Introducing "Wordle by Wordle"
A Wordle-of-the-Day Serialized Novel
Why Can’t I Quit Wordle?
My starting word is “spice,” I don’t play on hard mode, my current streak is 245 days, and I have a 99% win rate.
Like most people, I jumped on the Wordle bandwagon in early 2022. Back when Twitter was a mosaic of gray, yellow, and green squares. When everyone boasted (or commiserated) about their day’s guesses, and of course, there were memes aplenty.
Much like that halcyon summer of Pokemon Go, it felt like everyone was part of one big happy communal experience that had somehow transcended the confines of the screen. Wordle had become more than a game—it was the great unifier in a uniquely isolating time.
Fast-forward to today, when life continues mostly, mercifully once more in-person, and Wordle’s daily user count has shrunk to a fraction of what it once was.
But I still play every day. It’s the first thing I do after I wake up, it’s a foolproof talking point for me and my parents (also diehard Wordlers), and hey, it’s fun. I’m also a writer, so it’s no surprise that I enjoy playing with words. Which is why I will soon be launching:
Wordle by Wordle: A Wordle-of-the-Day Serialized Novel
Every day starting January 1, 2024, I will write and publish part of a continuous story that incorporates the daily Wordle answer. Though I have a rough idea of the shape I’d like this story to take, I will let that day's Wordle guide and inspire each new installment.
I experimented with this format a bit before committing to the idea. At first, I’d planned to start each installment with that day’s Wordle as the first word. But, if you look at the earliest Wordles, you’ll see “cigar,” “rebut,” and “humph” out of the gate. Not exactly the best words for sentence-starters, unless you want every sentence to be a non-sequitur.
So instead, I’ll be incorporating (and flagging for the reader) the daily Wordle within each new installment. My goal is to complete this novel by the end of 2024 (or sooner), which means writing about 200 words a day. But we’ll see! I’m sure there will be unanticipated snags and surprises along the way. And I do hope you’ll come along on this writing journey with me.
By subscribing to my Substack, you will get the latest installment of Wordle by Wordle delivered to your inbox every day. I aim to publish each daily segment at about 11 p.m. Pacific Time, hopefully long after everyone has had the chance to do that day’s Wordle. But know that THERE WILL BE SPOILERS!
Still on board? Good! Let’s see how this story unfolds, Wordle by Wordle.
Yesssssss!!!