The website now includes subscriber-based story access system…just like Patreon!
In January of 2018, I migrated all of my previously written short stories from this website over to Patreon. Things written and published from 2013 to today. Stories like “KINKED” (©Copyright2014) and “G-Raff” (©Copyright Aug of 2017) were all removed from this site and dropped into Patreon around the January 2018 time (Which led to another incident or two I will blog about later).
Patreon seemed like a great way to put out new material and generate a stream of subscriber income that will fund my future book and writing projects (Editing, Cover designs, marketing, shows, etc). on that site, people agree to donate a monthly stipend (from $1 to $5) and they get early/ exclusive access to writing and artistic products. Even entry into some SWAG contests. It is a brilliant idea and revives the long-standing tradition of the “Patron of the arts”.
I was all in.
Then the wheels came off. There was a weird Cyber-stalkery incident, which I dealt with. But worse, I noticed that Patreon was booting artists and bloggers with little or no explanation.
Following up with the artists, I saw the posts and materials that led to their eviction. It was VERY tame, but it hurt some people’s “feelz”. It wasn’t dishonest. It wasn’t hateful. It was factual and presented a view that APPARENTLY isn’t a view the “Judge and Jury” at Patreon holds. Again, no hate, no derogatory attacks, no violation of any actual standard…just that someone complained because it offended their world view of acceptable “speech/thought”. I always thought “good art” (Written, painted, sculpted, photographed, videos, music,etc) is SUPPOSED to stimulate us emotionally, and intellectually, and not always with a positive “Safe” feeling. That is apparently not allowed anymore (Unless it’s offending a specific group of people that are constant straw-man targets…but I digress).
Unfortunately, those artists and bloggers are now S.O.L.. All of the marketing they did, the effort they put into accumulating content, and the Patrons/Fans they cultivated are GONE. On the button clicking whim of a faceless snowflake, protected by a vague set of rules.
Those that know me from Facebook also know that I can be political in my own feeds. I have done a pretty good job of keeping the politics off of this site, out of my Facebook group, and only in the work where it’s relevant to the story (like here). But I just can’t risk it. An Independent self-published author only has so much time, and funding, to get from point “A” to point “B” (Or from Point “L” to Point “K” according to Larry Correia Alphabetical guide to Author Success).
The reality of the Patreon situation (and platform) was that I was going to drive ALL of my new patrons to the their site…by myself. They weren’t going to help me grow my patronage. And they collect some hefty fees for using their service. Good for them. It was their idea, they should benefit. But I can’t be at their mercy if I’m doing all of the work.
So I added the same sort of subscriber membership participation level right here on my site. And even one more feature that Patreon can’t.
Going forward, stories of substance (beyond flash fiction size) will be published and available immediately to the $2.50 per month “Bar Hopper” and $5 per month “Throttle Twister” level subscribers. The subscriptions continue until cancelled, by you, via PayPal. Those levels can also download the Epub and PDF formats of stories (if available). The next lower cost level is the “Along for the Ride” level for $1 a month. Once stories have been out for 60 days, the “Along for the Ride” level can access them and read online, but they cannot be downloaded. They may also be excluded from special SWAG giveaways. Sorry.
Which brings me to the last level that Patreon doesn’t have and is exclusive to this site. Like you, I HATE it when I have to subscribe to something to see it and then forget to turn off the subscription before the next billing if the site or service wasn’t for me. The “One Trip for 30 Days” option is $1.50 and automatically shuts off after 30 days. No more billing or auto draw. You can sign up for the monthly ones after that, or renew for another 30 days at your convenience. It has the same access as the “Along for the Ride” level.
I’d rather cultivate direct website subscribers, since there are no additional fees taken out. The plan is to regularly put out new content to both platforms, maybe even chapter by chapter of a new book, so you folks get value for your support. This is in addition to putting out published books on amazon and in print.
Thanks for your support.
Ride Safe, Ride Often.
PiR8
