fiction challenges. Make more of them. Make the deadlines harsher. 😀
As for merchandise, there are two things I want to see:
1. Mugs
2. Hoodies
It’s cold in Seattle.
December 29, 2011 — 11:49 AM
Angela Perry says:
I like the Chuck Wendig action figure. Dan might have been joking, but it’s still an awesome idea.
You might try DISQUS as a comment plugin. I’ve been using it on my blog all year, and so far I’ve been pleased. It nests comments; allows anonymous logins with email only as well as logins from Google, Twitter, Facebook, Yahoo, and OpenID; and gives users the option to be notified when someone replies to their comments.
Another alternative is IntenseDebate. I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard good things about it, and several high traffic news sites use it.
December 29, 2011 — 11:54 AM
Michael Trimmer (@MichaelSTrimmer) says:
Also, more contests with the prize of critique. It’s very useful!
December 29, 2011 — 12:04 PM
Daniel Swensen (@surlymuse) says:
The words “I just finished the sequel to SHOTGUN GRAVY.”
December 29, 2011 — 12:07 PM
Josh Loomis says:
In addition to more great posts, t-shirts and coffee mugs… hip flasks.
December 29, 2011 — 12:12 PM
Jessica Scott says:
Love the idea of coffee mugs as well, what else do writer’s need more than coffee. Except flasks. Maybe flasks would be good? Water bottles?
As far as site content, what about some type of co-op banner where authors can all chip in to support a group banner ad? Small fee with agreement/requirement to share on their own websites.
More 25 lists. scripts that rotate through the 25 things (I have a script you could use).
What about anonymous bits dissected? folks can send in a clip of their stuff and let you lampoon it with teaching points for the masses? That could backfire, though,…
Love terribleminds. Keep it up b/c I haven’t laughed like this in ages.
December 29, 2011 — 12:18 PM
Stevie says:
As far as content, I love it how it is. I’d like to see more of your thoughts on gaming, especially for those who are inclined to write for games.
Let it be known that I would be physically incapable of resisting the urge to purchase a winged cat plushie. And pretty much anything else with the winged cat on it.
As far as shirts, I love the Wendigisms mentioned above, and of course, the cat. Could you please, please, pretty please offer these on v-neck and/or scoop neck shirts in plus sizes? Most sites that offer these only have the most petite sizes imaginable and I curse as yet another otherwise perfect shirt escapes my grasp. Since this is the first time anyone requested my input on these kinds of products, I figured it was worth asking.
December 29, 2011 — 12:18 PM
Michael Halel says:
As a culinary student, I have loved all the food porn posts, and would love to see more. I have been working with them and trying to develop actual recipes to go with them. Fore the culinarily challenged.
December 29, 2011 — 1:35 PM
Stephen Blackmoore says:
More Laplander porn.
Wait. What site am I on?
Oh. Right.
More of the same stuff you’ve been doing.
December 29, 2011 — 1:42 PM
Elizabeth Poole says:
As far as merch goes, I am all for the coffee mug. Especially quotes from Beware Writer and Beware Writer II. T-shirts too, especially with the phrase “I will finish the shit that I started”.
I had that wallpaper up during my last rewrite and I swear to Bob it’s the reason why I finished. That monkey kept looking at me. Judging me. It kept reminding me to finish, and I finally did.
I would love to see some posts about you juggling the baby with your writing (I just read that sentence and realized how funny it sounded. Rather than change it, I think I’ll just keep it as is). I am due in February and the biggest worry I have is how to fit my writing around the baby (other than the fact that I will be expected to keep this tiny human alive somehow). I know you just make time, same as you do for the rest of life’s curveballs, but I was wondering if you had any particular insights, seems as you stay home and work as I plan to.
Thanks for the great site!
December 29, 2011 — 2:04 PM
Lesann says:
I would like to request a penmonkey cookbook so that we might dine while beardin’-the-fuck-on. Like a dozen others have noted, coffee containers. Change nothing else unless it improves your life and schedule. We’ll be here, regardless.
December 29, 2011 — 2:20 PM
Tracey M. Hansen says:
I thought we talked about this…TITS
December 29, 2011 — 2:40 PM
Peter Sturdee says:
I certainly would bequeath you my first born man child if I could get my hands on a BTFO T-shirt. Maybe with your Iconic face leering out over it.
December 29, 2011 — 2:45 PM
Gregory Lynn says:
More meataphors.
December 29, 2011 — 2:48 PM
Darlene Underdahl says:
I’d like the cover of 250 Things You Should Know About Writing on a tee shirt. S,M,L,XL and XXL for the big guys. Perhaps all in Tall sizes to veil pantless shame.
December 29, 2011 — 4:33 PM
Natalie says:
My absolute favourites are the word search bingo entries. Keep ’em coming.
December 29, 2011 — 6:32 PM
Kain says:
I want a coffee mug!! I will give you all my money for one. Just one. But I don’t have a lot…so yeah….
Content? I like it all. Don’t change a thing about the site. I love it how it is (plus it’d be painful to navigate through if it changed.)
December 29, 2011 — 6:38 PM
KRVeale says:
I think when you build up enough of them, a collected Search Term Bingo ebook would be weaponised hilarity. Bank robbers could throw pamphlets behind them and escape while the police laughed till they puked.
Batman would be safe. He has Wendig-proof goggles. Also, no sense of humour.
December 29, 2011 — 7:46 PM
Lesann says:
@KRVeale This is brilliant!
December 29, 2011 — 8:00 PM
Susan H. says:
A cookbook.
December 29, 2011 — 9:05 PM
Dave Turner says:
Generally, more of the same, but if I may wax grognardic for a moment, I sort of miss the personal blog entries of days of yore. Most of your posts these days are solid-gold writing advice and support, which shouldn’t go away. But seeing a bit more of the man behind the curtain would be fun, too.
December 30, 2011 — 10:27 AM
Sven Nomadsson says:
I’m looking forward to more Blackbloom developments.
But what I’d like to see is more posts on:
1) Writing games
2) Writing movies
3) Writing short stories
4) Working on your platform
5) Writing with a partner
6) More interviews
If you just keep doing what you’re doing I’ll still be happy.
December 30, 2011 — 11:25 AM
Lynna Landstreet says:
The number one thing that came to my mind was some way of making it easier to find past entries, apart from the search box (useful to some degree, but not always reliable, especially if you can’t remember the exact text of the bit you’re looking for) and scrolling endlessly backward in time through 5-post pages. Maybe if the links in the tag cloud led to index pages showing just the titles of ALL the posts tagged with that term, instead of yet more endless slogging through 5-post pages?
Also, I second the request above for nested comments. Just on this post alone, there were a couple of times when I saw a reply, went scrolling back to try and find the original comment, and totally failed to find it.
BTW, I have a fair bit of WordPress experience, and would be happy to help out with technical issues.
On the merchandise front, the number one thing I would like is that “Time to load the guns, brew the ink and get to work, because I am a writer and I’m done fucking around” graphic in many and various forms: a suitable-for-framing print for the wall behind my computer, a T-shirt (in black, pretty please), a coffee cup, you name it. That was my official motto for NaNoWriMo this year, and it worked – I wrote 50,000 words and am still working on my novel.
I also second the request someone else made, that any T-shirts be made available in a women’s cut as well as the annoyingly-standard “unisex” (i.e. men’s) cut. Unisex T-shirts seem to be based on the idea that both sexes are built roughly straight up and down. For those of us who are not, T-shirts like that leave us with two equally unappealing choices:
1. A size that fits through the body, but smashes our breasts uncomfortably flat, as if we were about to start performing in a drag king revue, or
2. A size that fits in the bustline, but results in random strangers on the street start questioning us about our due date and whether it’s going to be a boy or a girl.
December 30, 2011 — 12:45 PM
Casz Brewster says:
For now I think you’re doin’ it right, sloppy-tongued kisses included. I love the fiction challenges and the penmonkey advice, as well as the dispatches from Babydom, er, ville? You know what I mean.
As far as merch goes, I was thinking a special Penmonkey Whiskey? I have some ideas on the distilling process. Let’s talk. Snicker. Well, not really. Partially serious.
And a challenge for me? For you to pick something I throw at you in regards to your requests to the collective penmonkey mind.
December 30, 2011 — 4:49 PM
Lara says:
A while back I made myself a chubby little Cat-Bird to sit atop my monitor. She reminds me of all the helpful Chuck nuggets and to shut the fuck up and write. I think everyone should have one.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7167/6605126891_55a1b7303f_b.jpg
December 31, 2011 — 2:47 AM