I'm making ~$400 per post on Patreon now. Maybe it does seem like a good idea. I'm not sure. Even if I was making $1000 per post, it doesn't seem good for the posts to only be available to members. Part of the point of writing for me is to spread information. Patreon feels kind of like a museum where you have to pay to get in.
Maybe if I were making $1000/post it could be worth it. I could make $20k/year for 20 posts a year. But then part of my time would be spent making ~1000-word posts instead of writing another book.
I've felt guilty sometimes, on Patreon, thinking that people need to pay $3 to read ~1000-word posts by me, when they could pay $15 for ~75,000-word books by me.
Maybe I'll end my Patreon and make the posts I've made there free. This kind of doesn't seem fair to the people who paid, because then they'll have paid just to read the things on there earlier than other people. I feel troubled by Patreon.
*UPDATE* I added a post that's free and public titled Canadian Gay Porn Site. *UPDATE*
*AUG 28 UPDATE* I made all the posts free/public and am stopping using Patreon. *AUG 28 UPDATE*
i also get caught in the loop of feeling like my work should be accessible and free of capitalist obligations > legitimate work should be adequately compensated.
ReplyDeleteI know of a podcaster (can't remember their name now) who uses Patreon but also equally advertises that if you cannot donate to send an email and they would send a link to the content/feed, all requests granted, zero questions asked. thought that was interesting. everybody has different reasons for spending their money how they do.
I like the patreon. It gives me a chance to throw some money your way while at the same time read something that might get you banned from a website where it could be read for free (since most free websites rely on appeasing advertisers).
ReplyDeleteGive everyone a refund and make all your posts free. It'll make people buy your books in the longrun.
ReplyDelete