Not Paywalled, Not Free ... Exploring an Alternative Model for Funding on Substack

What might a milestone-based model look like here? Where will paywalls fit in? Create Me Free changes to be aware of.

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I recently shared some financial realities with you about my experience with paid subscriptions on Substack. And answered some FAQ. And updated my About page accordingly. And now it’s time to make some changes.

NEW SUBSTACK PAYMENT MODEL: MILESTONES?

I won’t belabor the point about why I’m making changes; the succinct important thing is that I really believe in the collaborative work I do here and the community-building efforts I make to elevate the art/writing of others here but it is extremely time-intensive. And I don’t want to paywall it for reasons explained elsewhere.

So, here’s what I want to try … A community milestone approach … Keeping these types of articles free but only publishing them when enough paying subscribers join in.

The idea comes from things I did over at Patreon years ago. In their model, you can offer individual “perks” to subscribers but also create community milestones so when you receive enough support collectively from everyone, you can offer a new thing. I want to try that here.

Because if you all want the interviews and guest posts and Friday digests, then you’ll collectively support that effort. And if you don’t, that’s okay, too, because that’s information that lets me know that it isn’t valued in the way it needs to be for it to continue. It’s all information. It’s all part of the process of finding the best way to give you the most value for your investment in Create Me Free while creating a sustainable option for me to continue.

When you invest in Create Me Free, you invest in a value system, a community, the creation of a library/archive of online resources about the complex relationship between art and mental health. This supports a societal shift away from a productivity-driven consumer market where your money buys x product that you can use for y amount of time on your own towards a model that supports holistic wellness, deep creative process, and meaningful social contributions.

Here’s what the new model looks like:

• Friday digests are going away and will return monthly, then twice-monthly, then weekly when we reach enough annual paying subscribers.

• Same for interviews and guest posts. With a caveat: If I am already working with you on some kind of collaboration or you’ve already submitted an interview, I am still committed to it. Nothing already in the works will fail to happen (but forgive my slower timeline right now, I’m doing my best!)

• All other writing will remain free, not paywalled, for the time being while we see if this model works.

Here’s what this means by the numbers:

There are currently 25 annual paid subscribers. (AGAIN THANK YOU!!!!!) This supports one new interview each month. So, the model is already working!!!

Here are the milestones for adding back more community-based material:

• When we reach 50 annual subscribers, we can have 2 interviews per month

• Friday digests will return 1x/ month when we reach 80 annual subscribers

• When we reach 100 annual subscribers, we can have 4 interviews per month (plus the one Friday digest)

• Friday digests will return 2x/month when we reach 150 annual subscribers

• Friday digests will return 4x/month when we reach 250 annual subscribers

Put another way (everyone’s brains work a bit differently, and I try to account for that:

• 25 annual subscribers = interview 1x/ month (WE ARE HERE!!!)

• 50 annual subscribers = interviews 2x/month (Our next goal!)

• 80 annual subscribers = interviews 2x/month + Friday digest 1x/month

• 100 annual subscribers = interviews 1x/week (or 4x/month) + Friday digest 1x/month

• 150 annual subscribers = interviews 1x/week (or 4x/month) + Friday digests 2x/month

• 250 annual subscribers = interviews 1x/week (or 4x/month) + Friday digests 1x/week (or 4x/month)

IMPORTANT NOTE: To count towards the milestone all subscriptions have to be annual subscriptions because it’s impossible to count on consistency with monthly subscriptions. Obviously, I appreciate all monthly subscribers as well. It just doesn’t support this specific approach.

I obviously understand that we all have different financial realities. To that end, I offer sliding scale payment options as low as $10 per year. I would truly rather you sign up for $10 per year than $10 per month because it allows me to properly plan and budget for my writing schedule for the whole year.

Choose a rate that works for you:

• 24% off in ‘24 - The 2024 discount rate on an annual subscription

• Flexible Discount - 10% off either monthly or annual subscriptions

• Grateful for the Gift - 75% off one year

• Gotta Pay the Rent Soon Discount - 50% off one year

• Barely Getting By Discount - $10 flat rate for one year

• Lucky 13 Discount - 13% off forever

Other Possible Upcoming Changes

I am considering whether all of the other material I share here, the writing that comes directly from me and isn’t community-building work, should be paywalled in full or part. Right now, it stays free. We’ll see if this is sustainable.

If sweeping changes have to be made, I’m working on a Plan B that honors the existing annual subscribers and hopefully continues to make it worth it to each of you.

FINALLY: GRATITUDE

I want to make sure to let you know that I am grateful that you are here reading this and supporting me in whatever way you’re able to. I don’t say this lightly. It’s a big deal.

HUGEST THANK YOU to the people who are giving financial support. And huge understanding for those that cannot, even at a rate of $10 per year. I want to be clear that I get some really amazing non-monetary rewards from writing here and being a part of this community. I value that. I just have to find the right balance of that with the financial realities if Substack can’t support me more financially. But that doesn’t mean I’m not grateful for all of the other stuff. I value it a lot as well. More than you can know.