Comments on: What Happened to 43Folders.com?

Question: What Happened to 43Folders.com?

Gerard Sorme — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:24:29 -0800

Help solve a mystery. Merlin Mann has been a prolific blogger, and one of the better productivity bloggers, at 43folders.com. Yet, he's disappeared! 43Folders last post was on September 25th. This is an eternity for this blog - and for Merlin. He had some other projects, but I can't find a record of his presence anywhere online since late September. Detectives?

By: a robot made out of meat

a robot made out of meat — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:27:43 -0800

Merlin is enjoying paternity leave, Ms. Vegetable has heard.

By: a robot made out of meat

a robot made out of meat — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:29:27 -0800

http://zenhabits.net/2008/02/the-10-biggest-influences-on-zen-habits/#more-648

Ms. Vegetable hasn't figure out how to link yet, but that's the web address where she got the rumor.

By: kate blank

kate blank — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:31:55 -0800

If you're looking for internet presence, he's got a very active twitter account.

By: ocherdraco

ocherdraco — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:33:39 -0800

I'm fairly certain his paternity leave ended a while ago. (Though good on him if it hasn't.)

By: junesix

junesix — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:34:43 -0800

I think his focus and direction for 43 Folders is also changing as evidenced by 3 of the last 4 posts (a, b, c). And he's still posting daily over at kung fu grippe, his personal tumblelog.

By: Gerard Sorme

Gerard Sorme — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:45:22 -0800

Well! Mystery solved. Thanks, junesix, for the link for his tumblr page; and Kate, thank you for the Twitter info. It seems so out of character for him to abandon such a high-profile blog like 43 Folders without a post to explain such a prolonged absence. But, whatever Merlin's doing, or has planned - good luck to him!

Thanks all!

By: Gerard Sorme

Gerard Sorme — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:47:50 -0800

After reading the "better" post on his personal blog, I have a better understanding of what's going on. Thanks again!

By: sophist

sophist — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:48:28 -0800

I hear him on You Look Nice Today quite frequently.

By: Nelson

Nelson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:57:41 -0800

He's been too busy hobnobbing with other Internet-famous people.

By: YoungAmerican

YoungAmerican — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:14:01 -0800

Merlin is focusing on writing more in-depth, useful material, and refocusing slightly on the subject of doing creative work, rather than the "tips and tricks" type content that a high post count tends to demand. He's fine, writing a lot, speaking a lot, working on YLNT and his personal blog. In other words: look for less, but bigger, maybe more important stuff from Merlin.

And re: paternity, Mrs. Merlin Mann bore him a she-child, but it was some time ago now. Hell of a baby, though. Great hats.

In summary: Merlin Mann, I love that guy.

By: jessamyn

jessamyn — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:03:45 -0800

[a few comments removed - Merlin is actually human.]

By: merlinmann

merlinmann — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:08:19 -0800

I'm still here. All's well. Just figuring out where I want to go with the site as I also work on lots of other stuff and do a bunch of speaking and consulting work.

Definitely interested in the direction I'd been talking about, but I'm taking my time to decide what that might look like over time — deliberately avoiding the impulse to "post something" just to — y'know — post something.

Probably coming back soon, slow at first, and I'll be looking less at the productivity meta-process stuff the site's (in)famous for, trying to focus more on the demonstrated practical habits that help pathologically creative people become capable of doing what they do on a year-after-year basis. That's the idea anyhow. We'll see.

Sorry to cause concern, and I very much appreciate knowing somebody cares. Still here, just quiet on that front for now.

By: Gerard Sorme

Gerard Sorme — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:11:32 -0800

Thanks for all who took the time to let me know all is well with Merlin. Especially, thanks to Merlin (himself) who took the time to stop by AskMe and put the worries to rest. My best to him and, thanks again to all.

By: verb

verb — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 20:19:05 -0800

Also, for those of the twittery persuasion, merlin's twitter feed at twitter.com/hotdogsladies is consistently amusing. He's a cool guy.

And... oh. hey! He commented, how cool.