I Said "Patreon" Out Loud...

[blairmacg]

As in, I mentioned in public that I'm considering Patreon. So in between coaching my nephews through schoolwork and chores -- hours during which absolutely nothing creative can occur -- I read through all the How It Works stuff on the Patreon website, poked around different creator projects to get a feel for things, and sketched out some notes

Comments

[haikujaguar]

This is one of the first things I've heard of that I would pay to have access to. (Particularly if every once in a while we got videos!)

[blairmacg]

Yay! Thank you!

and then...

*gulp* Videos? I... hmmm.

Y'know, for someone who did theater and currently does event speaking, I have the oddest stomach-lurch aversion to making my own videos. On the other hand, my son has promised to teach me how to do it, so... Videos are a possibility, I suppose. :)

[medicmsh]

I generally back creators rather than specific content. Accordingly I would back a Patreon based on the fact that it is/was BY YOU rather than backing specific content thereon

[blairmacg]

Thank you! :)

Interesting point on the locked-content. I personally have NO investment or interest in making content exclusive for long periods of time, but mentioned it because I perceived exclusivity as being a backer's preference. Maybe a you-see-it-first sort of short-term exclusivity to ride the middle ground?

This gives me a great deal to think about--including pogo-kata. I mean, I can pogo like nobody's business, but segway-kata might provide a more effective training protocol.

And we've already covered the chainsaw-wielding bears, so... :)

[timprov]

I'm finding this Facebook group useful in terms of nuts and bolts between creators: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1550973328480472/

There are some things I'm finding discouraging there. Patreon has some technical issues and some operational issues, and they don't seem to be at all timely in addressing them. (For instance, there are at least two bugs that allow people to get content without paying for it, which have existed and been well-known among creators for months, and Patreon has not addressed them.)

[blairmacg]

Aha. Thank you for the pointer to the site!

As a user, there is a certain amount and kind of troubles I tend to willingly accept or forgive, especially if my remaining option is equally if not more difficult to deal with. But there are indeed limits. :) So... I'll poke around to see what I find, and I really appreciate you bringing it up.

[green_knight]

I like the idea of a Patreon in general if it allows you to devote time to things you otherwise wouldn't have time for. I also like the idea of communal tiers - 'if I get x per month, I will...'.

What I dislike is the 'I need to reach X sum before I'll write another article' because that often results in false economies. (You presumably do not get paid $120 for writing an article. In order to get paid that much, you need to research publications and potential topics, and query editors, and be open to, or decline, editorial requests... whereas for your Patreon you can determine what to write and you will get paid by your your backers. Different process, different turnaround times, different model.)

(edited as I've looked at the Patreon page again and misremembered):
Having said that, siderea is running a patreon on a 'x dollars per article' basis which I do not object to - and that's, in fact, a common thing that users promise a certain dollar amount per item

[blairmacg]

Thank you!

Excellent points on the per-article thing, especially in terms of phrasing. I used the $120 as a general number because, honestly, I haven't a clue what the Patreon numbers should be and was looking for a reference since writing material for corporations *completely* skews one's fiction expectations. :)

Also, I like your input on the exclusivity. As I mentioned above, I don't have any interest in keeping content hidden, but thought others might prefer it. I'd much rather have the content open.

[resonant]

Writers sometimes will add a fan as a character, or someone else that a fan proposes. I got author Jeff Carlson to write Tanya Huff into a book. She got eaten by nanobots. At a book signing, I then got Tanya to sign a copy of Jeff's book, and I gave it to him as a gift.

[blairmacg]

I love this! Both the idea and the anecdote!

I truly enjoy putting people in my stories, either with names or personalities or both. In Chant, most all the gods' names come from friends and family. Forex, Ved is the little troublemaker god who gets blamed for small mischief. My son's name is Dev. :)