Today is the day to do something just because you can.

How many times have you said to yourself (possibly while drunk or whatever), "Dude, wouldn't it be cool if we...?" and then promptly forgot about it? Today's interviewee actually does those things.  His first book, Are You Dave Gorman? was what happened when he and a friend decided to see how many people in the world were named Dave Gorman.  Join Me, was his tale of starting his own (successful) cult. And his newest book, The Yes Man, is what happened when he decided to quit saying "no" to life.  And he's got plenty of other projects going on as well so I'm glad he took a bit of time for me.

The Danny Wallace Interview: Slightly Less Than Twenty Questions  

How much does your writing dictate your everyday life? So many of your projects seem to entail more than sitting down for a few hours a day and writing.
Yeah, the projects tend to have a life of their own - things have calmed down a bit, now... I'm no longer saying Yes to absolutely everything, and my cult is kind of running itself... so I can sleep in and then watch Ricki Lake in my pants.

Did you ever consider taking a different writing path, like fiction or poetry, that involves less interaction with your life?
Not really. I'm not sure if I'd be any good at fiction, and poetry isn't something I can see myself getting too involved in, either. I think real life - to quote the clichÈ - can be stranger than fiction, and to be part of that story is fantastic fun.

Do you ever run out of ideas, or worry that you will?
I guess that's a worry - mainly because if I run out of ideas for fun things to do, then the fun itself will stop. But I've been doing odd things most of my life - hopefully, I can squeeze a few more years out before retirement...

Youíve been compared to Douglas Adams. Are you a fan of his work?
Absolutely. Although until recently I hadn't really read any of it. I started to read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy recently, and I was struck by something odd... we both set a lot of our scenes in a pub called the Horse and Groom. Given that Douglas wrote while at the BBC, and I worked for a while in the very office that HHGG was first made, it can only be the same pub, nestled just around the corner from the BBC... I will raise a pint to him the next time I'm in there. PG Wodehouse is another firm favourite.

Thereís a difference between having a gimmick and taking a funny theme and writing about it skillfully. Do you meet any writers who seem to get crabby and say things like ìI could write that!î (When they probably couldnít, at least not well?)
Not writers, but yeah, there've been a few comments. I think the thing to remember is just because something is easy to read, that doesn't mean it was easy to write. I want to write in a very accessible way, so that everyone can feel part of the story. It means I'll never win a Booker Prize, but it also means that people who've never finished a book can hopefully end up finishing mine. I know which I prefer. The Booker, obviously. Tish tosh, I'm joking.

You published in several magazines by the age of 16: how did you break into freelance writing?
By being a childhood nerd. I was very into Sega and Nintendo when I was a teenager. At school. we had to do work experience. They offered me the chance to dig some ditches. I decided that probably wasn't the way ahead for me. So I badgered a Sega magazine into letting me come in and help out. One day, a reviewer got sick, and they gave me the chance to write for them. The rest, as they say, was nerd heaven.

What is your favorite cult or sect?
The Followers. They simply follow people around, making copious notes about what they get up to. For no reason whatsoever. Brilliant.

Why donít girls like cult leaders?
I dunno. They certainly seemed to like them in the past. I got into the cult game at the wrong time. No women or money. Just admin.

Whatís been your latest random act of kindness?
I paid for an African man to do a creative writing course. And that's true.

 A lot of your projects involve being nice to people.  Even though youíre obviously an inherently nice person, can you share with us a nice juicy story about being rude or an ass to someone?
Piss off.

Also, Iím sick of hearing how awesome Live 8 was. You blogged  about it: was there anything annoying or poorly-planned about it from your perspective? Did anybody play a bad set or anything?
It was brilliant to be backstage and hear U2 messing up their chords. Even they do it! Ace.

Your apartment, an old match factory, sounds very cool. Are there still signs around that it used to be a factory or have all relics been rehabbed out?
No. It is shiny and minimalist now, and everyone uses lighters.

According to interviews and accounts of ìJoin Meî and other  projects, many of these ideas get started because you were bored. Would you say you bore easily in general?
Yes. I'm amazed I made it  to this question, in fact.

Whatís the latest news on the Yes Man film?
There's a very funny man sitting in a room in LA with two other very funny men, tapping out a script on what I like to imagine is a 1950s typewriter, but is probably something with a flat screen and a DVD burner. So progress is being made...

What are some of your favorite movies?
"The Castle," "The Dish," "Waking Ned Devine," "Nuts In May"... films full of humour, killer lines and likeable characters. I also like films where the blow stuff up, though, but this is to be forgiven, because I am a boy.

In all the photos I see of you, you seem to be working the eyebrows a lot.  Do you do this consciously and practice this very much? Do you maintain eyebrow upkeep?
It is a gift. In fact they both are.

Do you keep a file of ideas (for books, shows, stunts etc) that  havenít panned out, either because theyíre not that great of implausible? Can you share any?
Not really. I like to just see what happens to me. That's kind of how I think of Join Me, for example. Not something I did - but something that happened to me.

Have you ever started an idea, like Join Me or Are You Dave Gorman and realized that seeing it through was going to be a lot more work than you anticipated? Or is it always fun?
It always ends up being a hell of a lot more work than you think - but it always ends up being a hell of a lot more fun, too.

How does it feel to be the 128th person interviewed for Zulkey.com?
I've gone all fizzy.

More interviews here.