By The Way...

Friday, December 7, 2007
6:55:00 PM EST
Hearing Nothing at the moment
Hey folks. I know springing important announcements on a Friday evening is not cool, but on the other hand I wanted to share with you as soon as I had all the information squared away.

Here's the deal: My contract with AOL for By the Way and Ficlets expires at the end of the year, and is not going to be renewed. It's possible that after December 31, I may continue to blog for AOL in some form or another -- we're leaving that door open -- but at the moment there are no concrete plans. So Monday, December 31 is my last official day here.

I want to make one thing clear: AOL is not doing wrong by me with this. Indeed, this is an ending jointly arranged. I have been very fortunate recently that my fiction career has taken off, and I want to be able to devote more time to it. As enjoyable as By The Way is, it and Ficlets take up a good deal of my work day. My wife and I have been talking for some time about what I would need to do in order to start working on books full time, and now we're at the point where it's possible for me to do so. Ending my official tenure here at the turn of the calendar just feels like the right time to do it.

AOL is going through changes as well, so this leave taking comes at a good time for them, too. One of the very nice things about this particular chapter closing is that it's happening on excellent terms on both sides of the equation; good enough that I won't hesitate to work with AOL again when and if they come calling. We've discussed some things as possibilities, but again, nothing concrete at this point. We'll have to see what the future holds.

I'm telling you this now because I didn't want this to come as a surprise, and because I didn't want you to think it comes as a surprise to me. This way we have enough time to enjoy each other's company here and part well, at least to the extent that involves me writing here (because, after all, I'm not disappearing, or even going offline. I just won't be writing here). One of the things I cherish -- and will always cherish -- is the community we have here. It wouldn't be fair of me to spring this on you suddenly. Not after four and a half very good years.

Now, a couple of things to know:

First, By the Way is not going to disappear. Right now the plan is to leave it standing, so you'll be able to go through its archives, and you don't have to worry about your links vaporizing.

Second, although I will no longer be officially working on By the Way after the New Year, it's entirely possible I will still occasionally post here from time to time. Because, you know, why not? Even if I will no longer have an official role here, I love the AOL Journal community, and I'd still like to be part of it, even just as a civilian. So don't take me off your Journal Alerts yet. I may surprise you by showing up every once in a while.

One thing I absolutely want to be clear about is that even though this parting is going to come at a good time for me, I am immensely proud of what we all have built here in AOL Journals. I have been honored and humbled that you have made your online homes here, taken part in the Weekend Assignments and Photo Shoots, shared laughs and jokes with me, and generally have been such wonderful people to spend life online with. I wouldn't have traded one moment of being part of this community. Thank you.

But let's not get too ahead of ourselves. We still have the rest of December, and we still have a lot of fun yet to have. As I said, this is not going to be a sad parting. Let's make it a good one.

I'm going to leave this up at the top post over the weekend. If you have questions and such, go ahead and leave them in the comment thread. I'll answer them there or in a follow-up post on Monday.

Also, just so you'll know I haven't forgotten: I'll post links from this week's Photo Shoot on Monday, along with the Weekend Assignment answers.

See? Still on the job.



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This entry has 46 comments: (Add your own)

• #46 Comment from lurkynat
  12/23/07 12:02 AM | Permalink

  Dear John,
  I did post a tribute to you at my blog.
  http://technorati.com/tag/Tribute+to+JohnScalzi
  Please read it my friend.
  (getting upset)
  Because you know
  When you go
  A great big Hole
  Will be experienced
  by the whole of us
  Aol journalers
  sniff, sniff
  hugs
  natalie
• #45 Comment from karensull12
  12/21/07 10:34 PM | Permalink

  Take good care.
• #44 Comment from monponsett
  12/20/07 8:48 AM | Permalink

  A) I deserve my own tribute entry here... I put in work on these comments, and deserve 1A status
  
  B) Will they be filling this gig with someone else, or are AOL Journals about to go POOF?
• #43 Comment from monponsett
  12/19/07 11:24 PM | Permalink

  Awwww....
  
  I'll miss you. I had a lot of fun visiting this page. I wish you all the best.
  
  Don't be offended by the rat reference, as coastal people such as myself know that rats are smart... they sort of have a sense about certain vessels, and hop back to the wharves from the doomed ones.
  
  I hope you sell a zillion books, win more Yugo Awards, and all that good stuff. Best of luck!
  
  - Stacey
• #42 Comment from sdoscher458
  12/17/07 11:13 PM | Permalink

  Oh I have been neglecting reading journals, sorry to hear that you are not going to be doing this much longer. Although I am happy for you that your books are going over well, and I know how much time it takes to write just one chapter.
  Wish you lots of luck and will look forward to reading you sometimes when your time allows. Thank you for the last four and half years....Happy Holidays...Sandi

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