The History Behind TheWeirdCrap.com: A Journey of Passion and Persistence
A Humble Beginning
TheWeirdCrap.com started over 20 years ago with one simple mission: to share user-submitted fiction and create a space for new writers to showcase their creativity. Back then, submissions came via email, and the site was hosted for free on Angelfire.com. You can still check out the original version here.
The Evolution of the Site
Over the years, the site went through many redesigns as I experimented with web design. If you’re curious, the oldest version from 2001 is preserved on the Internet Archive. Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for the 2002 layout, but I’ve learned a lot since then!
A Break, but Never Gone for Good
By 2015, life had shifted—college, jobs, and family commitments took priority. For a while, I had to choose between my family and this “silly hobby.” But despite the growing financial pressures, I kept the site running because I couldn’t bear to let it go.
Now that the kids are grown and I have more time to focus on passions outside of work, I decided it was time to bring TheWeirdCrap.com back to life.
Technological Shifts and the WordPress Era
Around 2008, I moved the fiction section to a WordPress platform (it was Blogger before that). I even used a custom JavaScript setup to allow automatic story submissions, a pretty groundbreaking idea at the time. Unfortunately, it attracted a lot of spammers, and soon the site became less secure. At the same time, the columns were on Blogger.com, which also had its own set of challenges.
Consolidation and the New Look
The original site, WordPress fiction section, Blogger columns, and the old comic section were all disconnected and no longer functioning as they once had. To make things simpler and more user-friendly, I decided to consolidate everything into one unified website. The new site you see today is a true accomplishment from a technical perspective, and everything is now under one roof—neat, organized, and ready for a new era.
What’s Next?
While I’m not sure if we’ll get the same level of participation as we did in the past, I’m excited to see where this new chapter takes us. If you’re new here, I encourage you to dive into some of the fiction archives—there are some truly entertaining stories from the past. If you enjoy what you read, bookmark us and visit again soon.
Your next favorite story might just be waiting.
