Being a Trouper

Hey there everybody,

I’d meant to post a fun blog earlier this week. I had a couple cued up and almost ready. One was full of Kingkiller tattoos I’ve seen over the last year, another was pictures of babies that have been named after characters from my books. The one I *really* wanted to post involved the story of how I snuck some underage chicks into Max Temkin’s hotel room at Gencon.

41f23fed1b92a824ced03db71d8b4a9c(Like this. You pervert.)

But, as everyone knows, the election happened. Anyone who watched my election-night twitch stream might have an inkling of how I felt about that. And those of you who didn’t watch it can still probably guess.

And I’m guessing a lot of you feel the same way.

Interesting fact for those of you who feel shattered about the results: What you’re feeling now? That’s what a depressive episode feels like. At least it does to me. The pisser about depression is that you can feel desolate hopeless dread of exactly this sort even when nothing bad has happened.

Anyway, as a result, I couldn’t bring myself to finish a fun blog earlier this week. In fact, I’m not in the mood to write a blog now, either. I’ve been writing this thing for TWO HOURS and this is as far as I’ve gotten. It’s like trying to walk with a broken leg.

How the hell am I supposed to feel hopeful right now? How am I supposed to launch this year’s fundraiser and be enthusiastic about the cool news I have to share? I feel like everything is crumbling.

Earlier today, I found myself wondering what Auri would do in this situation. Well… that’s not actually true. Maybe it’s more that I wish I could ask for her advice? I wish she could just… help me. Like maybe she could give me a seashell or something and I would put it in my pocket and then I’d feel a little better.

Hell. You know you’re not doing well when you wish a fictional character would help you out. What the fuck does it even mean that I want help from the person who is arguably the most broken of all my characters? Is this it? Am I finally having a nervous breakdown?

No. I’m not. I’m depressingly sane.

Maybe it’s that Auri never lets it get to her. Not really. Not deep down. She’s a fighter, and despite everything, she always has a tiny flame of joy burning inside her. We’re very different in that regard.

I keep thinking of this picture and I don’t know why….

a-and-e-brazen

One of the things I share with Auri is that we both want to fix the world. Maybe that’s why I wish she could give me some advice. I can’t see a way to fix things right now. I am all unkilter.

Shit. I’m doing an awful job of this. I should just erase everything I’ve written and start over, but that would feel dishonest. I don’t want to lie to y’all. I don’t want to pretend I have my shit together. I don’t. I’m not doing great right now.

But still, I have some news to share. And it can’t wait.

Today I heard someone say, “We have to soldier on” and while I appreciate the sentiment, I don’t think there’s any way I can think of myself as a soldier.

I’ll be a trouper instead. How about that? The show must go on, right?

Okay, I’m taking a mulligan and starting over. Ready?

*     *    *

Hey there everybody,

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you probably know that this is the time of year when we do our big annual Worldubuilders fundraiser.

Last year we raised over 1.2 million dollars for Heifer International. We sent little girls to school in Nepal and fed hungry kids in Haiti. We gave people clean water and education. Medicine and self-reliance. The work we do literally brings light into the lives of people all over the world.

And no, I’m not misusing the word “literally” there. One of the many things Heifer does is teache people to make biogas digesters.

biogas-diagram-990x1024This miraculous contraption turns animal waste into fertilizer and methane. Then families can use that methane as a clean, cheap source of light and heat. Cooking over gas is much safer and easier than using a cookfire. That’s a big deal in parts of the world where electricity is expensive or straight-up unavailable.

It’s like real-life alchemy, folks. Heifer teaches people to turn shit into gold.

Over the last 8 years Worldbuilders has raised more than $5,000,000 to make things better all over the world, in Ukraine and Uganda. From Peru to Appalachia.

This year’s fundraiser is launching Monday, and we’ve got some big news. News I’ve been sitting on for months. And despite the fact that I’m a tease of epic proportions, I’m actually going to tell y’all that news today.

1. Story time with Neil Gaiman.

Two years ago, Neil Gaiman red us Green Eggs and Ham. While last year people who donated got to vote on what Gaiman would read. Jabberwocky beat out Where the Wild Things Are and Goodnight Moon, so he shot a video of himself reciting it from memory to help us spread the word about the fundraiser.

If y’all had any thoughts about what would be fun for him to read this year, I’d love to hear them in the comments below. Personally, I think The Monster at the End of This Book would be great. I’d love to hear him do Grover’s voice.

2. More livestreaming on Twitch.

Last year, I experimented with livestreaming on twitch to help spread the word about the fundraiser and it worked surprisingly well. So this year, not only will I be streaming again, but Worldbuilders is reaching out to the streaming community in general, and providing tools so that you can do fundraising for us on your own stream.

If you’re a streamer and you’d like to help out Worldbuidlers, contact us at [email protected] and we’ll work with you to make that happen.

And now the big one….

3. A Million Dollars of Matching Money

This year, with Heifer’s help, Worldbuilders has access to a million dollars worth of matching money.

That means that if you come in and donate $10 to Worldbuilders, this anonymous benefactor will double that money, turning it into $20. You donate enough for a goat? It becomes two goats…

dollar-panarama-704155

This is a HUGE deal. And it means we have the chance to absolutely destroy last year’s totals.

I mention this to y’all in advance with the hope that you might be are willing to come in swinging in the early days of the fundraiser. If we manage to get some good donations early on, then double them, I’m hoping the total will be impressive enough that we can get some coverage in the media. That means people will find out about worldbuilders who otherwise would never have noticed it.

If that happens…. well… it means we get to feed a *lot* of hungry kids.

And that’s what I’m really in the mood to do right now.

If you have any suggestions for the upcoming fundraiser, or if you have a clever way of helping us spread the word, please drop those in the comments below, too.

Thanks much.

Take care of each other,

pat

This entry was posted in Acts of Whimsy, calling on the legions, cool news, Uncategorized, Worldbuilders. By Pat108 Responses

108 Comments

  1. KristineV
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:21 AM | Permalink

    This.

    This is *exactly* what we need right now.

    Let’s keep trouping, and Bilbo it up at the same time… it might just be time to rewatch that first movie in anticipation for Monday.

    • Rhia
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:59 AM | Permalink

      I agree.
      Being able to share news about the start of the fundraiser with my friends, and getting to tell them about all the great work you have been doing in the last years has been something I have been looking forward to during the last couple of days.

  2. Auri Rodrigues
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:32 AM | Permalink

    I guess Auri would tell you to feel blessed for being gifted to live a life during harsh times in the human existence: History has proven that those moments are exactly the highest apexes of artistic brilliantism. The secret of the touching beauty might lie awake on our tired arms…

    • Neville Longbottom
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 2:36 PM | Permalink

      You are my hero. Pat’s my hero, but so are you.

      • Auri Rodrigues
        Posted November 15, 2016 at 6:11 AM | Permalink

        I don’t know exactly the meaning of the word “hero”, yet I want to send you a kiss and a hug. Stay safe!!

  3. cynrtst
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:34 AM | Permalink

    Pat, I am just as gobsmacked as you are about the election. I have friends who are people of color who are being told to “go back where you came from”. They are natural born citizens. I don’t understand my country right now. I can’t process.

    Anyshrew, I am looking forward to working with my fellow Wayward Backers to smash through our fundraising goal above last years amount. We usually have a raffle to encourage our members to donate. I’m looking around to see what I can donate this year to the raffle but the last two years I had first edition signed books to donate and this year I don’t have any left. So I need to get creative. Any ideas?

    Thanks for all you do. Thank you for your big heart. Thank you for teaching your children to be good and kind. And take all the time you need to finish the story of Kvothe and Auri and Denna and everyone else we have come to know as real people. Bless you.

  4. HotaruHotaru
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:38 AM | Permalink

    I know this won’t be of any help, and maybe it’s just bragging but I wrote a poem on Auri that may express that same thing (also I’m Galician so my translation is far from perfect)

    for each thing

    its proper name

    and its place

    in the world

    reality is as fragile

    as white hair

    when people forget

    the shape of the wind

    thus I’ll

    watch the pace

    at which my feet name

    the ground

    I step in

    silent

    as the regard

    of the small things

  5. estherholland
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 6:05 AM | Permalink

    Please make ideal payment possible! I font have a creditcard (dutch) but would like to do my part in making the world a better place!

    • Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:20 AM | Permalink

      We’re designing a whole new website for this year’s Fundraiser. As part of that, we’ll have all sorts of payment options available, so hopefully everyone can participate no matter where you live, and no matter what your banking situation.

      It would help to know exactly what you mean by, “Ideal Payment” though. I’ve never heard that phrase before….

  6. Vivsam
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 6:07 AM | Permalink

    Pat, I know what you mean about looking to Auri to help make things better, or help us make sense of what is happening – I looked at my book shelf this afternoon for something to make me feel better and I grabbed The Slow Regard of Silent Things. I’m rereading it tonight and listening to a Leonard Cohen tribute. It’s soothing me.
    Anyway, onto a suggestion – I have a couple of ideas for ‘things Neil could read’… What about something from Edward Lear? Something from his Nonsense Book (non-sense being a good descriptive for all the stuff that’s happening). I thought maybe ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’? Just thinking of Neil reading that little poem with its quirky lines like, ‘the land where the bong trees grow’, or ‘oh lovely Pussy oh Pussy my love what a beautiful Pussy you are you are you are’ makes me giggle… And maybe he could shed some light on what a ‘runcible spoon’ is.
    Hang in there – that’s all any of us can do right now. And thank you for Auri. I do love her :)

  7. Likwam29
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:01 AM | Permalink

    Hey pat, I’m not sure if you ever shared this with your fan base before, but I use Smile.Amazon.com to help fund your cause.

  8. Euphrasie
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:02 AM | Permalink

    I LOVE The Monster at the End of This Book!!!

    • Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:11 AM | Permalink

      *Everyone* loves The Monster at The End of This Book…..

      • christie
        Posted November 13, 2016 at 9:56 AM | Permalink

        There’s an app for that! It’s fun.

  9. Mephy
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:02 AM | Permalink

    Thanks for posting so honestly Pat, I was so heartsick after we voted for Brexit over here (Still am really). You reading Slow regard was a real comfort at that point.

    I want me some underthing.

  10. justajenjen
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:12 AM | Permalink

    I’m glad it’s almost fundraiser time. I really am. One of my favorite charities and favorite authors coming together to change the world. It’s something we could all use these days, and I know I really need it. Not trying to make this about me, but things have been a bit shitty lately including having my wallet stolen while taking my mother on a trip to Paris for her birthday a week ago. That was the icing on the poop cake, really, along with all the US election crap. The bank should be able to allow me access to my account again by Monday and I can celebrate by helping someone else. At this point, I’m mostly just still pissed that my library card was in my wallet and I have nothing to read.

  11. Natusake
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:17 AM | Permalink

    I’m not a Trump supporter, or a Clinton supporter, but I saw the Trump presidency coming. Honestly most of the media were kidding themselves because they don’t understand people. They used the past election to weigh the numbers, and that partly made things look far more towards Clinton than they did. That’s because the media is good with numbers, not people. People are very different beasts, and they are never 100% predictable. It’s always your best guess. Every new election is totally different from any past election. But that doesn’t mean every prediction will be totally wrong. It just takes getting in the minds of the people, because not everyone thinks like I do or you do. Take a look at Brexit and Gamergate. Both are microcosms of what happened to the US. Both the people of the UK and gamers were both tired of what the news was shoving down their throats, when it was nothing they agreed with or believed. They were tired of the immediate ad hominem attack whenever they expressed their views, and they were tired of not being given a platform to present their voice in the mainstream discourse. So, they revolted. Same thing happened just now. Americans didn’t revolt because Clinton was female, and they wouldn’t have voted more for Sanders because he was a white male. Those kind of comments are exactly what makes Clinton less appealing in the eyes of many people. The reason Clinton lost was threefold. First, wikileaks and veritas. There’s nothing more to say about this than that. Take it or leave it, believe it or not, *they* took it, and *they* believed it. Second, it was the Clinton campaign rhetoric. Just like Brexit and Gamergate people were tired of getting a narrative shoved down their throats without ANY chance of a two-sided discourse. Third, the media created a huge echo-chamber and ignored the sentiment I just outlined. Most of the Clinton supporters were surprised because the people they surrounded themselves with and the media they consumed were pro-Clinton. This is part of what Trump supporters meant when they called the election rigged (of course that’s not all they meant, but I’m referring to a specific part of it). Almost the entire TV news media was locked in an echo-chamber, and all they would do was run articles contributing to that echo-chamber. They created a false depiction of reality based on their own cognitive biases. There are only a few exceptions. On the other side, most of the support for Trump was by a large number of smaller youtube channels and blogs. Trump supporters didn’t need the media to report on both positions equally because they already found a different platform. Most vocal Clinton supporters ignored that, and were therefore surprised to see that so much of the country go red.

    If you didn’t see Trump at the very least putting up a good fight against Clinton, then you were probably a part of the echo chamber. If you thought Trump was going to win in a landslide, you probably also were part of an echo chamber, though a different one. The biggest problem facing US politics right now is that people are becoming more and more divided. But it isn’t Trump’s fault that the nation is divided, not alone, anyway. He only could have done what he did because leftist rhetoric set the stage for it. I’m not saying that sexism, racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and so on, and so forth, aren’t real problems we face every day. Instead, I’m saying we need to stop using these words merely as ad hominem dismissals. All that does is degrade how salient these issues are and encourage the kind of reaction we have seen.

    In Fellowship,

    Natusake

  12. three west
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:17 AM | Permalink

    The Clinton campaign did a fantastic job of demonizing half the population of the US.

    Here’s the good news: half of your fellow citizens are not, in fact, demons.

    (3rd party voter)

  13. Sandhya
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 7:20 AM | Permalink

    Dearest Pat, I send you tightest, warm hug I can manage. I spent last night crying my heart out for the suffering I am afraid is coming. I just can’t understand. It is especially hard this week as I am from the Seattle area, but am vacationing in Orlando….Trump flags, bumper stickers everywhere. I came here to take myself to Unuversal Studios to see the Harry Potter section. I am 70 years old and don’t have a lot of time to check everything off my bucket list. So I will continue to move on with pain in my heart and hope from my core that it will not be as bad as we are all afraid it will be. Thank you so much for baring your soul to us. It gives permission to do the same. Love you. We will overcome

  14. emgray
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 8:32 AM | Permalink

    Dear Pat,
    I was hoping you would write a blog just to reach out to us :) I found myself wishing I could be Auri and disappear. But disappearing only helps ME for a little while and there is a great, big world out there that needs help. So in the words of Samwise:
    FRODO: I can’t do this, Sam.
    SAM: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy. How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened.
    But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. Because they were holding on to something.
    FRODO: What are we holding on to, Sam?
    SAM: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:08 AM | Permalink

      Thank you. That is really, very apt.

    • Idonthave1
      Posted November 14, 2016 at 1:36 PM | Permalink

      Wow, that captures it nicely, thank you . . .

  15. swgipe
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 8:36 AM | Permalink

    I have a cousin who works in news media. I’ve reached out to her in hopes that a feel-good story will be more interesting in the wake of election tragedy. If I get a response I’ll be sure to let you know (:

  16. Izzpenka
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 8:39 AM | Permalink

    I a lot of us are in a dark place, and maybe I’m being a bit sensitive because of it, but as a veteran “soldiers kill people” irks me more more than a little. I mean it’s veteran’s day for shit sake.

    • Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:56 AM | Permalink

      I’m sorry about that. It was a shitty thing to say and I’ve removed it.

      • Izzpenka
        Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:28 AM | Permalink

        No need to be sorry, and thank you for listening.

        • Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:35 AM | Permalink

          I really appreciate you bringing it up. Thanks for helping me be less of an accidental asshole.

          • Izzpenka
            Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:03 AM | Permalink

            You’re welcome, and we all do it from time to time.

            (P.s. If you respond to this one we’re going to end up locked in an eternal battle to see who can be more conciliatory, like something out of a canadian folk tale.)

  17. SubtleAlbatross
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 8:56 AM | Permalink

    Hey Pat,
    Quick favour: can you consider changing your post to refer to “Ukraine” and not “the Ukraine?” It’s a small difference, but I feel like you, more than most, appreciate the power one word can have. Appending “the” is a Soviet trick to rob Ukraine of its nation-hood. It changes Ukraine from a sovereign nation to a province or territory of some other state.

    Here’s a diplomat explaining it better than I can:
    “Ukraine is a country,” says William Taylor, who served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006 to 2009. “The Ukraine is the way the Russians referred to that part of the country during Soviet times … Now that it is a country, a nation, and a recognized state, it is just Ukraine. And it is incorrect to refer to the Ukraine, even though a lot of people do it.”
    http://time.com/12597/the-ukraine-or-ukraine/

    Appreciate it! Sorry to be ‘that person’ mugging for special interest concessions that affect relatively few. The fact that Heifer International is doing good in that part of the world warms my cockles :)

    • Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:59 AM | Permalink

      Thanks so much. I wasn’t aware of this issue at all.

      When I was typing it up, I was just impressed with myself that I didn’t get that squiggly red line that told me I’d spelled it wrong.

      Fixed it.

      • SubtleAlbatross
        Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:49 AM | Permalink

        You are a hero. Thank you sir! As a proud past participant in the Worldbuilders campaign I was already going to contribute again this year; but now I’m gonna feel extra-special super great doing it, instead of just regular overjoyed!

  18. PHXDale
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:02 AM | Permalink

    “When I’m stuck with a day that’s grey and lonely
    I just stick up my chin, and grin and say…
    The sun will come out tomorrow.”

    Worldbuilders is my favorite time of year. May all the good it brings lend you a heady dose of cautious optimism for the uncertain path that lies before us. Love lives in Worldbuilders.

    I nominate Kipling’s “Rikki Tikki Tavi” for Gaiman to read.

    Now buck up, buttercup and bring on the geeky swag. We got goats to get.

  19. theelkmechanic
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:02 AM | Permalink

    This may not really speak to the content of the post, but I just want to say I was very confused when I first read the phrase “teache people to make biogas digesters” because my brain didn’t read biogas as by-o-gas but rather as by-o-guhs, and I thought a bioga was some sort of land formation and Heifer was teaching them how to turn a bioga into some sort of composter. So, yeah, I may need to try to get better sleep.

  20. arvy_p
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:09 AM | Permalink

    I live in Canada, and I’m afraid of what happens to America and the rest of the world now. Our prime minister’s dad once said that living like we do, next to the US, as a country with roughly a tenth of its population, is like “trying to sleep next to an elephant”, because every twitch it makes affects you. As such, many of us here pay attention to American politics. And what just happened down there scares the absolute shit out of many of us.

    But, well, what can you do? Keep doing the stuff that you do, light up as many candles as you can because it sure as hell could get really dark, and hope that next time, now that people who voted that way will have no one else to blame, maybe they’ll have realized that Trump and company isn’t really looking out for them after all. They won’t be able to blame Obama for every stupid little thing (even though Obama couldn’t get much he wanted done due to the other layers of government).

    All hail President Luthor. May the pendulum swing back ever harder next time.

  21. maralobuzerka
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:09 AM | Permalink

    I love Worldbuilders and I can’t wait to support them this year. Unfortunately, I’ll probably only be able to donate half a goat or cow.

    I’m actually commenting because of something else…

    “the Ukraine” is a region. Its how Ukraine was referred to before the fall of the Soviet Union. Can you please remove the “the”? It’s not a huge deal, but after the annexation of Crimea, it makes Ukrainians kind of twitchy. It was used by the USSR to remove autonomy from the people there…

    Pretty please?

    Thanks!

  22. MaineBee
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:10 AM | Permalink

    To keep myself going the past couple of days I’ve been reciting to myself a list of good things fellow Americans do. This is at the top of that list. Even if you’re not feeling hopeful yourself, you’re providing hope to the rest of us.

  23. Brelywi
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:19 AM | Permalink

    The reason we can (and HAVE to) continue to be troupers is because there are still people like you, your staff, your mysterious benefactor(s), Neil Gaiman, Heifer International, all your fans who donate, and even more who are working, at their own expense, on helping others. We aren’t all scared, selfish people; we are strong, loving, resilient, generous protectors of those who aren’t in a position to protect themselves.

    Yes, SOMEHOW, the current avatar of hate and fear was elected. But WE’RE still here, and we are going to fight like HELL against oppression, hate, and intolerance. We are going to spread love and light, starting with Worldbuilders and continuing on from there. We’re sad, scared, and hurt, but instead of turning that against our fellow humans, we are going to use it to make ourselves fight even harder for those who can’t. Like proper heroes ;-)

  24. smcrae23
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:21 AM | Permalink

    Hi Pat,

    Last week, before the election, I needed a good book to calm me down and get me away from the internet, and increasingly anxious refreshes of 538.com. Rereading Name of the Wind and A Wise Man’s Fear turned out to be exactly the right choice. Reading about how intelligent, worthwhile people who have no resources but talent, wit and sometimes pure luck survive in a world that doesn’t see or care about them, where the wealthy and well-established, even the best of them, utterly disregard the poor and vulnerable, was paradoxically galvanizing.

    The first time I read your books, I loved them as fiction and as world-building. Part of the beauty and power of speculative fiction is its ability to show us harsher mirror worlds–what good be. Being able to visit these places and return to our relatively easier one, used to be a source of pleasure. But now maybe it’s a kind of manual for survival. So thank you for that.

  25. James
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:25 AM | Permalink

    I think we can all agree that 2016 has been less than ideal, as years go. But I am glad you are trouping past it to keep Worldbuilders running this year. This fundraiser and the accompanying horde of people putting on their Hobbit feet to help those in need is one of the big beacons of light and hope in any given year.

    This year, we just need it slightly more than most. I am looking forward to participating again this year.

  26. Jessica
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:35 AM | Permalink

    I want to suggest “The Book with No Pictures.” My daughter loves it when anyone says “boo boo butt.”

    My daughter will also be super excited that when we donate enough for 3 rabbits, it will become enough for 6. That’s our starting point this year. She wanted to give bunnies.

  27. adrina_x22
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:52 AM | Permalink

    It’s so exciting that Worldbuilders has matching funds this year! It really brings a ray of hope to the world.

    Instead of getting lost in what I can’t do right now, I’m going to try to focus on what I CAN do…which is help families through the power of Worldbuilders and Heifer International!

    I would love to see Neil read “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak, or maybe “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle.

  28. tetlowgm
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:35 AM | Permalink

    Pat,

    Thanks for everything. I love Worldbuilders and all you have done. One thing I would like to ask is since you (through Worldbuilders) are a major donor to Heifer, would it be possible to talk to them about something?

    Only about 75% of contributions to Heifer go to program work. Almost 20% goes to fundraising expenses. Is there some way you could talk to them to get more money to the program and not spend as much on getting more money? I know I end up throwing a bunch of marketing materials from Heifer away each year.

    Thanks.

    • MereShadow
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 12:52 PM | Permalink

      I don’t know if these numbers are accurate. I can say that I throw away all snail mail as well and am saddened to see I get so much from Heifer. Just wanted to throw some weight behind the suggestion is all. Good point tetlowgm!

    • kdculb
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 2:05 PM | Permalink

      I have been supporting Pat and Worldbuilders since year 1 and I use to get a lot of mail from Heifer. There is a way to contact them and tell them not to send you anything through the mail, it is in their literature. I have not gotten a mailing from them in the 5+ years since I did this. I would look up how to do this, but since I no longer get mailings…

      • tetlowgm
        Posted November 11, 2016 at 3:45 PM | Permalink

        I’m more interested in getting Heifer to spend more of their funds on programs. That said, I will try to sign up to remove myself from mailings.

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:07 AM | Permalink

      I would love to know how to stop getting mailings from Heifer. I love them, I donate every year, but the mailings aren’t necessary and I’d rather those resources go elsewhere.

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 4:56 PM | Permalink

      I see where you’re coming from here, but do you realize what you’re saying is roughly equivolent to “who do they waste time *getting* money? Why don’t they focus on *spending* it instead?”

      You do see the problem there, right?

      • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:09 PM | Permalink

        I hear you, I just wish there was a way to identify myself as a member of the choir. You don’t need to preach to me any more!

        Well, actually *they* don’t need to preach to me. I fully expect *you* to preach to me, and I like it like that. :-)

  29. Odin Asheric
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:36 AM | Permalink

    I’ve worked for the past four months on a political campaign. I worked 90 hours in the week leading up to the election. I understand the hopelessness, the despondence, and the shocked outrage that Trump’s victory has brought. But if there is a light in it, it’s in the despair that so many of us feel.

    But, while a few riot… Many more take constructive action. Some silently sign up to donate $5 dollars a month to planned parenthood. Some volunteer at a local shelter. Some go down and donate blood. Some simply hold their annual fundraiser for the good work they were already doing. Some are already planning for 2018.

    My job would not have been possible if hundreds of people hadn’t volunteered their time, their energy, and their hearts. Our collective despair speaks to our character, our empathy, and our knowledge that THINGS CAN BE BETTER.

  30. midobal
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:39 AM | Permalink

    I’m really happy to hear about the matching donations. Alas, I won’t be able to donate until the end of the month (when I receive my salary). Nonetheless, I’ll try to make a small contribution on Monday, and leave the rest for the end of the month. (I hope that, together with spreading the word, it helps on increasing the chances of media coverage.)

    As for an story suggestion, how about Neil reading “The Walrus and The Carpenter” passage from “Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There”, sang with the melody from the Disney’s animated version of “Alice in Wonderland”?

  31. Andrew
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:43 AM | Permalink

    I’m pretty stoked about Worldbuilders this year, since I’ll finally have the extra money to donate! The matching money makes it even better!

    Also stoked to hear Neil’s back. He’s my favorite author (sorry, Pat, you’re ALSO my favorite), so I’d love to hear him read pretty much anything.

    I’d vote for “Where the Wild Things Are” or “There’s a Monster…”, but I remember loving a book called “Robert the Rose Horse” when I was little. That one would be awesome! I can’t wait to track this year’s Worldbuilders now that I have a (rose) horse in the race!

  32. Karissima
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 10:44 AM | Permalink

    Every year I suggest that there be a way to buy a ticket for someone that cannot afford one.
    Some kind of option where you can donate $10 (or more) but select “give my lottery ticket to someone else”, and then you have a little database of folks who have signed up for these tickets because they lack the resources to donate at the time.
    I do not mean to imply that my previous suggestions haven’t been attended. Last year I think you even wrote a post about possibly including this option in future fundraisers. I just want to remind you and the Worldbuilders team about this idea.
    I love the idea of winning prizes, but I can donate $20 and buy myself a slot in the lottery AND buy someone else a slot, too. And that would make me very happy.
    Thank you.

  33. 1999Brock
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:25 AM | Permalink

    I’m not sure what to suggest for Neil Gaiman to read, but Lin-Manuel Miranda could do a killer rendition of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells.”

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:12 AM | Permalink

      Lin-Manuel Miranda is a super busy guy, but anything he could do would be huge.

      Fiction geeks and theater geeks unite – activate the Hamilhordes!

  34. RoseRed
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:36 AM | Permalink

    I have seen so many lose hope over the last couple days. So let me try to give you a little hope back. I am not affiliated with either party just so you know. I want you you to look around at the people around you. These are the exact same people that they were before Trump became president. These people haven’t magically morphed into racist demons. These are the same people you work with, play with, and have thoughtful discourse with. Unless they told you, you wouldn’t know most of the people who voted for Trump as such. They are nice, decent folk. I am surrounded by them I live in a red state. I argue quite passionately with them about politics and other things. They voted for Trump not because they are bigots but because they were desperate. Desperate to be heard. Most don’t like Trump and would have voted for someone else if they thought they had any other option. These are some of the people that voted for President Obama. By and large most of these people are just fed up with our government period. They are tired of not being able to provide even the most basic things for their families. But they are the same people they were and have always have been. They too are troupers. The put their heads down and go to work. They face adversity with grim determination. I’m not going to sweep aside the worries because some are very legitimate. But our nation has survived not because of who our president is or was, but because of her people. And I still have faith in her people. They are broken, but good decent folk. And we will do like we have always done. We will fight hate with love where ever we find it. We will continue to fight for those who can’t and stand for what is right.

    With nothing but love always,
    Billie Jo

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:17 AM | Permalink

      It’s true. Many of the people who voted for Trump voted for Obama previously. The ideal they have in common is change. Most Trump voters chose him in spite of the racism and sexism, not because of it.

      It’s easier to demonize people that are hard to understand, but we’ll get further if we try to understand each other. I’ve started following Michael Moore, because he predicted this outcome and he understands more than most.

  35. Domor
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:53 AM | Permalink

    Pat,
    You’re an inspiration to all of us here. We’re all soldiers in this invisible war, and we will continue to fight. This week has only showed that we have more work to do. Pat, you’re building a beautiful world and inviting all of us to be a part of it, and I think that’s what matters. You’re still fighting for this incredible cause. You are a busy man, but you’re still doing your best. You’ve inspired me to love reading and writing again. I’m just trying to say that what you do makes a difference. I wish I had the opportunity to meet you, but who knows what the future holds. A sincere fan,
    Doug

  36. Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:56 AM | Permalink

    You know, for me, this article helped improve my understanding about the current situation with Trump and Hillary. The paradox is that we must accept the world as it is in order to rise above it, otherwise, it continually hurls one into the ditch. And the difficulty is that as low as one thinks the world goes, it goes much lower. If one looks, there’s always more darkness to be seen, just as there’s always more light to be realized. Finding the “field beyond right and wrong” that Rumi spoke of… that’s the real liberator.

    https://theintercept.com/2016/11/09/democrats-trump-and-the-ongoing-dangerous-refusal-to-learn-the-lesson-of-brexit/

  37. Posted November 11, 2016 at 12:23 PM | Permalink

    Well, I know I’d feel a little better if Aura gave me a seashell. And then I’d give her a pinecone and some honey in a small glass jar, and then she’d tell me it’s all going to be okay.

    Then I’d say, “Really?”
    And she’d say, “No, not really, but you felt better when you thought it would be. And there are things you can do to help.”

    And this is true. If I give a little to help others, it makes me feel better, and right now I need to feel a little better about this world we live in.

  38. Grimreader
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 12:28 PM | Permalink

    Pat,

    As a fan I feel your frustration and angst. As a Trump supporter I ask for hope, patience, and if you believe in such things, prayer. I have friends on both sides. I have been called racist, sexist, and deplorable. This campaign was the nastiest I can remember. Admittedly I only remember from the 1988 election on. I guess my point is this. No matter who won there was going to be anger and depression and a general feeling of malaise. But things like worldbuilders will and should go on. It is a source of hope to people here and abroad. You do so much good and bring millions of your fans pure joy with your writing and your charity. I believe that this presidency can do the same. Is it going to be what every one wants? No. Neither was any of the five before this. Someone is always going to be unhappy. What we can do is work to make the world a better place one person, one act of kindness at a time. You do that, on a constant basis. With your books, your blogs and world builders. Please keep the faith, and remember if we work together we can change the world one person at a time

  39. Posted November 11, 2016 at 12:32 PM | Permalink

    Leonard Cohen’s words are always apt, that was his great power.

    Anthem

    The birds they sang
    at the break of day
    Start again
    I heard them say
    Don’t dwell on what
    has passed away
    or what is yet to be.

    Ah the wars they will
    be fought again
    The holy dove
    She will be caught again
    bought and sold
    and bought again
    the dove is never free.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.

    We asked for signs
    the signs were sent:
    the birth betrayed
    the marriage spent
    Yeah the widowhood
    of every government —
    signs for all to see.

    I can’t run no more
    with that lawless crowd
    while the killers in high places
    say their prayers out loud.

    But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up
    a thundercloud
    and they’re going to hear from me.

    Ring the bells that still can ring …

    You can add up the parts
    but you won’t have the sum
    You can strike up the march,
    there is no drum
    Every heart, every heart
    to love will come
    but like a refugee.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack, a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.

    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering
    There is a crack, a crack in everything
    That’s how the light gets in.
    That’s how the light gets in.
    That’s how the light gets in.

  40. Posted November 11, 2016 at 12:49 PM | Permalink

    Darn it.
    My suggestion for Gaiman reading is Wait Till the Moon Is Full by Margaret Wise Brown.

  41. Calthaer
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 2:04 PM | Permalink

    Patrick,

    I love your work and respect you as an an author (and semi-professional D&D player), so of course I’m not cheered to know that you are experiencing such anguish over politics – would love to see more of your work. I am honestly a little hard-pressed, however, to understand the crying and despair. I do not, and have never, placed my hope for a better world in any politician, as I believe history has shown us that this is a sure-fire recipe for depression and unhappiness in life.

    Sooner or later those with whom you disagree will gain power – it’s inevitable. None of us should base our happiness on politics, and we should all work to ensure that, no matter who reigns, the government cannot destroy our lives, our liberties, and the ability to pursue happiness (which is never guaranteed, and anyone who leads you to believe that those who govern can grant it is mistaken or lying). We have never had a more clear-cut case for limiting centralized power (especially in the executive branch) than we do now, and unfortunately all of us (myself included) have probably been OK at one point or another with with the occasional over-reach (the executive orders, the unilateral wars, the “let’s shove this law through if we hold the majority and to hell with the opposition”) if the result agrees with our personal beliefs. It was always unacceptable, and now we reap what we sow.

    Embrace government limits (term limits, due process, whatever) – as the founders well knew, sooner or later the power to rule *will* be subject to abuse, and the impact crater should be kept as small as possible. Every American will breathe easier for it.

    All the best, and I wish you all happiness,
    Cal

    • falsig
      Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:14 PM | Permalink

      Excellent point. I dislike Clinton and Trump about equally (for different reasons) but I voted for Trump because I thought it would be more of a wake up call for people who put too much faith in big government.

      • Erzberger
        Posted November 12, 2016 at 7:35 AM | Permalink

        This argument seems so weird to me because it ignores all the racist and hateful things Trump has said.

        But I’m from Germany and thus not in your position. I really hope I’m wrong, but I am truly worried about the state of the most powerful country in the world, if hatred gets you elected.

        • falsig
          Posted November 12, 2016 at 8:26 AM | Permalink

          Not sure why you assume I am ignoring anything Trump has said. It seems like you have not understood what I wrote. Perhaps you are not familiar with the slang “wake up call”. In this context, it means something unexpected or shocking to get the attention of people who were previously oblivious (sleeping).

          I also don’t think it was hatred, exactly, that got Trump elected. More like disaffection. While I myself do not really fit in with many of Trump’s supporters (being a city-dwelling atheist), I think that this article does a decent job of explaining why many people voted for him:

          http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-reasons-trumps-rise-that-no-one-talks-about/

          Again, that is not exactly why I voted for him, but there are some similarities. I usually vote for a libertarian candidate. My preferred candidate always loses, and you don’t see me crying and despairing like some people have after this election.

          The message that a lot of people should take from this election is that a lot of Americans are dissatisfied with their government. My personal feeling is that, since they are always going to be people who do not like whoever is elected, the best solution is to limit the scope and size of government, thus limiting the possible disappointment. Or actually, that would be the second best solution. The best would be to switch to a system of government where everyone gets their choice.

          • Erzberger
            Posted November 12, 2016 at 9:38 AM | Permalink

            I apologize. I did too quickly and easily assume something about you or at leaser about the point you were trying to make.

            I had previously read the article you linked to and agree with most of it. My worry is simply that this wake up call has not only the effect of getting people’s attention but also having potentially disastrous consequences. It may turn out to not have been worth it. I know I’m rambling here. I just wanted to say that I’d like to thank you for your perspective. Discussion and mutual understanding can only help us.

          • falsig
            Posted November 12, 2016 at 11:13 AM | Permalink

            It would not be an effective wake-up call if it did not have the potential to cause trouble. But the hope, the gamble, is that taking a risk now might eventually lead to avoiding even bigger trouble sometime in the future.

  42. Posted November 11, 2016 at 2:27 PM | Permalink

    This bit: “Last year we raised over 1.2 million dollars for Heifer International. We sent little girls to school in Nepal and fed hungry kids in Haiti. We gave people clean water and education. Medicine and self-reliance. The work we do literally brings light into the lives of people all over the world.” was the first thing that’s made me cry for a reason other than rage in the past week. Thank you for the reminder that the world isn’t completely full of horrible people.

  43. jade estrella
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 3:04 PM | Permalink

    Hi!!

    My suggestion for the read-aloud is “The Napping House” or ” But No Elephants”

  44. Karim
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 5:36 PM | Permalink

    What you’re feeling now? That’s what a depressive episode feels like.

    There’s a couple of points I want to, as an Arab, add here, which I feel may add additional perspective:

    1. This is how Arabs always feel when foreign powers involve themselves in our elections (Sisi, Hosni Mubarak, and Assad always won by 99% of the vote! Wow! Point is, these “leaders” were always supported by US foreign policy)

    2. I’ve seen a lot of worry about what will happen to the US itself, but there’s been so little concern about what’ll happen to the rest of us…

    I had to walk a 10 year old through an anxiety “Trump is gonna kill us!” attack yesterday.

    This is what ignorance breeds, people. You scare children halfway across the world.

    **

    I’m excited for this year’s charity. It’ll be nice to fight back a little, in this age of Brexit and Trump and Marine le Pen and Golden Dawn…

  45. Rebekah
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 6:43 PM | Permalink

    Really exciting about the matching funds! Thanks for leading the charge and pulling everyone together to do some real good in the world. It definitely gives me some hope.

    The Monster at the End of This Book has always been one of my favorites. Other ideas…maybe one of the Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel, or One Hungry Monster by Susan O’Keefe?

  46. Hedgehog
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 6:51 PM | Permalink

    WOOHOO!!1!

  47. Gemma
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 9:50 PM | Permalink

    The matching money is amazing. I totally understand that you would like to generate press early with donations.

    I always try to give to Worldbuilders every year; however, I end up giving my money late in the campaign. It’s basically to see what comes up for auction. If there’s something awesome in the auctions, I’ll try for it. If nothing comes up, then I put my money in the lottery in the closing days.

    It would be a headache to organize something that solves this problem for this year, but one possibility to get commitments early is to have a pledge system. That way you can get commitments from people that they are giving a certain amount among the purchases, lotteries, or auctions.

    This would be an example structure. The Donor would make a commitment with a credit card that wouldn’t be run until the last day. If by the end of the campaign, after the auctions have closed, if they have not purchased anything from the shop or the auctions, their card would be run a the amount they chose, and the proceeds would go towards the lottery.

    Anyways, just thoughts. I think it would be too burdensome to do at this late date, but just food for thought WHEN your team exceeds all expectations. . . and then eats milkshakes. Yum.

    Oh, and PS (More unsolicited thoughts!!) a fun stretch goal would be 96,000 from In the Heights. It’s Lin Manuel, the lottery, and immigrants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Gdnph6Ycko

  48. jasperflint
    Posted November 11, 2016 at 11:01 PM | Permalink

    Dear Pat

    You are an amazing person.

    When I was at my lowest ebb in my journey with depression I read the slow regard of silent things. There is a chapter somewhere in the middle with one line. You know the one? It made me burst into tears on a train. I sat there stunned with tears rolling down my face knowing exactly how she felt. It took me ten minutes to turn over the page. I wallowed in that book, took her emotions into me and internalised them, her fear, her joy.

    Now I am further down my path, and in a much better place, I still think back to that book and smile, and, like while writing this, cry. But I can tell you one thing, no matter how dark it gets or how deep into the hole you fall, there is a path out and it does get better.

    Keep fighting, even when life sucks.

    Matt

  49. christie
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 7:36 AM | Permalink

    Please share information to sign a petition and group working to abolish electoral college.

    http://front.moveon.org

    • Court
      Posted November 12, 2016 at 4:29 PM | Permalink

      Change.org also has a petition going which, as of this morning, had almost 3.5 million signatures. I don’t anticipate that it will affect any change, but at the every least it’s a chance to let our voices be heard.

  50. smileyvirgo1
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 9:34 AM | Permalink

    Oh, goodness, I have so many ideas to share, lol….
    I wanted to suggest a book for Neil Gaiman that was kind of a play on one of the previous fundraising stretch goals. I remember the year you had to kiss a llama, and the whole thing was so adorable and fun and ridiculous in the best possible ways! There also happens to be a children’s book titled ‘I Don’t Want to Kiss a Llama’, which I thought would be cute since Mr. Gaiman was NOT the one who had to pucker up. ;) It’s a great story, and the author is a really wonderful guy who might be willing to do something special if you reached out to him.
    Regarding the fundraising options, I loved what Likwam29 above suggested! Smile.amazon.com has a great way for people to support their favorite charities. It’s especially nice for people who do holiday shopping online, and can help out year-round, but especially during the fundraiser. If you’re not familiar with it, AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers. It sounds small, but when enough people use it, it can really add up.
    I also wanted to make another suggestion for the fundraiser. I know you have seen some of the fanart on deviantart.com, but I’m not sure if you realize just how many hundreds of pieces have been done in homage to your books. I was wondering if you had considered maybe doing something with those artists. There are so many ways this could be used. Perhaps the artists in general could be asked to donate some work, or make their art a special price (for the ones that are available for sale) during the fundraiser and see if they would be willing to donate a percentage of proceeds, or encourage some of the artists to choose the option to make their art available for sale as prints and donate an agreed upon percent, or have some of your personal favorites chosen and ask fans to vote among those for the top 3 or 5 (or however many) that can be made available for a limited time through Tinker’s Packs or in partnership with dA, or work out some kind of deal with deviantart the company directly, or appeal to specific artists, or any number of things, really. As I have an active account at deviantart, and also have no job at the moment and want to help out in any way I can, I would be more than happy to act as some sort of go-between with the company and/or artists so that you and Amanda don’t have to take on yet another huge task during this busy time. (I have many, many years experience doing administrative work, organization, letter-writing for proposals, etc. and believe I would be able to do a decently professional job. If you have someone in mind that you would like to have handle any of this, I would be completely and totally fine with that, too! Really, this is just an idea I’m throwing out there as a possibility and wanted you to know that while it could potentially become cumbersome, it can still be feasible, and should not have to add much to your already overflowing plate.) I realize I threw out a lot of ideas all at once there (and I promise, when I’m in “professional mode” my work is far superior to my comments on blogs!) but if anyone else wants to add to this in some way, or thinks of another way that artwork could be used, I’d love to hear it!
    And finally, I want to thank you, Mr. Rothfuss. You have changed my life in so very many wonderful ways, and I have seen how you have changed millions of other lives for the better, as well. Some lives you changed with forethought and others you have impacted just by being your wonderful self. If there is anything at all that I can do to repay even a small portion of that generosity and love, I would be thrilled with any opportunity to pay it forward in a meaningful way, for you. I love the cause, I love the charities, but you, sir, will always hold a special place in my heart for all you have done for me without even knowing. So I am saying 3 times: Thank you.
    I hope you Hear it 3 times. You are loved. <3

  51. MRK
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    No disrespect for The Monster at the End of This Book, but I think a Gaiman rendition of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! could be even more fun.

  52. lykra
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 4:09 PM | Permalink

    Dear Pat,
    Actually, it has been you, maybe not in your current state of mind, but the way you speak and write and reach out to people, who has reminded me in these last few days, that the beautiful things are REAL. I’m very politically engaged and I deal with that stuff all the time and it tends to… have a really big impact on my ability to feel good about stuff.
    But you remind me, and that is very, very rare, that there is something to fight for, even if this fight is a tender, loving, slow one.

    But I also wanna share something else, that really helped. And I hope that there is space enough here. Maybe this kind of softness doesn’t seem to be the answer right now to many of you and also for rational, wounded and angry parts of me… but I sit here in Berlin, germany… and this is something I need to share also in a sense of historical connection. So, from a teacher in the US, this beautiful letter to his students ater the election:

    [[Note from Amanda/Moderation: The rest of the comment has been removed due to length, but it was a super sweet letter that we really appreciated!]]

  53. Court
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 4:27 PM | Permalink

    I cried on and off all day Wednesday. Then on Thursday morning I got in my car and drove 8 hours from my home in central Virginia to Albany, NY, to see Amanda Palmer in concert. I’d gotten the tickets a while ago, I could not have anticipated that it would be exactly what I’d need at the time. Her performance was so full of love; it was honestly more like a communal experience more than anything else. And I was even lucky enough to get to give Neil Gaiman a birthday card my son had made for him. Now I’ve come here and been reminded of all the wonderful things that we can make possible in the world through Worldbuilders. So I feel pretty confident when I say that it will all be okay. We’re gonna have some work to do, but we’re up for it. Aren’t we?

  54. maggiemae
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 5:17 PM | Permalink

    Yesssssssssss! This is just what I need. I can help others!!!

  55. Sp00n
    Posted November 12, 2016 at 9:35 PM | Permalink

    Guess what Pat? I’ve been a trouper for almost 6 years now waiting for you to wrap up your stupid book and yet I still check your blog hoping that someday MAYBE we’ll FINALLY get an update or even a hint at when it may be done. Instead though I find you giving your own stupid opinion about something that in 4 years you’ll sit back and realize that nothing bad has happened, you’re not dead, we didn’t ‘re-open Auschwitz, the gays weren’t thrown off buildings like the middle east, and we all had let our emotions and overactive imaginations run just a little bit too far. For Gods sake, I’ve never heard people whine this much in my entire life. ITS OVER, so get over it.

    I feel as though you’ve forgotten why you’re in the position you’re in right now and who actually put you there. I didn’t buy your book for your opinions, I didn’t buy your book for your twitch streams, and I definitely didn’t buy your book for any of your side projects. Still, you continue to waste my time writing about them while you deceive us and leave us in the dark about the book you claim to be writing. I bought both of your books and bought them for friends too, so while I remain part of your loyal fan base for years counting you get paid to blow us all off and waste time at various conventions. You’ve said it yourself that you got here by luck, but I won’t be the first one to say that that luck is quickly running out.

    Maybe I’m in the wrong here, but I think everyone, after almost 6 years of waiting,is all thinking the same thing. Buy hey, maybe you are working as hard and as fast as you could be. I could probably believe that, seeing as you said it took you over two hour thinking about how to write that piece of garbage. I think not though, I think that you just don’t want to tell us that it’s nowhere near being finished and that it may never be. If I got paid to sit on my ass and write all day long then that’s exactly what I would do, and I wouldn’t keep my fans waiting this long, at least not without updates.

    You may not even read this yourself, and if you do, you may even delete it. I don’t care. All I care is that you get reminded that we’re waiting here for something other than worthless political opinions and another round of your fundraiser. I hope that you do read this, and that you’ll take some time to write a quick little “Hey gang, this is where I’m at in writing my novel right now, and I predict it will be finished sometime around ________”. That’s all I ask, is that so hard? Don’t tell us about being troupers, we all already are.

    PS- it didn’t take me two hours to write this.

    • Posted November 12, 2016 at 10:15 PM | Permalink

      that’s pretty obvious.

      I’m sorry but you have confused being a fan with being some kind of owner. You are not entitled to anything. I’d make a joke about whining, but I don’t think you’d get it.

      • Sp00n
        Posted November 13, 2016 at 11:56 AM | Permalink

        As a fan, personally, I would like to see some sort of dedication from him to keep his fans informed. It’s not just me, but people all over sites like Goodreads that are tired of waiting. I have no idea when Patrick even thinks his book will be done, so what am I supposed to expect? I know some people just personally like the guy and take an interest in what he’s doing at the current moment, and I can respect that, that’s fine. I also know that he’s lost a lot of fans including me from his seemingly lack of commitment.

    • Khal_Luke
      Posted November 12, 2016 at 11:14 PM | Permalink

      Being a writer is not quite as pragmatic of an occupation as you may think. Some people are able to sit down for X amount of hours every day and crank out X amount of words. Some people aren’t as fortunate and have to deal with all sorts of mental barriers, ranging from writer’s block to depression. But the important thing to understand is that art can’t be rushed or forced. Pat’s books are some of the best works of art I’ve had the chance to read because he is so good at adding tiny human idiosyncrasies into them. Being from Wisconsin, I can also appreciate a lot of the tiny cultural nuances he places into the Waystone Inn.

      Pat just made a great post about writing earlier. The craft demands the mind to be in prime condition, and not everyone is fortunate enough to be able to escape this election without anxiety. Give Pat time. He is an incredible human being and he is dealing with all sorts of problems right now, just as many of us are.

      • Sp00n
        Posted November 13, 2016 at 11:48 AM | Permalink

        And I can understand things like that. Still, though, I hardly see the man mention his book anywhere. Nothing to keep up the excitement or anticipation of his works. I like the guy too, but as far as I know, writing is his job and I feel like he should at least give an update once in a while.

        • Sp00n
          Posted November 13, 2016 at 12:00 PM | Permalink

          Something to keep me from thinking that I’m just holding my breath for nothing

          • christie
            Posted November 13, 2016 at 5:02 PM | Permalink

            Keep holding. No need to stop.

          • christie
            Posted November 13, 2016 at 5:04 PM | Permalink

            i.e. If you don’t want to breathe from a tantrum don’t breathe. No need to have you using precious oxygen.

          • Sp00n
            Posted November 13, 2016 at 7:51 PM | Permalink

            Oh lord. And you guys say what I wrote was nasty.

            You guys can keep being pawns of this guy, I dont care. Buy his board game. Buy his plushies. Buy his novellas. Heck, buy his book that he said wasnt even worth reading in the first place, but just make sure you NEVER EVER ask him when he’ll stop leading you on and give you real information. I bet Patrick would appriciate that.

          • Jsherry
            Posted November 14, 2016 at 2:13 PM | Permalink

            Is there a place we can sign up to be pawns of Pat? Cuz I’d sign right up for that shit.

    • watchhinginkdry
      Posted November 13, 2016 at 10:50 AM | Permalink

      I won’t rehash the good points others have already made in reply here, but for anyone impatiently waiting for news of the next book or wondering how it can possibly take the time it does to be ready Pat has addressed those things directly in previous blog posts as well, for example:

      https://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2009/02/concerning-release-of-book-two/

      https://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/2010/08/fanmail-qa-revision/

      Perhaps they won’t change how you feel at all Spoon, but I think posts like those make good reading for any of us fans who might be tempted to let our eagerness for more from Pat spill over into complaining at him.

    • Jsherry
      Posted November 13, 2016 at 11:23 AM | Permalink

      Since I for some reason wasted the time reading your grotesque post, lemme tl;dr the content to boil it down to its essence and save anyone else the trouble:
      “Maybe I’m in the wrong here”
      Yes.

      • Sp00n
        Posted November 13, 2016 at 12:09 PM | Permalink

        Maybe if you thought mine was too ‘grotesque’, here’s a different one with the same message I found on goodreads that was written two years ago :)

        “First let me say; before the release of the name of the wind, Patrick Rothfuss announced the completion of all three books, the three books in this trilogy were completed, the three books who would write for this series had been finished, he planned to release these books in one-year intervals, as he announced, completely understandable, it’s almost tradition for not just authors but for many other forms of entertainment to release a new form or medium for enjoyment to release new models at yearly intervals.

        When i heard about the completion of the novels and the general praise the book was getting i decided to pick it up, of course i completely fell in love with the books cliche yet beautifully written story, the characters were deep and full of life, i was really in love with the book.

        I couldn’t wait for the wise man’s fear, i couldn’t wait to see what questions would be answered, how they’d be answered, what new riddles would pop up within the pages. Unfortunately, this books release date was pushed back several times due to reasons i do not understand.

        Instead of a 2008 release date like the fans were promised the book was pushed back four years. Four years. I will admit that the book was extremely well written, but the depth of the story is no where near as long or as deep as a series such as the game of thrones, which George Martin has taken just as long to write a single novel in his series.

        This in my opinion is unacceptable, the series was claimed to be finished and yet the book is pushed back three years for what? editing? three years would not be allowed at all for anything other than a book, if a movie, game, tv series, even a new phone model was pushed back three years there would be an outrage, but since we fans are the pawns of authors we have to abide by their will.

        I cannot make excuses for authors, Patrick Rothfuss might have really been editing his book for four years, however the much more likely occurrence would have to do with the side stepping of his writing, the general distractions that Patrick has enjoyed immersing himself in so joyfully. (more on this later)

        So, it has been three years since the release of the wise man’s fear and even now, may/2015 the release date has been pushed back several more times for the doors of stone, looking at reviews from 2012 i can see people expecting the book to release in 2013, this was then pushed to 2014, to may 2014. It would be about the time i’m writing this review that the book; the doors of stone would have been published, a book that was apparently written seven years ago. We can’t assume why it’s taken so long, we can only defend Patrick, that he has been editing his book this entire time or take the offense, that he has been caught up in distractions and knows about the money he can make by jumping a hype bandwagon that has been leaving fans in it’s trail for years.

        So, what has happened in those three years since the wise man’s fear?
        – Fundraisers (of course for a good/great cause, raising money for the people in need can never be looked down upon)
        – side books (to be released in october 2014, months after the announced release date of the doors of stone)
        -Children’s books
        – Kickstarters (Nobody cares about the card game that you’re trying to force down our throats Patrick, you wouldn’t need people to donate money for a kickstarter if you released your novels earlier anyway, since when do authors even engage in such gimmick money grabbing events anyway? Also those stones or coins? really? really??)
        – Constant interview after interview (if you follow Patrick on facebook you’ll know what i’m talking about, every few days is another interview that barely seems to intervene with his writing schedule, almost as if he doesn’t have one at all)

        There are more i could list but anyone would get the gist of what i’m saying, Patrick has obviously gotten so involved in the money making events his books could potentially create that he’s lost sight of an actual goal, this to me in disgraceful. To release a book seven years ago, telling his fans that all three books were finished only to have released the second book four years later is pathetic. Patrick has release 2 books of his Kingkiller chronicles trilogy in 7 years. Let that sink in.

        I can’t see an end to this series. What initially was introduced as a quick trilogy for us to enjoy and finish with a quick smile has been turned into seven years of money grabbing and lies, dates constantly being pushed back for no reason, books that have no relevance to the series are being released. Sure Kvothe’s story might only last a trilogy, but what about Kote’s? we all know that Patrick will never fit both ‘characters’ stories into one book, will we see the final book split into two? My guess is a new series all together, a sequel if you like for Kote to regain his ‘powers’. Not only that but books that are to occur within the four corners have been announced, not only has Patrick ridden the fame train for 7 years for these two books, he’s preparing the rest of his life as an author to be based around this world.

        If you are really blinded by how much Patrick spits into the face of his fans, you deserve the wait, you deserve to wait another who knows how many years before you have your trilogy finale. Another book coming out in october this year only confirms another year or more before the doors of stone is to be released, and if that book is coming out in october what does that say about the doors of stone? a book that was meant to be finished 7 years ago, a book that Patrick has supposedly been editing for 3 years is now being pushed back because Patrick was writing a different book altogether.

        Pathetic Patrick Rothfuss, just pathetic, for an author praised for his writing ability you sure do like to make fans who have been with you for almost 7 years wait for a third book. And then there are authors like Brandon Sanderson, who take their writing as a job seriously, who know how to make their fans happy. There are Authors like J.K. Rowling; who work tirelessly and are completely great full for opportunity their writing has brought them, people like them are able to write their books, please their fans, make their money, donate to the needy and are praised.

        You however have been praised for releasing 2 books over the course of 7 years and milking his fans down to absolutely nothing.

        Pathetic”

        • Jsherry
          Posted November 13, 2016 at 9:35 PM | Permalink

          Dang, it’s like Donald Trump read Pat’s election blog and responded as “Spoon.”

          Yes, I deserve and relish the wait.

          In the immortal, paraphrased words of Neil Gaiman: Pat Rothfuss is not your bitch — http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html

          • iamkerok
            Posted November 17, 2016 at 2:33 PM | Permalink

            My sentiments exactly.

            Thank you for the link to the Gaiman post.

          • GetWithThePogrom
            Posted November 18, 2016 at 9:39 PM | Permalink

            Sure, sure. He’s not our bitch.

            But what do you think would happen, in the Four Corners world, to an artist who ignored his Patrons, broke promises, skipped deadlines, and pursued different, unrelated projects?

            Probably the same thing that’s happening in real life. His patrons are pissed because they were lied to, and he’s making a poor reputation for himself.

          • Jsherry
            Posted November 20, 2016 at 3:26 PM | Permalink

            Except you’re not a patron.

            You’re a customer.

            You bought a nice sympathy lamp from the Fishery. You’d like another.

            When there are more blue emitters ready, you can buy one.

    • Izzpenka
      Posted November 13, 2016 at 9:23 PM | Permalink

      My dude breathe. There are not only other books. But, other things, do like, any of them. You sound like some cherub fisted orangutan clutching at cats. “I paid money for your things now you owe me more of them!”

  56. hiitsmestacey
    Posted November 13, 2016 at 6:32 AM | Permalink

    Hi, Pat. I turned to Auri this week as well and my heart jumped when I saw her little hand on Twitter this morning. I’m already in a difficult place, and after Tuesday, I felt hopelessly small and powerless. But then I thought of Auri. Since then, I’ve been following her example of doing self care as best I can and looking for small ways to bring beauty into the world and to encourage those I come in contact with, even if all I have to offer is a tired smile. So here is a seashell or tiny, shiny stone for you: Thank you for Auri because she is helping me get through a really hard time. Take care of yourself and trouper on:)

    • Auri Rodrigues
      Posted November 15, 2016 at 6:19 AM | Permalink

      Wow, that’s touchingly beautiful to say… I believe Auri would feel very proud of you. Shine and dream on, my dear!

  57. capblye
    Posted November 14, 2016 at 7:20 AM | Permalink

    Oh my Pat … anguish over politics? really?
    I would feel worse over a football I like team losing.

    Simple self evident truths:
    Both candidates sucked … hard.
    Why we were stuck with them is the question.

    Simple … nobody worth a damn wants that job anymore that’s why.
    The position of Presidency is not the vaulted honor it once was.
    It has digressed to more like the Queen of England.
    A figurehead with an opinion.

    Does the job hold SOME power, sure.
    Can the President take up the baton for a cause? sure.
    But truthfully, anyone who wants a life AFTER they finish that job will kowtow to the real power
    Lobbies and Congress
    Obama was allowed to force that horrific healthcare reform down our throats (Cannot WAIT for that to get repealed!)

    But really people … how much will truly change?
    Not much sadly.

    I wish for change at this point in our History … real change.
    Real change for the backbone middle class of this country.
    Real reforms that stop creating hammocks for the lazy to sleep the day away in instead of working.
    Reforms that focus on the actual citizens as a whole, and not specific classes of people.
    Reforms that remove Federal intervention and let the state handle its own business.
    Reforms that stop the Fed from buying State Loyalty with Funding so they fall in line.
    Reforms that stop the bleeding in our Economy.
    Reforms that prevent us from engaging in foreign affairs we aren’t welcome in.
    These things should be LAW. They should not swing like a pendulum when a new chief steps into the white house.

    But it wont really happen.
    Oh things will APPEAR to happen. We will be TOLD things are happening.
    And another 4 years will pass with nothing changing, good or bad.

    The real and true problem with this country today is US. The people.
    No one bothers to understand our Legal and Political system.
    The mass is uneducated and frightened of nonsense.

    Example:
    A woman I know was in tears the whole day after the election.
    Why?
    Because she truly believed that her and her same sex partner would be arrested when applying for a marriage license.
    She believed the nonsense that Pence spewed about this Topic.
    Seriously?
    Yes, Pence is an idiot.
    Doesn’t mean we have to be JUST as stupid and believe he can actually pull that off.

    When this country was founded, our Founding Fathers and the general population fought hard to win our freedoms.
    They believed in this Great Experiment. They had a cause and a truth that unified them as one voice.

    We do not have such a cause, so we sit and vote for personal self interests.

    How about a cause that reforms our Democratic processes?
    Dump the Electoral College.
    Limit Congressional terms.
    Do away with the Political Party Labels (they are pointless now … some people voted for one of these 2 monsters JUST because they were a Democrat / Republican … sigh)
    Allow States to control their own fates.
    Cap costs and donations for elections.
    Remove the Media from the election process (no more commercials)

    So many reforms we as a people should unite on.
    Our country can be great again.
    The people can make it great again.

  58. waitingforgodel
    Posted November 14, 2016 at 11:04 AM | Permalink

    Re: Suggestions for the Fundraiser:

    In previous years, “creative writing services” have been auctioned off–things like a developmental edit by an established editor. I could be wrong about this, but it didn’t seem like such services were auctioned during the last Worldbuilders Fundraiser.

    If such services are not currently on the docket for this year’s fundraiser, I would ask that your team consider offering them again (though I understand that your team can’t control who donates what). I always try and donate, but if I can donate the amount that I have budgeted this year for getting my manuscript edited, it would be a win-win.

  59. thurule
    Posted November 14, 2016 at 12:26 PM | Permalink

    I want to hear Neil read “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”

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