Accomplishment: Novelist and all-round man of words.

Chuck Wendig is a man of great energy in need of a handicap – which is why he has been invited to the Rack.  Chuck is a novelist, screenwriter, and game designer. His books include  DOUBLE DEAD, BLACKBIRDS, MOCKINGBIRD, and the recently unleashed SHOTGUN GRAVY (Atlanta Burns), the first novella in a series that he's about to whip out onto the unsuspecting world. Oh, and there’s the short stories artfully arranged in an array of journals and zines. And did I mention the spec screenplays, and his contribution to RPG?

Bring on the Rack.
 

I don’t know that I’m jealous of other authors – I don’t mean to suggest that other authors aren’t better than I am, because most of them are. It’s just that jealousy implies a kind of negativity. I’d rather fall in with admiration and from that, gain aspiration. Though, I guess I’m allowed to be jealous of J.K. Rowling. I mean, ye gods her writing earned out a million times over. And all those readers! She’s beloved. I hate her. Let’s go burn her house down! See, that’s what happens when I get negative. Arson.

What makes your work worth paying for?

Each page—or in the Kindle, each bit and byte—is laced with heroin. Also: I use a lot of creative profanity so, there’s that.

Does bestseller mean good writer?

Nope. In fact, many bestsellers are total pants. And the opposite is true: many books that have sold poorly were incredibly written.

What do you think about self-publishing?

Like it. Love it. I do it. I’m a fan. But, I also think that many authors choose it for the wrong reasons. My advice to any author wondering whether to self-publish or go the “traditional” route is: do both.

Which writing rule or piece of advice would you add to Elmore Leonard's list? Which one would you break?

You’re going to make me Google that, aren’t you? I have a brain like a sieve. Hold on, hold on.

You know what? I’m going to punk out here and just point to this . As to which one to break? Break the one that breaks your heart. The one you can’t help but defy.

Which is the worst book you have ever read?

I don’t really know.

I know this: years ago, before e-publishing, my wife and I went to the mall to get her some new eyeglasses. While there, we noticed a curious stack of books nearby, and the eyeglasses dude was all like, “Hey, I published this book, do you want one?” He went through one of those vanity presses and, voila, book. I said sure, and I read it. Or, parts that I could manage.

It was a twee, cloying book about… well, Jesus and baseball, I think. And it was awful. I’m knocking neither Jesus nor baseball, but I’m damn sure knocking this face-punch of a book.

Just because you can publish something yourself does not mean you should.

Which literary character would you like to sleep with?

I would like to be absorbed into Cthulhu’s leathery folds.

I learnt much from Chuck, his wild ravings dutifully taken down my faithful blind scribe. Reading it now I discover that he currently lives in the wilds of Pennsyltucky with his wonderful wife and progeny, and one very cute-but-stupid dog. When he's not producing razor-sharp words or stunning his faithful following on his blog, he's plotting to expand his creative madness and take over the world...though after this...?