#16: opening up the test kitchen, a new Patreon
Hi there!
First off, please know that this tinyletter isn't going anywhere. It is, however, going to switch to a monthly letter. But, because you are my most favorite of favorites, I wanted to share with you that I'm testing out something new, trying my hand at starting up a Patreon. Because obviously this is exactly what to do when you're on deadline and writing 3,000 words a day! ;)
If you don't know what Patreon is, it enables fans of creators to kick in various amounts (whatever they can afford, pledges start at $1) either on a monthly or a per creation basis. In exchange you get access to special content and rewards and chances to interact with other patrons. I've been considering doing a Patreon for awhile, because I really think it's an interesting model. I believe in supporting creators with love and dollars, and I also believe very much in the value of developing a stronger community among your readers and the people invested in your stories (and your success). Patreon seems like a great platform for doing that.
So, what kind of things will I be doing there? I'm sure it will evolve -- I've set some initial goals and laid out some rewards, but some of it will be determined by what people want. Right now, envision it as everything from you reading things similar (but deeper and more involved) than these tinyletters to snippets of ongoing work to maybe someday funding my ability to write you a sequel to The Woken Gods. I expect all of these goals to take time, but I'd really love to make this work because I miss writing more thoughtfully about what I'm reading and sharing craft advice and writing and life advice on a more regular basis. For me to be able to do that, I need to be able to justify the time. If this works, it will, and it'll be a great secret agent clubhouse for not just my work but I hope to encourage your own creative endeavors.
You can see a video I filmed there (minus the super dorkiest first second ever that I had to cut!) and read lots more about why I'm doing this and where your $$ would go. Things are going well, but this is a household of artists. Savings? Bwahaha. So, why not test out a new model like this? It's scary, but so's everything. So is making any kind of art.
If you can chip in a $1 or $25 or whatever, every month (charged at the first of the month), you have my utmost thanks. I'll do my best to make it worth your investment. You'll get access to content, which you can take advantage of or not. And I also know that some of you are teens and not able to pitch in on this necessarily, and so let me be the first to assure you I'll still be around on all the places on the interwebs and I'll still be sending you a gabby monthly letter. I will never put myself behind a paywall, and there will sometimes be public posts even on the Patreon.
Once again: here's the link to sign up. Your first patron post will be a teeny peak at Triple Threat, and there's a public post about my writing this week too.
Sending you love and hoping for your "Become a Patron" clicks, and next time you get one of these I won't be selling anything, promise,
Your friendly neighborhood Gwenda