Jeff Kinney, the mastermind behind the beloved Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, is at it again, celebrating the milestone of 300 million books sold worldwide. But what's next for this children's literary icon?
Backstage at one of his sold-out events in Chester, where thousands of copies of Partypooper, the 20th installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, wait to be signed, Kinney exudes an air of focus and calm. This is a far cry from the frenetic atmosphere that greets fans at one of his live shows, which feature walk-on characters, audience participation, and a healthy dose of chaos.
Kinney himself admits he's not natural-born performer material. In fact, as an introvert, he often finds it daunting to be in the spotlight. However, with the success of Wimpy Kid, he's had no choice but to adapt, becoming a jack-of-all-trades who writes books, screenplays for Disney movies, and even dabbles in town planning.
When asked about his next move, Kinney reveals that while he doesn't have an end goal per se, he does feel a sense of restlessness. Having achieved the milestone of 300 million books sold, he's now looking to push the boundaries of what's possible with Wimpy Kid. "I'm not embarrassed by it," he quips, likening himself to Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts. After all, cartoon characters can thrive for decades, and Kinney sees no reason why Wimpy Kid should be any different.
As a writer, Kinney is meticulous in his craft, relying on an elaborate process involving journaling and Systematic Inventive Thinking to conjure up new jokes and ideas. And with this formula in place, it's clear that Wimpy Kid will continue to run for years to come.
"I'm very aware of how lucky I am to not have to introduce myself to the public when I have a new book," Kinney notes wryly, acknowledging his status as a legacy author. "I'm more like a legacy person now, and I like that better." As he ponders what's next for Wimpy Kid, it's clear that the future is bright – and chaotic – for this beloved cartoon character.
Backstage at one of his sold-out events in Chester, where thousands of copies of Partypooper, the 20th installment in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, wait to be signed, Kinney exudes an air of focus and calm. This is a far cry from the frenetic atmosphere that greets fans at one of his live shows, which feature walk-on characters, audience participation, and a healthy dose of chaos.
Kinney himself admits he's not natural-born performer material. In fact, as an introvert, he often finds it daunting to be in the spotlight. However, with the success of Wimpy Kid, he's had no choice but to adapt, becoming a jack-of-all-trades who writes books, screenplays for Disney movies, and even dabbles in town planning.
When asked about his next move, Kinney reveals that while he doesn't have an end goal per se, he does feel a sense of restlessness. Having achieved the milestone of 300 million books sold, he's now looking to push the boundaries of what's possible with Wimpy Kid. "I'm not embarrassed by it," he quips, likening himself to Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts. After all, cartoon characters can thrive for decades, and Kinney sees no reason why Wimpy Kid should be any different.
As a writer, Kinney is meticulous in his craft, relying on an elaborate process involving journaling and Systematic Inventive Thinking to conjure up new jokes and ideas. And with this formula in place, it's clear that Wimpy Kid will continue to run for years to come.
"I'm very aware of how lucky I am to not have to introduce myself to the public when I have a new book," Kinney notes wryly, acknowledging his status as a legacy author. "I'm more like a legacy person now, and I like that better." As he ponders what's next for Wimpy Kid, it's clear that the future is bright – and chaotic – for this beloved cartoon character.
jeff kinney is literally a genius 
i mean i know hes not his fans fave performer but like come on he's got to make an appearance or two 
and i love how humble he is about it too, i mean who else gets compared to charles schulz? 
anyway idk what's next for wimpy kid but im def keeping an eye out for it 
im just gonna keep on buying the books till jeff kinney decides to retire and ill be the happiest fan ever 
hes always been super organized in his work, which is super inspiring if u ask me 
and let's be real, the man is a master of creating chaos in a good way 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see more of Greg Heffley's misadventures? The fact that he's embracing his legacy status is also pretty cool – it shows he's not afraid to take control and shape the direction of Wimpy Kid. Bring on the next installment! 
. As someone who loves DIY projects, I'm always inspired by people who aren't afraid to try new things. And Kinney is definitely a master of reinvention – from books to screenplays to town planning! 
can u imagine wimpy kid on the big screen tho? 
i think wimpy kid will be just as successful in the future, maybe even more crazy with how much success they've had already! 
can you imagine what kind of zany adventures rudy and his crew will get up to next? 
anyway i'm thinking it would be awesome if he started a wimpy kid animated show or even a movie franchise 
I ship him trying to make cartoons too, that'd be so much fun 
his dedication to writing is insane 
i love how he's not worried about repeating himself or getting stale – his process of journaling and Systematic Inventive Thinking is so cool 
cant wait for what's next for Wimpy Kid 
. I'm excited to see what he comes up with next, maybe some spin-offs or even a TV show? 
. Can't wait to see what Kinney has in store for us next! 
maybe he could design a whole city based on diary world? 
wouldn't that be wild?
. As a writer, it's awesome that he has such a structured process for coming up with jokes and ideas – maybe we can learn from him 
. Can't wait to see what's next for Wimpy Kid 
. And can you believe he's still feeling that restlessness? 
it's awesome to see him wanting to push the boundaries of what's possible with Wimpy Kid 
.
? That's more than some countries' entire populations! 
. That's like, an eternity for some people 
.
!
. Still, I'm sure Jeff Kinney will figure something out. He seems like a pretty chill dude, so maybe he'll just keep doing what works