Help Desk

Frequently Asked Questions

About ChuckPalahniuk.net

1. What is ChuckPalahniuk.net?
2. Who runs the site?
3. How old is the site?
4. Where is the site located?
5. Who comprises the staff?
6. How can I become a part of the ChuckPalahniuk.net team?
7. Someone on your staff was mean to me.  Who should I talk to?
8. How come you charge for this site?
9. But don’t you charge for Chuck Palahniuk’s craft essays?
10. Does Chuck Palahniuk earn money from the essays?
11. So if the site earns income in this matter, why do I see banners all over the place?
12. How many hits does this site get?

About Chuck Palahniuk and the Site

1. Does Chuck Palahniuk run the site?
2. But the site is official, yes?
3. So then granted, Chuck is not webmastering or editing the site, but you did say he participates in the site?
4. So how do I write to Chuck then?
5. What if I just want Chuck to sign my book?

Technical Questions

1. The website is acting wonky.  What’s up?
2. How do I login?
3. I forgot my password? What do I do?
4. I’ve found a bug on the site.  What do I do?
5. I’ve found some dead links, who do I tell those about?

Payment Questions

1. How much does the site cost?
2. Can I sign up for monthly membership?
3. What does that $39.95 get me?
4. Didn’t you used to charge for the Forums too?
5. I  can’t afford to pay.  What do I do?
6. I am so completely moved to tears by that gesture, that I want to sign myself up to become a Sponsor.  How do I do this?
7. How do I give the gift of ChuckPalahniuk.net to all my friends?
8. How do I help promote ChuckPalahniuk.net?
9. Not a good analogy, bro.  I’m in the armed forces.  Do you have a problem with that?
10. Okay, I give up.  I can’t find anything wrong with you guys.  I love you and I want to sign up.
11. Right, here’s the question: How do I register for the site?

About ChuckPalahniuk.net

1. What is ChuckPalahniuk.net?
   ChuckPalahniuk.net is the official site of bestselling author Chuck Palahniuk.  Chuck Palahniuk is the author of Fight Club, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, Choke -- Wait.  You know who Chuck is, or else you probably wouldn't be here.
2. Who runs the site?
   The site is run by Dennis Widmyer (webmaster and creator), Mirka Hodurova (forum manager, merchandise & operations) and Kirk Clawes (programming, graphic design)  Mark Vanderpool runs the Writers Workshop, and is the lead administrator there.
3. How old is the site?
   Depends on when you're asking.  I can tell you that it was created on September 18th, 1999.
4. Where is the site located?
   Well, we don't have an official office or anything.  Though we could use a good secretary some days.  The site was originally run out of Dennis Widmyer's home and office on Long Island, NY.  Dennis now lives in Los Angeles.  Mirka Hodurova, Dennis' partner on the site, is based in Oakland, California.  Kirk Clawes operates out of Chicago, IL area, while Mark Vanderpool resides in Kentucky.  The rest of the staff is spread out across the country, with Brad Choma, a designer for the site, living up in Toronto, CA.
5. Who comprises the staff?
   Dennis heads things as Webmaster.  He edits most of the content on most of the pages.  He also liaisons between Chuck Palahniuk, his Agent, and his Publishers.  Mirka Hodurova maintains the forums, finances, and much of the merchandise.  Kirk Clawes is the Site Programmer and, not only designed the latest version of the website, but also helps Dennis and Mirka conceive of many of the big ideas for the site.  Clayton Gerstner, our newest addition to the team, handles much of the coding on the site and was responsible for resurrecting and fully re-programming the new Writer's Workshop.    Mark Vanderpool is our lead administrator on the Writer's Workshop, and puts together and leads all of our Master's Class Programs, serving as the main liaison and point-person between the authors and the students of each intensive.  (read our Master’s Program FAQ here) And rounding out the team is Brad Choma, who is the site's main graphic designer.  Together with Dennis, Brad helps market the site by creating professional banners, wallpapers, splashes, and even posters and DVD covers.
6. How can I become a part of the ChuckPalahniuk.net team?
   We are currently not looking for anyone to join our staff, but ChuckPalahniuk.net is always taking on freelancers.  In the past, we’ve had independents create banners for us, conduct interviews, and even design new versions of the website.  Most recently, we are looking for potential Book Reviewers and especially, Journalists interested in getting great Interviews for the site.  If you’d like to offer your specific servers, you may contact us at info@chuckpalahniuk.net.
7. Someone on your staff was mean to me.  Who should I talk to?
   Nobody.  Go stew in the corner for five minutes and then rejoin us later. We’re a loyal bunch, and we work very hard to please you.  So if somebody or something rubs you the wrong way, get over it or find somewhere else to play.
8. How come you charge for this site?
   We are a "freemium" site, meaning the entire site is free, with the exception of  one... and it's a feature that’s well worth every penny: The Writer’s Workshop.  Conceived by Dennis Widmyer and Chuck Palahniuk, the Writer’s Workshop has been a highlight on our site since 2004 and is already responsible for turning a blooming force of readers into writers. For more on the Workshop, check out our tour page.  We also have a separate Writer's Workshop FAQ.
9. But don’t you charge for Chuck Palahniuk’s craft essays?
   Yes, these members are a highlight for Premium Members, are utilized in the Writers Workshop as homework assignments and tools for improving ones crafts.  Trust me, they are completely worth it.
10. Does Chuck Palahniuk earn money from the essays?
    No, Chuck ‘lends’ the essays to our site, and doesn’t ask for any financial gain from them.  He may one day decide to pull the essays from the site (as he did from 2006-2007) in order to use them as chapters in a future book on writing.  But for now, he is content to reach his fans in this method, so that when he doesn’t have a new book out, and isn’t touring, he remains active.
11. So if the site earns income in this matter, why do I see banners all over the place?
    We like to think the banners are tasteful, but there’s always a Firefox add-on if you don’t prefer them.  Either way, if you think we earn a lot of money from this site, I must dispel that rumor right now.  None of us earn a living off the site.  Which is why we don’t have an office (and that secretary I mentioned earlier).  We squeak by.  We all still have day jobs, yet probably spend more of our hours each week working on this site, than at the actual employment that gives us a paycheck.  The advertising income we receive from the banners is the best source of income we get.  And our hope is to one day earn enough from them, that we can make every element of the site free.
12. How many hits does this site get?
    For a list of our stats, check out our About Us page.

About Chuck Palahniuk and the Site

1. Does Chuck Palahniuk run the site?
   You weren’t reading closely before were you?  No, Dennis Widmyer runs the site.  Chuck Palahniuk merely endorses the site. He’s been participating with the site in various ways since its creation in 1999.  He doesn’t, however, manage, maintain, edit, or even much view the site really.  Chuck’s a modest guy, and frankly, the idea of coming to a place where his image is plastered all over, and with a forum where people sometimes discuss things as trivial as his haircuts, tends to have a negative effect on him.  So while he appreciates everything the site has done for him, we think he prefers to pretend it doesn’t exist most days.  For lack of a better phrase: it helps him ‘keep it real’ and just focus on his next novel.
2. But the site is official, yes?
   Yes, it has been since 2002.  But Chuck has a tendency to sometimes call it an ‘official fansite’.  We’re fine with this title, as it’s probably a little more accurate.  ‘Official’ makes it sound like Chuck is sitting in his home office every night, reading emails from the site, and then posting ‘stickys’ on the forum and uploading pictures.  An official author site, in my mind, is something like NeilGaiman.com, where Neil himself is posting blogs everyday, and managing most of the content.
3. So then granted, Chuck is not webmastering or editing the site, but you did say he participates in the site?
   Yes, in many ways.  Besides emailing Dennis with updates on his career, news about upcoming books, and exclusive tour information, Chuck also used to send in monthly essays to the Writer’s Workshop where he gave lessons on his craft to would-be writers.  During 2004 through 2005, he even held monthly (and then quarterly) Q&A sessions with members of our site.  During the past few years, he has also allowed the site to serve as his official middle-man in sending in fanmail.  At random times every few years, Chuck will open up a ‘fanmail window’.  During that time, we post his agent’s address on the site, and Chuck allows any and everyone to send letters to his agent, which then get forwarded onto him.  Chuck personally reads and replies to every letter, usually sending you a gift package in the process.  It’s an exciting time for fans when this goes down, and just another one of the many reasons that make Chuck’s relation with this site special.
4. So how do I write to Chuck then?
   Unless he has the fanmail window open, you can’t.  When that window IS open, we will post it loud and clear on our Mailing Policy page.  In the meantime, personal mail for Chuck is NOT to be sent to anyone on this staff, nor his agents or publishers.  Doing so will ensure it gets tossed in the trash bin faster than a Penny Saver.
5. What if I just want Chuck to sign my book?
   Well that’s different.  During a fanmail window, Chuck only allows letters anyway.  So regardless, you wouldn’t be able to send him anything to sign at that time that couldn’t fit into a standard envelope.  No, if you just want a signed book, or even a personally inscribed book, we have a unique set up with St. Helen’s Book Shop, a local Oregon store that Chuck visits quite occasionally to sign inventory.  For more, visit their site here.

Technical Questions

1. The website is acting wonky.  What’s up?
   Well, email us first, and define ‘wonky’.  Before you do though, clear your browser cache by deleting your temporary internet files.  Then, make sure your running the latest version of said browser, and reload and refresh.  If the problem still persists, email problems@chuckpalahniuk.net. Be sure to explain exactly the problem you’re having.  Also tell us some information about you computer, including: operating system (PC, Mac, OS), screen resolution (800x600, 1024x768, 1280x1024, etc), and the type of browser you’re using, and what version (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera, etc).
2. How do I login?
   You can login from the top of any page.  Or, you can Register here.
3. I forgot my password? What do I do?
   Go here and you can request us to email it to you.
4. I’ve found a bug on the site.  What do I do?
   Let us know about it, quick, so we can squish it!
5. I’ve found some dead links, who do I tell those about?
   For dead links, email here.  Just be sure to tell us the exact page, where the link is on the page.  And better yet, if you can provide us with an updated URL, that would be splendid.

Payment Questions

1. How much does the site cost?
   $39.95 for the year.
2. Can I sign up for monthly membership?
   No, we now only accept yearly memberships.
3. What does that $39.95 get me?
   Full access to our Writer’s Workshop.  All 23 of Chuck Palahniuk’s archived essays on writing.  All 14 of Chuck’s Q&As on writing.  As well as the 2008 essays and potential inclusion into our 2011 Writers Workshop Anthology book, that Chuck will be editing himself.  More on this here.
4. Didn’t you used to charge for the Forums too?
   A long time ago, we did.  We quickly abandoned that idea.  We then had something called a ‘Forum Add-On package’ for $10, which gave you a large inbox for your private messages, a larger avatar, and allowed you to post larger images.  We’ve since done away with that and made the entire forum free.
5. I can’t afford to pay.  What do I do?
   Well, if you’re not serious about your writing, you don’t have to do anything.  There’s plenty to enjoy on the other 99% of the site.  And you’ll still get the essays from Chuck Palahniuk.  You’ll just have to wait an extra month for them.  But if you’re helbent on become a Premium Member (as you should be), we have a program whereby you can Request Sponsorship.  You enter your name and email address on that form, and a kind member from our site may step up and decide to pay for your membership.  It’s happened before.  So don’t be surprised if it happens to you.
6. I am so completely moved to tears by that gesture, that I want to sign myself up to become a Sponsor.  How do I do this?
   You become the coolest person in the room, and march over to this desk right over here: Become A Sponsor.
7. How do I give the gift of ChuckPalahniuk.net to all my friends?
   We accept Gift Accounts here.  (coming soon)
8. How do I help promote ChuckPalahniuk.net?
   You can Refer A Friend, (coming soon)  Or even better, you can Join The Cult Army and download some of our awesome banners.  The more you spread them around, the higher your rank will climb.  The higher your rank climbs, the longer we keep you in the army.  ;)
9. Not a good analogy, bro.  I’m in the armed forces.  Do you have a problem with that?
   Not at all.  We love our soldiers.  And they love us.  Don’t believe me?  Check out this picture.  And this one.  Oh, and this one too!  That’s a squad of soldiers in Iraq posing with ‘ChuckPalahniuk.net’ stickers.  We hosted a drive a few years back to have Cult members send soldiers their books, for a library they were building in their barracks.  Chuck got involved too, and bought the remaining inventory of Fight Club hardcovers from his first publisher, WW Norton.  He then signed them all and send the entire box to the soldiers in Iraq.
10. Okay, I give up.  I can’t find anything wrong with you guys.  I love you and I want to sign up.
    Wait, that’s not a question!
11. Right, here’s the question: How do I register for the site?
    Ahh, that’s better.  You can Register for the site here.  Congratulations.  The first step is the most important.