This is a transcript of live IM chat with author Jeff Kinney on August 19, 2008. 

Jeff Kinney: Hi everyone! Thanks so much for coming to this chat!

Summer Reading: Welcome to today's chat with the author Jeff Kinney. Jeff worked on Diary of a Wimpy Kid for 6 years and published it online at Funbrain.com. Over 50 million visitors have read the online version and the site is usually read by more than 100,000 kids per day. After Diary of a Wimpy Kid was published in April 2007 it became a #1 New York Times bestseller. His next book, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules also reached #1 on The New York Times bestseller list in 2008. Welcome, Jeff.

Jeff Kinney: Thank you! And I'm ready to take questions!

wimpykidfan: yo dawg

Jeff Kinney: Hi wimpykidfan :)

wimpykidfan: sorry about that, my little brother

Jeff Kinney: While I'm waiting for questions, I wanted to tell you that the third book in the Wimpy Kid series will be out on January 13th of next year....

Naty: hi

Jeff Kinney: Hi Naty!

Jeff Kinney: Also, we've created a "Do-It-Yourself" book.... kind of like a Diary of a
Wimpy Kid activity book... and that will be out in the fall.

Margaret: How did you get the idea for writing Diary of a Wimpy Kid?

Jeff Kinney I had always wanted to be a newspaper cartoonist, but I couldn't break in. I kept a journal during the years I was trying to become a cartoonist. When I looked at my journal, I said, "hey, that seems like a good format for a book!"

wimpykidfan: when did you start drawing?

Jeff Kinney: I strated drawing when I was young... I've been drawing for as long as I can remember!

Jeff Kinney: My first decent drawing was of a turtle :) I don't consider myself to be a good artist... that's why I've stuck with stick figures.

wimpykidfan: do you like my name?

Jeff Kinney: Yes, were you born with it?

Margaret: When you first thought of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, did you do the pictures first or the story first?

Jeff Kinney: I thought of the jokes first, and then I created the pictures. There's not too much "story" to Diary of a Wimpy Kid... just a bunch of jokes strung together into a narrative.

wimpykidfan: when did you draw the turtle?

Jeff Kinney: When I was three!

Margaret: How many Wimpy kids books will you write?

Jeff Kinney: I plan to write at least five, and hopefully, I'll want to continue and write seven!

wimpykidfan: do you play any instruments?

Jeff Kinney: I play piano, but very, very poorly. I never could master any instrument... I'd hit a wall, and I couldn't go any further.

Naty: what genre is this book?

Jeff Kinney: Humor, hopefully. But if you don't think it's funny, then Tragedy.

wimpykidfan: how did you get the idea for fregley?

Jeff Kinney: I think that everyone knows a kid who is a little bit like Fregley.

Margaret: Are you working on another book?

Jeff Kinney: Yes, I'm writing book 3 now. It's written, but I need to do all of the illustrations.

wimpykidfan: are you an only child?

Jeff Kinney: No, like Greg, I have two brothers... but I also have a sister.

wimpykidfan: what do you think is the funniest joke/moment/page in your books?

Jeff Kinney: I think maybe the Fregley booger-on-paper joke... although I wrote it almost 15 years ago, so I don't know whether it's funny any more :)

Margaret: Is Greg in the book like someone you know?

Jeff Kinney: I think he's got bits and pieces of me in him, but he really just represents the selfish side of all of us.

wimpykidfan: is one older and one younger, like greg?

Jeff Kinney: Yes!

doglover: what are you working on currently?

Jeff Kinney: I'm working on book 3... I'm getting ready to spend about a month on the illustrations.

wimpykidfan: on a rating of 1-10 how funny do you think the stelthinator bit is?

Jeff Kinney: Good question... I'd say, maybe a seven?

Jeff Kinney: How about you?

wimpykidfan: i liked it

wimpykidfan: 9.5

doglover: Do you do a rough draft of the illustrations first?

Jeff Kinney: Yes, I do a very crude first draft of the illustrations.

Koldshot: On your website, it says that you make computer games. What kinds of games have you done?

Jeff Kinney: I did most of the games for Funbrain.com, and I created Poptropica.com. Although for Poptropica.com, we have a staff of designers and programmers, so a lot of credit goes to them!

Koldshot: Do you have kids? Do they like your books?

Jeff Kinney: I have a three-year-old and a five-year-old... not quite old enough to read yet!

doglover: Do you think that Diary of a Wimpy Kid will be a movie? If so, who would star in it?

Jeff Kinney: Yes! It will be made by Fox. I'm not sure who will star in it yet!

Koldshot: Do you put your kids in your books?

Jeff Kinney: Not yet, although they're starting to do things that might qualify. Just the other day, my three-year-old tried to go to the bathroom in a toilet in the plumbing department of a hardware store.

Margaret: Do you write other comics?

Jeff Kinney: None successfully!

doglover: That is so cool about the movie! Do you know when?

Jeff Kinney: I don't yet know when it will come out!

wimpykidfan: does a computer make the lines smoother after you draw them?

Jeff Kinney: Well, sort of.... I draw everything by hand on a tablet computer, and most of what you see is what comes out of my hand. But the computer smoothes things ever-so-slightly.

doglover: what was your favorite book growing up?

Jeff Kinney: Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, by Judy Blume.

Margaret: Do you keep a diary? I started one and then forgot to keep writing in it.

Jeff Kinney: I did, but not until I was in my 20's. I kept it up for about three years.

wimpykidfan: how did you start making computer games?

Jeff Kinney: I learned how to use Flash about eight years ago.

wimpykidfan: how are you going to transfer the slouchy, meek-looking greg into the movies?

Jeff Kinney: Hopefully, we can find a kid who has bad posture :)

wimpykidfan: do you live in new york city?

Jeff Kinney: No, I live in Massachusetts.

doglover: Are you going to be in the New York City area any time soon for a book signing?

Jeff Kinney: I come through every so often... I'll post it on my website if we're going to have another signing there. I've been to Books of Wonder three times!

doglover: I love your website. Do you do it all yourself?

Jeff Kinney: Thanks! Yes, I did that all by myself :)

dn: How did you come up with such a great idea?

Jeff Kinney: First, thanks! I came up with the idea after doing a journal of my own in my 20's. It gave me the idea for the format.

wimpykidfan: i have a signed copy of the first wimpy kid =)

Jeff Kinney: Awesome! Did you get it from me, personally?

wimpykidfan: yes, i got it from you, but i wont say my name... heh....

Jeff Kinney: :)

wimpykidfan: tell us about the DIY

Jeff Kinney: Sure. It's a hard book to describe. Half fill-in-the-blanks and create-your-own kind of pages, followed by 16 pages of full-color comics, followed by half a books' worth of blank journal pages, where you can tell your own story, like Greg.

Jeff Kinney: I have no idea how people will receive it... I hope people think the first section is funny. I was trying to create a "My Book About Me" for an older set.

wimpykidfan: cool

LibrarianJess: Hello from the St. George Library, Jeff! Did you dig up childhood memories for inspiration for your book?

Jeff Kinney: Hi St. George Library - yes, a lot of the inspiration form the book came from things that happened to me throughout my life.

dn: how did you come up with the characters?

Jeff Kinney: Good question! Some of the characters come from bits and pieces of people I've met, and some are completely fabricated.

kevind: was it hard to make diary of a wimpy kid

Jeff Kinney: Yes! Very hard. Writing is very challenging for me!

Koldshot: Was middle school the same when you were a kid?

Jeff Kinney: Middle school was no fun for me. I think it's just a tough time for everyone.

kevind: will there be a wimpy kid 3?

Jeff Kinney: Yes! January 13th!

doglover: What does your mother think of your books?

Jeff Kinney: I think she's proud of me... wait, is this my mom?

doglover: When the move comes out, do you think that there will be Wimpy Kid backpacks? What other "products" would you like to see produced?

Jeff Kinney: I'd like to do some merchandise, but I'd like to keep it limited, so everything is of good quality. Backpacks might be a good idea!

dn: Does this remind you of your childhood

Jeff Kinney: Yes and no... but there are bits and pieces of my childhood in the books!

Koldshot: Do you like doing books better or online comics?

Jeff Kinney: Books, for sure! But it's been great to be online!

wimpykidfan: i stayed here the entire time, you know

Jeff Kinney: Yes, very nice of you :)

amya: Your books are so popular! Did you always want to write books for kids?

Jeff Kinney: No... actually, I wrote Diary of a Wimpy Kid for adults!!

Kevind: how did you come up with diary of a wimpy kid?

Jeff Kinney: I started writing it after I created a journal of my own!

Koldshot: I'd like to see Wimpy Kid cards with a joke on each one.

Jeff Kinney: Great idea!

amya: Did you like to read when you were younger? Any favorite authors or books?

Jeff Kinney: I did! I liked Judy Blume, and when I got older, I liked fantasy books. Kids today have a lot more to choose from.

LibrarianJess: Do you have any favorite parts of your books? I know I do!

Jeff Kinney: I like the play sequence!

amya: How long does it take for you to finish a book?

Jeff Kinney: About a year, end to end.

Koldshot: It took you a long time to write the first Wimpy Kid book. Does it get easier and faster?

Jeff Kinney: It doesn't! For a book, I have to write about 600 jokes, and then throw away more than half. Takes a long time!

Margaret: I don't think that I could even think of that many jokes!!!

Margaret: What do you think you will write about after the Wimpy Kid books are done?

Jeff Kinney: I'd like to write a book for graduates... kind of like a guide-to-life thing.

Koldshot: What's your favorite computer game?

Jeff Kinney: I like the Mario Kart games!

LibrarianJess: Do you have other books planned (aside from more of Greg's journals)?

Jeff Kinney: None officially planned yet!

wimpykidfan: me too!
.
amya: What else do you like to do in your spare time?

Jeff Kinney: These days, I don't have any spare time! But I do like spending time with my kids!

Koldshot: Will you make a Wimpy Kid computer game?

Jeff Kinney: I think so, yes!

doglover: If you write a guide to life, what would your top three "pointers" be?

Jeff Kinney: Not sure... haven't thought of any yet :)

dn: do you sometimes read the books you wrote?

Jeff Kinney: It's very hard for me to read what I've written. Painful, actually. I doubt I'll ever read any of my own books again :)

LibrarianJess: Have your kids read your books?

Jeff Kinney: Not yet... they're too young!

Koldshot: I like the Simpsons Guide to Life book. It's really funny.

Jeff Kinney: Oh, didn't even know they had one!

dn: whats your favorite song

Jeff Kinney: Brownville Girl, by Bob Dylan.

Koldshot: What would happen in the game?

Jeff Kinney: I'm not sure! But I think it would involve Rowley and a Big Wheel.

wimpykidfan: do you like the pbs tv show arthur?

Jeff Kinney: I think it's pretty good. I sat next to Marc Brown, the creator, at a book signing!

wimpykidfan: COOL

LibrarianJess: Do you hand write your work, use a computer, crayons, etc.?

Jeff Kinney: I used a tablet computer!

bryan: did you have trouble finding an illustrator

Jeff Kinney: I'm the illustrator, so no :)

kevind: what is you favorite movie?

Jeff Kinney: Braveheart.

LibrarianJess: Me too! Go Scotland!

doglover: What did you major in college? Did you get good grades?

Jeff Kinney: I majored in computer science, got bad grades, then switched to criminal justice, and got good grades.

Koldshot: Wow, were you going to be a policeman?

Jeff Kinney: No, but I thought about becoming a federal agent.

adamadam: Were you a wimpy kid growing up?

Jeff Kinney: Yes, at times!

bryan: when were you born

Jeff Kinney: In 1971.

dn: would you keep on writing diary of the of the wimpy kid?

Jeff Kinney: I'll keep writing as long as the jokes are funny!

doglover: You seem to like black and white. Do you like any colors?

Jeff Kinney: Well, the Do-It-Yourself book will have sixteen color pages!

LibrarianJess: I made a typo and one of the kids in the Children's Room made fun of me :( Do you ever have help coming up with jokes?

Jeff Kinney: I don't, really, but my younger brother spent a lot of time with me on the phone recalling funny things that happened to us as kids!

Koldshot: Are tablet computers hard to use? Do you think my mom would get me one?

Jeff Kinney: No, they're easy to use. And they're not too expensive, either! Not much more expensive than regular laptops, I should say.

dn: i know jess from the St.George library, right now we are both talking to you

bryan: did you ever hear a song from arole smith

Jeff Kinney: Yes... AeroSmith, right? :)

riyaaz: How did you get the idea of writing about a wimpy kid?

Jeff Kinney: I thought it would be fun to write a story about a weakling who is in middle school.

LibrarianJess: Any fun plans for the rest of the summer?

Jeff Kinney: Nope! Just draw draw draw, and then I move.

doglover: who do you want for the next president of the United States?

Jeff Kinney: Hmm... I think it's best to keep that one to myself :)

kevind: i hope you have success with your book Mr.Jeff

Jeff Kinney: Thank you Mr. Kevin!

dn; sorry jessica

kevind: bye

wimpykidfan: did you hear a song from nirvana?

Jeff Kinney: Yes, but they're a bit too gloomy for me. I like stuff that's more upbeat.

Priscillareyes: hello

riyaaz: Do you ever suffer from writer's block?

Jeff Kinney: I ONLY suffer from writer's block. The ideas never flow for me.

DillionK: hi

LibrarianJess: Do you think you'll ever write a book where Greg is an adult? That'd be fun!

Jeff Kinney: I don't think so... sorry! But I like writing about the problems kids face... adult worries don't interest me as much.

DillionK: how do you unblock yourself?

Jeff Kinney: I sit and I sit and I sit and I sit. If I'm lucky, I can come up with one joke every hour and a half.

tonmoy: what is your favorite sandwich

Jeff Kinney: Peanut butter and jelly!

DillionK: what about a girl character?

Jeff Kinney: Remember that everything is seen through Greg's eyes... and he doesn't encounter too many girls. But in Book 3, he falls for a girl named Holly Hills.

tonmoy: where were you born?

Jeff Kinney: In Maryland.

riyaaz: Is there a wimpy kid in your life who has inspired you?

Jeff Kinney: I guess you could say I inspired myself!

LibrarianJess: But some adults are just kids in disguise :(

Jeff Kinney: Very true. I'm one myself!

Margaret: Do you get lots of letters from kids?

Jeff Kinney: I do, but I had to stop receiving them. It got to be more than I could handle!

wimpykidfan: what kind of computer are you on rite now?

Jeff Kinney: A Dell laptop.

DillionK: did you like to read growing up?

Jeff Kinney: I did! I liked Judy Blume, and fantasy novels.

wimpykidfan: whats your fave music genre

Jeff Kinney: I don't have a favorite genre, but I like Bob Dylan!

tonmoy :what is your favorite story?

Jeff Kinney: Growing up, it was Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.

Margaret: Do you try out your jokes with friends before you put them in your books?

Jeff Kinney: I sometimes call up my brothers and sisters to see if they think my jokes work.

riyaaz: then it must have been pretty hateful to be a wimpy kid

Jeff Kinney: I made it through in one piece :)

tonmoy: what's your favorite hobby

Jeff Kinney: I don't have time for hobbies these days, unfortunately! I think my hobby is writing!

wimpykidfan: Do you have any pets?

Jeff Kinney: Not now, but we grew up with dogs.

DillionK: do you think you'll ever team up with another author on any future projects? Or do you like to work alone?

Jeff Kinney: I don't think so... I do like to work alone!

LibrarianJess: Did you dream of being a writer when you were younger?

Jeff Kinney: No, but I dreamed of being a cartoonist! I never set out to be an author... it happened on accident.

DillionK: what's the worst job you ever had?

Jeff Kinney: I was the "Pool Boy" one summer. I cleaned up ice cream spills and throw-up.
 

Margaret: What was the accident that made you a writer?

Jeff Kinney: Well, I really had wanted my work to be published in comic strips, but the only way I could get anyone to read my work was to put it in book form.

alexa: Where you popular in school?

Jeff Kinney: Somewhere in the middle, I think :)

alexa: What are you working on now?

Jeff Kinney: The illustrations for book 3! Should be done in a month.

Summer Reading: Thanks for joining our chat today with Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. You were great Jeff.