William J. Meyer

Hi. I write things.

I'm a playwright, novelist, and audio drama producer. I enjoy writing about spiritual crisis, misplaced guilt, religious terror, environmental madness, doomed romance, and cosmic chaos. Sometimes robots.

I wrote and directed an hour-long version of my play The Birthing Pit, a Gothic Romance at the end of the American Revolutionary War, in the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Audiences called it "Beautiful," "Haunting," and "Macabre."

My independent audio fiction has been chosen as a Platinum Selection of the HEAR Now Festival • A Showcase Selection of the PodTales Festival • Co-Winner of the Audio Verse Awards' Writing of a New Spoken Word Production • and awarded Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form) from the Parsec Awards.

I'm from Wisconsin but now live in...

Hi. I write things.

I'm a playwright, novelist, and audio drama producer. I enjoy writing about spiritual crisis, misplaced guilt, religious terror, environmental madness, doomed romance, and cosmic chaos. Sometimes robots.

I wrote and directed an hour-long version of my play The Birthing Pit, a Gothic Romance at the end of the American Revolutionary War, in the 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Audiences called it "Beautiful," "Haunting," and "Macabre."

My independent audio fiction has been chosen as a Platinum Selection of the HEAR Now Festival • A Showcase Selection of the PodTales Festival • Co-Winner of the Audio Verse Awards' Writing of a New Spoken Word Production • and awarded Best Speculative Fiction Story (Long Form) from the Parsec Awards.

I'm from Wisconsin but now live in Los Angeles. I miss the snow but not the cold.

In May of 2024 I had a heart attack. The doctor described it as “massive.” Please monitor your cholesterol. If you live a sedentary life— writing, creating with computers— get off your butt. The day will start like any other.

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Scripts

In the Presence of Things Unseen

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
6—8
Genre
drama,
horror,
period,
political,
science fiction,
tragedy

Sometime after the war, the new recruit of a secretive Clinic is dismayed when she is prematurely thrust into the line of duty and forced to communicate with an ancient, extra-dimensional intelligence. The terrifying experience triggers confrontational memories of her recently deceased brother, invites the erosion of her ethics, and underscores the Clinic’s promise of power.

An Atomic Gothic sci-fi story set in...

Sometime after the war, the new recruit of a secretive Clinic is dismayed when she is prematurely thrust into the line of duty and forced to communicate with an ancient, extra-dimensional intelligence. The terrifying experience triggers confrontational memories of her recently deceased brother, invites the erosion of her ethics, and underscores the Clinic’s promise of power.

An Atomic Gothic sci-fi story set in a fictitious nation during the 1950s.

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The Sound of Many Oceans

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
3
Genre
drama,
horror,
mystery/thriller,
science fiction,
tragedy

Alex believes a micro-circuitry device has been attached to his body to reshape his brain and prevent him from hearing the sound of oceans. His friend and Confidant Jules agrees to search his body. Later, Advocate Jules interrogates Kelly, determined to uncover the secret location of an invisible, formless being of cryptic and dangerous power.

A sci-fi conspiracy set beneath the stars and within the mind.

Alex believes a micro-circuitry device has been attached to his body to reshape his brain and prevent him from hearing the sound of oceans. His friend and Confidant Jules agrees to search his body. Later, Advocate Jules interrogates Kelly, determined to uncover the secret location of an invisible, formless being of cryptic and dangerous power.

A sci-fi conspiracy set beneath the stars and within the mind.

The Birthing Pit

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
4—5
Genre
drama,
horror,
mystery/thriller,
period,
tragedy

They followed the blood. And the blood followed the gold.

At the end of the American Revolutionary War, John and Castella flee a mysterious pestilence in the Caribbean.

But as they sail home during a supernatural storm, the condemned Atabei kills the ship’s captain— and tragedy stalks all three.

A Gothic Romance at the end of the American Revolutionary War.

They followed the blood. And the blood followed the gold.

At the end of the American Revolutionary War, John and Castella flee a mysterious pestilence in the Caribbean.

But as they sail home during a supernatural storm, the condemned Atabei kills the ship’s captain— and tragedy stalks all three.

A Gothic Romance at the end of the American Revolutionary War.

All Praise the Ikon - Episode 01: Irrational

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
10
Genre
drama,
mystery/thriller,
political,
radio drama,
science fiction

Six months after the disgraced Chairman returns, seizes power, and occupies the City-- divergent plots of resistance converge in perilous ways as subversives seek to nullify the new government’s authoritarian Algorithm, the ubiquitous computer program said to obey the sacred Ikon.

An audio drama currently in production.
Visit my website for updates.

https://bywilliamjmeyer.com/ikon

Six months after the disgraced Chairman returns, seizes power, and occupies the City-- divergent plots of resistance converge in perilous ways as subversives seek to nullify the new government’s authoritarian Algorithm, the ubiquitous computer program said to obey the sacred Ikon.

An audio drama currently in production.
Visit my website for updates.

https://bywilliamjmeyer.com/ikon

Waiting to Die in a Tent, A Few Thoughts on Valhalla

by William J. Meyer

1
Cast Size
5
Genre
drama,
fable/folktale,
fantasy,
period

The old viking warrior Einarr and his young friend Mikel battle to protect their distant city of Reidun. When Einarr is mortally wounded, Mikel sets out to locate Einarr’s estranged daughter Kára for a final father-daughter reunion. But before they can return, a mysterious figure finds Einarr alone-- and about to breathe his last.

A short play about a father and a daughter in the Viking Age.

The old viking warrior Einarr and his young friend Mikel battle to protect their distant city of Reidun. When Einarr is mortally wounded, Mikel sets out to locate Einarr’s estranged daughter Kára for a final father-daughter reunion. But before they can return, a mysterious figure finds Einarr alone-- and about to breathe his last.

A short play about a father and a daughter in the Viking Age.

The Maimed King of Three Hundred Winters

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
3
Genre
adventure,
fable/folktale,
faith-based,
fantasy,
period

Joseph and Evelake arrive on the shores of England, planning to secret the Holy Grail inland to the town of Glastonbury. The brigand tracking them might be the least of their perils. . .

A short play about friendship, faith, and the Holy Grail.

Joseph and Evelake arrive on the shores of England, planning to secret the Holy Grail inland to the town of Glastonbury. The brigand tracking them might be the least of their perils. . .

A short play about friendship, faith, and the Holy Grail.

How High This Final Tally

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
1
Genre
docudrama/historic,
drama,
period,
political,
zoom

Christopher Latham Sholes, newspaper publisher and politician, successfully campaigned to end capital punishment in the state of Wisconsin, resulting in the State Assembly passing his Death Penalty Repeal Act on March 9, 1853.

A monologue.

Christopher Latham Sholes, newspaper publisher and politician, successfully campaigned to end capital punishment in the state of Wisconsin, resulting in the State Assembly passing his Death Penalty Repeal Act on March 9, 1853.

A monologue.

A Wish For My Forever

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
1—2
Genre
docudrama/historic,
fable/folktale,
fantasy,
radio drama,
science fiction,
zoom

A lonely being reflects on waiting four and a half billion years to be reunited with its absent lover.

A monologue.

A lonely being reflects on waiting four and a half billion years to be reunited with its absent lover.

A monologue.

Monologues, Excerpts

by William J. Meyer

Cast Size
1
Genre
adventure,
drama,
fable/folktale,
fantasy,
horror,
melodrama,
mystery/thriller,
period,
political,
science fiction,
tragedy,
young audiences,
zoom

Excerpts from longer works, intended for actors seeking monologues for auditions, reels, and performance.

From The Sound of Many Oceans, Sting of the Scorpion, Waiting to Die in a Tent..., The Birthing Pit, Secrets of the Eyebringer, The House That Jack Built, And Worms Do Not Destroy.

Excerpts from longer works, intended for actors seeking monologues for auditions, reels, and performance.

From The Sound of Many Oceans, Sting of the Scorpion, Waiting to Die in a Tent..., The Birthing Pit, Secrets of the Eyebringer, The House That Jack Built, And Worms Do Not Destroy.