“A Writer's Triangle” by Scott “Scix” Maddix

Stephen King, Wil Wheaton and I are having a love triangle, only I'm the only one that knows it.

Well, maybe not a love triangle, but a something triangle. A Writer's Triangle, maybe (not to be confused with the Bermuda Triangle, although I could make a “ships going down here” joke if I wanted to). Me and Wil and Stephen are linked, cosmically, through our writings and our lives. A little cocktail-napkin diagram of our relationship would draw lines in all directions, though some stronger than others. King's Gunslinger characters might call us ka-tet, a sort of fate-family.

***Let me explain:***

Twenty years ago (when I was minus two), I saw Stephen King at a book signing near our home in South Paris, Maine in 1984, just after the Firestarter movie had come out. My mom, stepdad and I waited in line to have some of his books signed – including a dog-eared and much-loved paperback of Salem's Lot.

I remember it clearly. He had a warm, friendly voice, a warm, friendly smile, and he shook my hand. We talked about the movie, telling him we thought George C. Scott was an odd casting choice for John Rainbird. I recall him agreeing with us, but my mom says he had told us Scott had been his choice for the part all along.

Well, it was twenty years ago. This isn't the first time my Mom and I discovered a difference in our memories of my childhood. For example, she has no recollection of my three-year stint as Emperor of France, right before Jerry Lewis took over in '79.

Now, when I say we talked, I really mean that I hovered, starstruck, as my mom and stepdad talked with The Author. They were the ones having their books signed. They were the real fans. Oh, I had been reading his books for a few years, and that copy of Salem's Lot had been the very first book to ever really scare the bejeesus out of me. The night I read it I made a crucifix out of popsicle sticks and kept it near to hand. Just in case, you see.

But mostly at that age I read my dad's science fiction novels, and was having a torrid affair with the works of Robert Heinlein.

But every few years I dabbled in King, and when I was turned onto the Gunslinger series I was hooked as firmly as my stepdad had been, and began devouring every King book I could find. I may have had an affair with Heinlein, but this was true love.

Then I found On Writing in a bargain bin for six bucks. I was struck with sorrow that any King should wind up in a bargain bin.

I had fancied myself a writer ever since high school, though I generally sought the position of “Untapped Potential Waiting To Be Discovered” because it was less work. Sadly, I really wanted to prove my importance to the world, but the only way I knew how to be was “Untapped Potential Waiting To Be Discovered.” That left no room for working to develop my talent. It left no room for making my own my way. And it left precious little room for anything else but pointedly expressing my talent and potential in front of people that might Be Someone or who might Know Someone.

As you can imagine, this “Get Discovered” character that was running my life got pretty old, and I lived a frustrated life, never quite understanding why I couldn't finish any of the really great novels, stories and screenplays I had started.

And here was a book by The Author, On Writing. “Well,” said my character, “If you learn to write from King, someone will notice. You grew up 20 minutes away from him, after all.”

It's true. The “Get Discovered” character constantly reminded me of this accident of geography.

I read the book. It's a good book. It has some great ideas, some superb advice, and I was inspired. For about a week, I wrote a thousand words a day. Within that seven thousand words was the best short story I have written to date (currently “The Paddle” is my only submission – and my first rejection).

Then Get Discovered noticed I was actually doing work and making my own way, and stopped me. Threw the emergency break. “You've done enough to show off,” he said. “Don't get crazy. When you Get Discovered, you'll be taken care of, and then you can really write the good stuff.”

Wil Wheaton I knew from Stand By Me (1986 – two years after I met King), a fantastic film based on “The Body,” a fantastic novella by King. Will plays Gordie, who grows up to become a writer.

King ... Writer ... Are you seeing the pattern? See how spooky it all is? Oooooo...

Sci-fi geek that I was (and am), I followed the Star Trek franchises and actually liked Star Trek: The Next Generation the best of all of them. Including, of course, Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher.

Now, it was popular to hate poor Wesley, and I never understood it. I liked the show, I liked the character, and I felt bad for Wil, knowing folks joked about wanting him dead. Well, mostly joking.

And I have a confession to make. Two confessions, actually. The first is that when the “Wesley Crusher Die Die Die” thing was happening, I played along and pretended to hate him, even though I didn't.

The second: I always thought he was cute.

Yeah, yeah, I know. Laugh and then move on, you chuckleheads.

Eventually I started hearing good things about wilwheaton.net and realized the real geeks no longer hated Wil, so I feel safe finally admitting my secret. If only Hanson would get some geek cred.

It was just last week, however, that I first read anything by Wil Wheaton. On Thursday, a mysterious copy of Dancing Barefoot appeared on my bookshelf. I suspect Wil pays gnomes to leak publicity materials to homes in southern California in a desperate ploy to be liked.

Well, it's what Get Discovered would do.

So I'm reading this book, and it hits me: Wil is a good writer.

Then something else hits me: his story is awfully familiar. He's got a voice called Prove to Everyone that sounds like it and Get Discovered could be an old married couple that finish each others' sentences.

Now, this year I've done some amazing work, and Get Discovered is not speaking to me much any more, but he's still here. As I read the book I noted some similarities between Wil and me, particular Wil's having read and been inspired by King's On Writing. Get Discovered kept piping up that I should contact him and try to make a connection. “Wil would obviously see how great you are and do some Hollywood networking magic thing and get you In like Flynn,” he said – whatever that means. Get Discovered likes to think he knows how to talk Hollywood.

I thanked Get Discovered for sharing and enjoyed the rest of the book.

The next day I learned he was going to be in town for a signing, and Saturday I went with my house mate, Aeire, to the Mysterious Galaxy bookstore here in San Diego. Wil read from his new book and talked amiably and was generally funny, personable and genuine.

After the readings, I stood in line with Aeire, whose book is coming out in the fall with a comment from Wil himself. We got two copies of Just a Geek signed and chatted a bit about his book and hers. Get Discovered was saying everything he usually does, being jealous that Aeire knows this celeb, trying to get me to say something to impress him, and generally advising me to not be uncool.

He shut up and huffed out of the room when I introduced myself as a “drooling fanboy.” I've learned that uncool-but-genuine remarks like these generally send him away.

He must have snuck back in later, however, because after I thanked him for a great reading, I mentioned I was working on a screenplay and I would call him for the lead.

A very Hokey and Cali thing to say. However, I meant it. Not as a way to Get Discovered, but if/when I do the work and create the screenplay, peddle it until someone makes it, I think Wil would be perfect for the part, if he'd be interested.

I'll finish it before the end of the year – you heard it here first.

So I have this in common with Stephen King: I grew up in Maine; I read and write horror; I have worked many different jobs before making it as a writer (of course, I'm still working in a sex toy factory).

The King/Wheaton links are Stand By Me and On Writing.

And Wil and I – well, we might as well be the same person: we're both inspired by King, have helpful voices in our heads keeping us form being truly authentic, use Open Office to write, do improv, drink Guinness, and write kick-ass autobiographical essays.

You see what I mean? Obviously there's a cosmic connection going on between the three of us. We need to have brunch or something – though if we have lobster, we'd best get back to Maine, as what they serve here really deserves the name “sea bug.”

Well, okay, maybe there's nothing cosmic about it. I like both guys, and their work, and have been inspired by both. We may never do lunch, we may never be any sort of trio, but if I ever get a chance, I'd love to chat with either of them about The Business. Go all fanboy, maybe, and ask for advice for an up-and-coming. In any case, I'll sure continue to read their books, and write my own. We might even appear on the same list one day (“Authors rejected by Hooters waitresses” perhaps).

But maybe David Sedaris is free for cocktails...

8/25/04