I went through the same process, and decided to offer Paid Subscriptions. For those who sign up, I mail (I ask for their mailing address) a handmade Tiny Book with a 100-150 word story, every season. No extra content or posts.
I'm glad you're doing this. My financial contribution in support of your writing isn't with an expectation of perks or more frequent posts, or anything at all. It's twofold: I get the selfishly good feeling of knowing I'm contributing to you as a writer in a concrete way, and you get (from all of us combined) maybe just a bit of breathing room to write what you please, without obligation. Incidentally, tap dancing is tremendously fun, but point taken!
I’m only three months on Substack but I can see myself already falling into the trap of thinking about this platform as a marketing tool and content generator, which has that ick feeling you articulate. I really appreciate your wrestling with this in this article. Your piece resonates and you’ve given me a lot to think about. Thanks!
"What does the market want me to write? Rather than: What do I want to write?" is doing precise diagnostic work. Most burnout narratives stay vague about the mechanism. This one names the exact fork — not overwork, not rejection, but a slow substitution of one question for another until the first one wins by default.
I turned on paid when I posted my first article with zero subscribers. I have nothing paywalled though. It is on an appreciation of content already read premise. Personally, I pay six substackers on this basis, simply because I enjoy their work. We do this everywhere in life, buskers, a better tip than usual, shopping local instead of big box. If someone I give a paid subscription never posts again, no biggie because they’ve already made it worth my while.
I read this and it resonated with me. I too, have been reluctant to charge my subscribers. If I charged them, I would feel pressure to produce more 'product' for my customers. And a lot of what I see on Substack is discouraging-- people posting snarky riposts, usually about sex, touting their literary knowledge, naming big writers of the past (and they work with others, each echoing the last, keeping their names fresh on the scroll, and they garner thousands of followers. I don't get it.
I'm retired, I'm old, and I have a low tolerance for bullshit. Life is short. Anyway, to throw something together once a week that maybe a dozen people will read, get two 'likes' and hardly ever a re-stack, that's too much to put on myself.
My other complaint about Substack is that it hasn't really spurred sales of my books (novels, short story collections). I post about them, do promos, attempt to entertain with some funny (perhaps only silly) articles. But the dial never moves.
Sometimes I think, maybe it's the cost of the books. After all, every day I see articles about how shitty the economy is. But I don't see that. I'm outside of all of that. I get SSI and a small pension, enough to keep me in beer and pretzels, but not enough for European vacations or new cars or anything, not that I ever crave that stuff or do now.
But, $4.99 for one of my ebooks, sometimes $2.99, good, entertaining books that I literally spent years on... I'm asking for chump change for them. And there is really not much of a return.
So, what is it? I don't know and I no longer care. As my wise Globe Guard buddy used to say, 'It is what it is.'
Finally, don't get me wrong. Like most writers, the ones that hang in there over a lifetime, the money is only part of it, but it does indicate interest and competence.
I went through the same process, and decided to offer Paid Subscriptions. For those who sign up, I mail (I ask for their mailing address) a handmade Tiny Book with a 100-150 word story, every season. No extra content or posts.
I love that. Personal touch.
Very cool idea
Hey what’s wrong with rankings?!? (Jk, you make all good points)
Your rankings are immune! I fucking love them!
I'm glad you're doing this. My financial contribution in support of your writing isn't with an expectation of perks or more frequent posts, or anything at all. It's twofold: I get the selfishly good feeling of knowing I'm contributing to you as a writer in a concrete way, and you get (from all of us combined) maybe just a bit of breathing room to write what you please, without obligation. Incidentally, tap dancing is tremendously fun, but point taken!
Thank you so much, Barbara. It means the world. Also, didn't mean to throw shade at tap dancing! I bet it is fun...
I can understand and support all of this Andrew. I’d say keep fighting the good fight but I don’t love that phrase…but I think the intent is apt.
I’m only three months on Substack but I can see myself already falling into the trap of thinking about this platform as a marketing tool and content generator, which has that ick feeling you articulate. I really appreciate your wrestling with this in this article. Your piece resonates and you’ve given me a lot to think about. Thanks!
Love the measure twice, cut once vibe of all this. Respect. Best of luck on the new book. 👊
Appreciate you, Matt, and thanks for being a sounding board early on
That mentoring zoom idea is dope!
Appreciate that man
So relatable...
I only know about famous writers who can't relate to this, and they don't need to be mentioned by name. The rest of us are treading similar waters.
Dang. I needed to read this post. Thank you for writing it.
"What does the market want me to write? Rather than: What do I want to write?" is doing precise diagnostic work. Most burnout narratives stay vague about the mechanism. This one names the exact fork — not overwork, not rejection, but a slow substitution of one question for another until the first one wins by default.
I turned on paid when I posted my first article with zero subscribers. I have nothing paywalled though. It is on an appreciation of content already read premise. Personally, I pay six substackers on this basis, simply because I enjoy their work. We do this everywhere in life, buskers, a better tip than usual, shopping local instead of big box. If someone I give a paid subscription never posts again, no biggie because they’ve already made it worth my while.
I read this and it resonated with me. I too, have been reluctant to charge my subscribers. If I charged them, I would feel pressure to produce more 'product' for my customers. And a lot of what I see on Substack is discouraging-- people posting snarky riposts, usually about sex, touting their literary knowledge, naming big writers of the past (and they work with others, each echoing the last, keeping their names fresh on the scroll, and they garner thousands of followers. I don't get it.
I'm retired, I'm old, and I have a low tolerance for bullshit. Life is short. Anyway, to throw something together once a week that maybe a dozen people will read, get two 'likes' and hardly ever a re-stack, that's too much to put on myself.
My other complaint about Substack is that it hasn't really spurred sales of my books (novels, short story collections). I post about them, do promos, attempt to entertain with some funny (perhaps only silly) articles. But the dial never moves.
Sometimes I think, maybe it's the cost of the books. After all, every day I see articles about how shitty the economy is. But I don't see that. I'm outside of all of that. I get SSI and a small pension, enough to keep me in beer and pretzels, but not enough for European vacations or new cars or anything, not that I ever crave that stuff or do now.
But, $4.99 for one of my ebooks, sometimes $2.99, good, entertaining books that I literally spent years on... I'm asking for chump change for them. And there is really not much of a return.
So, what is it? I don't know and I no longer care. As my wise Globe Guard buddy used to say, 'It is what it is.'
Finally, don't get me wrong. Like most writers, the ones that hang in there over a lifetime, the money is only part of it, but it does indicate interest and competence.
So I'll keep chugging along.
And so should any other writers reading this.
Best!