Short Stories At Last!

10/16/2016

Since my last post, I've gone to California for a wedding, come back, lapsed into a coma, gotten sick, recovered, and now I'm back! Fairly normal post-book schedule.

I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to your comments and/or emails, but I'm back now! You should hear from me very soon, if you haven't already.

This week, I'm dedicating myself to writing short stories. I owe you two, and one for this month (although I'll probably wait until Halloween to deliver October's, for reasons that should be obvious). I'll keep you updated as I work on them, but I hope to have all three finished this week (and maybe a head start on November's as well).

In the meantime, Soulsmith is still selling well! I mean, really well. I mean, everyone I trust to give me business advice is telling me to write Blackflame next.

I'm trying to stay strong for Kings and Killers! But they're wearing me down...it's...so cold...

-Will

50 Comments

Ian

10/16/2016 12:17:23 pm

Write Blackflame next. EE fans will wait. Maintain the hype. Or write Travelers Blade next. I wouldn't mind that either.

Shayla

10/16/2016 12:40:50 pm

I completely agree with this statement, but in the end do what makes you happy. 😊

Brian H.

10/16/2016 01:48:14 pm

As much as I want EE next, Ian is right we'll wait. Momentum is important.

Will link

10/16/2016 02:17:34 pm

That's true, Ian, but Cradle fans will likely wait as well. And then I can finish Elder Empire.

Josh

11/28/2016 11:22:24 am

When will black flame come out

Matt

10/17/2016 01:52:28 pm

yes please continue Blackflame! i'm starting to check these updates weekly and it is driving me slightly insane. i read soulsmith in like a day and a half....

Will link

10/18/2016 08:28:13 pm

Only SLIGHTLY insane? Then my plan has not yet come to fruition...

Kings and killers

10/16/2016 12:52:36 pm

Write me!

Ian K.

10/16/2016 12:54:36 pm

Sometimes your work just speaks for itself.

Will link

10/16/2016 02:16:22 pm

That's a compelling argument you're making for your own existence, Future Books.

Matthew

10/16/2016 01:00:40 pm

"Business advice". So it's a money thing! Who needs money? On second thought, name your price, we'll set up a GoFundMe campaign so you can write OKAK worry free.

Will link

10/16/2016 02:18:29 pm

It's really about momentum more than cash flow, because like I said, Soulsmith is selling really well. I'm worrying about losing the momentum from Cradle, I'm not worried that I might run out of money halfway through OKAK.

Wayne

10/17/2016 05:09:02 pm

What if the next one sells just as well or better? While I prefer Cradle to Elder Empire, at some point you'll have to risk losing momentum.

Adarsh

10/16/2016 03:10:48 pm

So will these short stories be Travelers Blade stories? Or maybe Cradle stories?

Will link

10/18/2016 08:29:24 pm

Playing that by ear, Adarsh.

Lashan

10/16/2016 03:12:02 pm

It would make more sense to get Blackflame written a) to keep Cradle growing ( it is also easier/faster to write and has more future potential, and it would allow you to pause the story at a good point) b) Fans of OKAk are not as numerous and already waited a while. It seems that after you complete the trilogy you will go back to do a TG and having completed Cradle trilogy and OKAk trilogy keeps those books at reasonable temporary stages. C) finally you have to support efficient markets theory which leads to Blackflame.
Why not forgo short stories in favour of writing a little longer story and also charge more. The quality of your writing corresponds to higher price point. If there is ever a time to help Fed to increase inflation you should offer your help. You might also presell/pre-order next Cradle book at that higher price which will help you to judge the response.
I am definitely in the target group for TG and Cradle but cashed out of Okak.

OMEGA Reader

10/16/2016 08:54:22 pm

Cradle won't be just a trilogy.It's a long series. So blackflame may not be as good an ending point, because Will has a LOT in store for this series.

Jessiah

10/16/2016 05:55:31 pm

Its seems the business advisers Ive bribed have done their job well ! MUHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! XP Will I would really like BlackFlame next so would my lil bros hehe, but I do want to know what happened to Shera oh and off topic but whats the time difference between Travelers Gate and Elder Empire ?

Will link

10/18/2016 08:31:31 pm

Not much of one. Valin takes his journey through the void decades before Simon shows up, and the Unknown Wanderer shows up in the Aurelian Empire decades before the current events.

Bryce

10/16/2016 07:48:55 pm

I would have to say Blackflame. Soulsmith is at or near the top on a lot of the fantasy related lists on amazon and personally i think that type of momentum and hype is too good to risk losing.

Will link

10/18/2016 08:33:49 pm

Looks like I'm going to write Blackflame while writing OKAK, which means Blackflame will come next.

mark

10/16/2016 07:52:59 pm

It's very important to keep momentum up! Let's finish Cradle then get back to OKAK. Then Travelers Gate sir... You owe your loyal Traveler gate fans another series!

We need more Simon!

Simon

10/16/2016 07:55:23 pm

I have to agree with this genius

Will link

10/18/2016 08:35:39 pm

That's true, but I'm still not sure how to categorize that on Amazon. Requires some planning.

OMEGA Reader

10/16/2016 08:59:37 pm

You know how I feel about it. I still think EE is the right call to finish. I think a lot of people have this misconception still that Cradle is only a trilogy, when in reality Cradle is going to be a VERY LONG series.

I know a lot of people want cradle next, but trust me, you're not going to get any closure with the next book. It's going to leave you thirsting for even more.

I think finishing EE is important, because it 1) finishes a series to let will focus SOLEY on travelers gate or cradle, or maybe even a future unknown project. AND 2) we will have closure on Elder for the fans who DO like it more. (They're out there!).

I think we finish elder empire now, because 2017 is going to be a heck of a year for books from Will Wight.

Fernando

10/17/2016 04:46:27 pm

I could not agree more with this! Exactly what I was thinking, and as a big EE fan, I would love to have closure on the series finale - plus writing Blackflame now will leave you in the same quandary once that is released, I'm sure it will again do well and fans will be clamoring for the next book in the series, while the EE fans keep waiting... It seems to me like now is the time to finish EE, I have no doubt any momentum you lose in the Cradle series will pick back up as soon as Blackflame comes out.

(That being said, I'll read whatever you write next anyway, and I'm sure I'll love it too, so do what feels right to you)

April

10/16/2016 09:06:32 pm

I suppose for an author, having your fans argue passionately over how you spend your time is a good thing.

At least until the next shipment of badgers arrives.

Will link

10/18/2016 08:37:12 pm

It is. I'm always encouraged that people care enough to have strong opinions about the books.

The badgers do not encourage me. They frighten me into my Panic Tunnel.

Liko

10/17/2016 05:58:46 am

For any future books, please do charge more. You and your writing are worth it! A loyal fan of your work--all of it. Aloha!

Jacob Carasso

10/17/2016 03:25:25 pm

I truly think that raising the price would be very good. $3 is too little. I think maybe one or two dollars more would be good. The price feels like you are selling yourself short and underestimating the books value.

Will link

10/18/2016 08:43:01 pm

I know it's true that charging less makes people expect less out of the books, and that turns some people away. But I also know that there are some people who only try the books because they're cheap.

I don't know what the tradeoff is.

Mahfuz

10/17/2016 07:27:21 am

Elaina might slap me with a restraining order if I read Incarnation's daughter one more time (and after 15+ re-reads, holy shit would I deserve it) So all I want is a Traveler's Gate short story... or at least for Leah to sign off on that R.O

Will link

10/18/2016 08:44:07 pm

That's definitely the best of the short stories, but fifteen...that is a lot.

There may or may not be another TG short story this month, but if not now, then soon!

Rhys

10/17/2016 08:03:03 am

Will I've written at a fair amount of length about why blackflame is your best option, but really, write what you want. I do have a weird question though, it came to me laying in bed last night with a fever, what temperature is valinhall? Is it like 25 degrees centigrade at all times, or is it a bit warmer or colder than room temp? Sorry for the frankly bizarre question

Will link

10/18/2016 08:44:51 pm

Slightly cooler than room temperature in most rooms, though of course it varies in the weirder rooms.

Rhys

10/19/2016 09:43:40 am

Cheers will

John

10/17/2016 10:39:51 am

I promise to read Blackflame through KU and then purchase it, so you can count my vote twice since you will get paid twice as much.

Will link

10/18/2016 08:48:48 pm

So here's an interesting fact: for the combined Traveler's Gate trilogy (the compilation, not the individual books), I get paid 40-50% more for a Kindle Unlimited read than for a buy. Crazy. For the shorter, cheaper books, it's almost exactly the same as a sale.

Anyway, back on topic, Kindle Unlimited is great and you're great and I counted both of your votes.

TrevorwilliamK

10/17/2016 09:21:31 pm

BLACKFLAME. BLACKFLAME. BLACKFLAME!

Seriously though it's already been almost 2 years since EE and if I want to enjoy the next book I'm going to have to re-read it anyway. Adding time til that book doesn't affect me nearly at all. However a third Soulsmith would be legendary. Your books are addictive in the same way video games are addictive. We want that next level! That next morsel of content! But if I'm allowed to step away from the game for an extended period I forget why I was addicted in the first place and starting again is harder.

Ride the wave Will!

Will link

10/18/2016 08:52:21 pm

It's been almost two years since EE started, but the second books came out about a year ago.

Incidentally, what you said about stepping away from the game is exactly what I mean when I mention momentum. EE basically isn't going to get any colder than it is already, but I'd like to keep Cradle going for as long as I can before I step away. Just so people--like you--don't lose that addiction.

Gotta ride that wave!

Jack

10/17/2016 10:56:52 pm

I'll be happy with whatever you decide to throw to us lowly peasants. Everything from your table is gold. Keep up the great work.

John

10/18/2016 04:06:46 am

I wonder if people posting here realize that if Will writes two EE books and then starts on the next Cradle book, that best case scenario is that the next Cradle book does not come out until 2017 July. More likely it will be 2017 August or September or even later, since I suspect it will be very difficult to write two concluding EE books (even more difficult than it was to write the previous two EE books). Cradle fans could be waiting almost a year for the next book.

Wei Shi Lindon

10/18/2016 11:17:06 am

This one humbly requests you continue my story Elder brother.

Will link

10/18/2016 08:54:05 pm

Uh, Lindon, this is...this is awkward...

Look, I know I put you through a lot of painful crap for the entertainment of random strangers, but uh...

I can't lie to you, it's just going to get worse for you. Please don't kill me.

Moderate

10/18/2016 12:29:38 pm

Will, I'm a fan of Traveler's (of course) and Cradle, I never got into EE but that's not a reflection on your writing, just my tastes. Keeping that in mind, I think you should finish EE. You're one of my favorite writers and I will gladly wait however long it takes for you to write Blackflame. I hope I speak for the majority when I say that but I find most people have their own opinions so I won't speak for them. In my opinion though, finish EE, kick out Blackflame and then maybe another Cradle book, then when we're least expecting it, unleash the new Traveler's book upont the world!

Will link

10/18/2016 08:54:44 pm

That's the general plan, I hope. Thanks for sticking with me!

Adam

10/18/2016 09:14:59 pm

I'm going to read everything no matter what order!

I'm so happy for your success and momentum. No doubt the word of mouth and reviews are picking up steam and paying dividends.

I would humbly suggest personal emails should decrease in your priority and social media (or forums) increase.

Let the questions still come in, but be answered and available to a wider audience. It moves more of your prime writing time to your publications while still staying true to your readership while your fan writing is available more widely leveraging your time.

Will link

10/19/2016 10:47:45 am

Yeah, I can only assume word of mouth, reviews, and residual visibility from the free promotions have hit some sort of a critical mass that will soon tear open the book-time continuum and drag us all into a vacuum of reality.

Stephen

12/9/2016 03:36:25 pm

I would prefer to see a cradle book. I read a lot of fantasy novels and I think Cradle has a more novel system to it than EE or anything else other authors are currently writing. I have enjoyed all of your novels but right now Cradle has a lot more appeal for me.

Ian

7/30/2017 07:10:02 am

Traveller's gate is one of my favourite bits of world building.
The cradle series is incredibly enjoyable to read.
Any books in those worlds I'll eagerly read the day is released.

I read one of the elder empire series, and although i enjoyed it, it didn't grab me in the same way as the other two, and i haven't bought any of the others.

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.