It is a struggle! But as you say, I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer. It is all just a big experiment. I have been thinking about how I can use my paywall as more of a Patreon like place. Currently those who pay get a monthly creative invitation, usually something like journalling prompt, plus an affirmation card, and an exclusive video of me talking about how my month has been. I got a few sign ups for the paid content initially...and then the last couple of months has been crickets. I do just have the one 'upgrade to paid' blurb in each post. I have been thinking about making the content behind the paywall more like my old Patron with art tutorials etc, but this place is also for my writing (granted, there is crossover in that a lot of my writing is about my art), so I don't want to turn it into the same burn out fiasco that Patreon became for me. But anyhoo, thank you for the nudge to think about it all again and remind myself that there is no right or wrong way - it is all an experiment!
Yes! It could be really great to get together and nut stuff out, then come back a couple months later with what we find, what needed adjusting, new phases of the experiment. I'm up for it!
I think I have spent more time wrestling with this than anything else on the platform! "Going Paid" was a no-brainer, and I'll tell anyone that listens to do it on Day 1. The struggle came with what to do from there? Do I paywall certain things? Send out "extra" posts? Adopt a PBS-style model?
I wish I had a solid answer, but right now I paywall everything after 3 weeks. I also send out a link roundup on Saturdays that's paywalled, but that's it. Will I change it up again? Maybe. In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away- writing about stuff I love and hoping people will love it too.
I've been thinking long and hard on the paywall thing. I have mine on, but the only stories I put there are stories of the sawmill I used to work in. It was a somewhat dysfunctional place to say the least. I don't mind writing about the mill, but it's not what I envisioned when I started my 'Stack. I want to write my short stories. Well, they're more like 'novelettes', because they're close to 19,000 words. And I have a serial novel I've been putting up. I told everyone if they want to read the stories about the mill, fine, but they're going up behind the paywall. No takers. I have 7 Paid subscribers, but they paid the first week I was online. They're friends of mine.(And one is my brother.) They don't care if I put anything behind the paywall because they just want to support me. I wish everybody felt that way.
Catching up on reading and writing after a trip, and this article sucked me right in. One thing your list of what you "overheard in the cafe" makes me recognize is how much the presentation/wording of the prompt to upgrade/pay affects me (or turns me off). I don't intend to put up a paywall because I'm creating a "home" for all my writing on another subscription-based platform specifically for fiction writers. However, I wonder about turning on subscriptions as an option for those who want to support my work here. I've had several 'pledges' just sitting there waiting for me to move that slider. Yet, I haven't. I'm not sure why. Perhaps, as you mentioned, imposter syndrome has a role. Lots to think about. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns. I appreciate all the comments and other various perspectives, too.
Thanks, Gina and best wishes for your fiction site and the decision about what to do with this one. I think we'll eventually figure out what works with this paywall stuff but may take awhile.
I restacked your post with a longer comment about this issue. It’s a dilemma I wrestle with too. I used to keep everything free, with a paid option for people interested in financially supporting my work.
Then I put older archived posts behind a paywall. A couple of months ago I started making the first week’s issue of each month free and paywalling (after a preview that still had helpful info) the others. I gifted paid subscriptions to a few long-term subscribers and others who regularly comment on, share, or otherwise support my posts. But none of the free subscribers paid to upgrade.
And I would write even if very few people read, let alone paid for, my work. But I also need to earn enough to at least pay basic living expenses, and I’m not sure how to do that.
I have the option to become a paid subscriber on, but I'm not putting anything behind a paywall. Instead, I added a couple fun games and ideas to offer to people who want to pay. But I haven't announced it to my newsletter. Even when I do, I'm not going to push it. Although, this is a great post that delves into the struggle with deciding to pay, so I'm saving it to (hopefully remember) to mention when I do talk about why someone might become a paying subscriber.
Thanks for writing this, Joyce. It’s a thing I’ve been thinking on too. The friends and fans distinction is something I’ll consider in future contemplations. An immediate thought to throw in the mix is that I have friends with businesses, who I willingly, happily support by gracing their business, using their services.
I’ll add another thought. Went to a workshop with Laurie Stone yesterday, and she mentioned that we, especially those of us who are women, are used to being asked to do unpaid labor and that a feminist act is to say I won’t do that. She was speaking more specifically to contests and such that ask for reading fees and other places that call for submissions but don’t pay fees.
No conclusions at the moment. Just thoughts. I haven’t yet gone paid but want to at some point.
Again, thank you. It’s good to discuss these things in community. ❤️
Yes ... the discussion is so helpful and good point about the cultural expectation that women will work for duty and love without expecting a fee. A further complication.
Hi Joyce. I don't envision a time I will put up a paywall. I jumped in and gave subscribers the option to pay and I do have a few, which I will work to grow in the future, but not by paywalling.
Here's my two cents:
-I first arrived at Substack in February of this year, so I'm still figuring it out myself.
-I subscribe to several newsletters. I've started to unsubscribe to ones that put a paywall in near the beginning of their posts.
-I willingly pay for subscriptions to newsletters where I feel a) I want to support a newer writer AND they are offering me some insight or information that I want to learn about. b) It's not behind a paywall so I can actually read it for long enough to know if this is something I will read regularly. c) They are offering such a great service, that I will happily pay the Founders rate to have access to various workshops and information instead of paying for each piecemeal.
-I paid for Margaret Atwood, well because she's Margaret Atwood. I notice in her recent post(first one since she asked for paid subscribers), it was MOSTLY all there for free. One small story was left for if you were a paid subscriber. It was literally an add on and wasn't necessary to get the gist of her whole post. What was available for every subscriber was brilliant.
Apologies this is so long, but you really got me thinking about this. I want to read and I love discovering new people and different ideas on here. Would that still be the case if we were all behind a paywall?
I don’t foresee it. I think it will be more like add ons for paying subscribers. Either access to workshops or more personal essays. I’m not sure about the “extras” yet, but it will come to me as I keep moving forward I’m sure.
I like what you’re saying here. I’m new to Substack this year too and am starting to develop my thoughts around what feels good and welcoming (and thus, what I’ll eventually do with my own stack, now entirely free). This says we’ll what I’m coming to.
This morning started with a bit of curiosity and pulled me into the familiar rabbit hole of paywall strategy. Sorry to go on so long ... I just can't quite get to the bottom of this one. I could blame @ @kathryn vercillo for luring me once again into this frequently explored space ... but I was already teetering on the brim. I did get perhaps a millimeter closer with the arrival of the question of "friends or fans?" This is a web post only.
It is a struggle! But as you say, I don't think there is a right or a wrong answer. It is all just a big experiment. I have been thinking about how I can use my paywall as more of a Patreon like place. Currently those who pay get a monthly creative invitation, usually something like journalling prompt, plus an affirmation card, and an exclusive video of me talking about how my month has been. I got a few sign ups for the paid content initially...and then the last couple of months has been crickets. I do just have the one 'upgrade to paid' blurb in each post. I have been thinking about making the content behind the paywall more like my old Patron with art tutorials etc, but this place is also for my writing (granted, there is crossover in that a lot of my writing is about my art), so I don't want to turn it into the same burn out fiasco that Patreon became for me. But anyhoo, thank you for the nudge to think about it all again and remind myself that there is no right or wrong way - it is all an experiment!
Thanks, Natalie for sharing your thinking and would love to hear where you wind up on this. I'm wondering if there's a zoom call on all of this?
Yes! It could be really great to get together and nut stuff out, then come back a couple months later with what we find, what needed adjusting, new phases of the experiment. I'm up for it!
I think I have spent more time wrestling with this than anything else on the platform! "Going Paid" was a no-brainer, and I'll tell anyone that listens to do it on Day 1. The struggle came with what to do from there? Do I paywall certain things? Send out "extra" posts? Adopt a PBS-style model?
I wish I had a solid answer, but right now I paywall everything after 3 weeks. I also send out a link roundup on Saturdays that's paywalled, but that's it. Will I change it up again? Maybe. In the meantime, I'll keep plugging away- writing about stuff I love and hoping people will love it too.
Kevin ... sounds like a solid plan ... especially the writing stuff you love part.
I've been thinking long and hard on the paywall thing. I have mine on, but the only stories I put there are stories of the sawmill I used to work in. It was a somewhat dysfunctional place to say the least. I don't mind writing about the mill, but it's not what I envisioned when I started my 'Stack. I want to write my short stories. Well, they're more like 'novelettes', because they're close to 19,000 words. And I have a serial novel I've been putting up. I told everyone if they want to read the stories about the mill, fine, but they're going up behind the paywall. No takers. I have 7 Paid subscribers, but they paid the first week I was online. They're friends of mine.(And one is my brother.) They don't care if I put anything behind the paywall because they just want to support me. I wish everybody felt that way.
Catching up on reading and writing after a trip, and this article sucked me right in. One thing your list of what you "overheard in the cafe" makes me recognize is how much the presentation/wording of the prompt to upgrade/pay affects me (or turns me off). I don't intend to put up a paywall because I'm creating a "home" for all my writing on another subscription-based platform specifically for fiction writers. However, I wonder about turning on subscriptions as an option for those who want to support my work here. I've had several 'pledges' just sitting there waiting for me to move that slider. Yet, I haven't. I'm not sure why. Perhaps, as you mentioned, imposter syndrome has a role. Lots to think about. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and concerns. I appreciate all the comments and other various perspectives, too.
Thanks, Gina and best wishes for your fiction site and the decision about what to do with this one. I think we'll eventually figure out what works with this paywall stuff but may take awhile.
Echoing what you've written and what everyone else has commented on.
I'm currently just focusing on my writing and submitting some stories to literary magazines and into writing contests.
I've got the pay thing turned on, but only a handful have paid. I'm rambling, it’s frustrating, just trying to not let it eat away at me.
I restacked your post with a longer comment about this issue. It’s a dilemma I wrestle with too. I used to keep everything free, with a paid option for people interested in financially supporting my work.
Then I put older archived posts behind a paywall. A couple of months ago I started making the first week’s issue of each month free and paywalling (after a preview that still had helpful info) the others. I gifted paid subscriptions to a few long-term subscribers and others who regularly comment on, share, or otherwise support my posts. But none of the free subscribers paid to upgrade.
And I would write even if very few people read, let alone paid for, my work. But I also need to earn enough to at least pay basic living expenses, and I’m not sure how to do that.
I have the option to become a paid subscriber on, but I'm not putting anything behind a paywall. Instead, I added a couple fun games and ideas to offer to people who want to pay. But I haven't announced it to my newsletter. Even when I do, I'm not going to push it. Although, this is a great post that delves into the struggle with deciding to pay, so I'm saving it to (hopefully remember) to mention when I do talk about why someone might become a paying subscriber.
Patricia, I've heard of others doing the same thing. Adding the option to pay but not actually paywalling any content.
How is that going for you? I've always wondered about the psychology behind it lol. It seems like it would be an interesting experiment.
I can't say much on how it's going yet as I only did it last month and I haven't really announced it.
cool idea
Thanks for writing this, Joyce. It’s a thing I’ve been thinking on too. The friends and fans distinction is something I’ll consider in future contemplations. An immediate thought to throw in the mix is that I have friends with businesses, who I willingly, happily support by gracing their business, using their services.
I’ll add another thought. Went to a workshop with Laurie Stone yesterday, and she mentioned that we, especially those of us who are women, are used to being asked to do unpaid labor and that a feminist act is to say I won’t do that. She was speaking more specifically to contests and such that ask for reading fees and other places that call for submissions but don’t pay fees.
No conclusions at the moment. Just thoughts. I haven’t yet gone paid but want to at some point.
Again, thank you. It’s good to discuss these things in community. ❤️
Yes ... the discussion is so helpful and good point about the cultural expectation that women will work for duty and love without expecting a fee. A further complication.
Hi Joyce. I don't envision a time I will put up a paywall. I jumped in and gave subscribers the option to pay and I do have a few, which I will work to grow in the future, but not by paywalling.
Here's my two cents:
-I first arrived at Substack in February of this year, so I'm still figuring it out myself.
-I subscribe to several newsletters. I've started to unsubscribe to ones that put a paywall in near the beginning of their posts.
-I willingly pay for subscriptions to newsletters where I feel a) I want to support a newer writer AND they are offering me some insight or information that I want to learn about. b) It's not behind a paywall so I can actually read it for long enough to know if this is something I will read regularly. c) They are offering such a great service, that I will happily pay the Founders rate to have access to various workshops and information instead of paying for each piecemeal.
-I paid for Margaret Atwood, well because she's Margaret Atwood. I notice in her recent post(first one since she asked for paid subscribers), it was MOSTLY all there for free. One small story was left for if you were a paid subscriber. It was literally an add on and wasn't necessary to get the gist of her whole post. What was available for every subscriber was brilliant.
Apologies this is so long, but you really got me thinking about this. I want to read and I love discovering new people and different ideas on here. Would that still be the case if we were all behind a paywall?
Thanks for the long ... I need to hear these things. Do you think you'll ever have a paywall?
I don’t foresee it. I think it will be more like add ons for paying subscribers. Either access to workshops or more personal essays. I’m not sure about the “extras” yet, but it will come to me as I keep moving forward I’m sure.
I like what you’re saying here. I’m new to Substack this year too and am starting to develop my thoughts around what feels good and welcoming (and thus, what I’ll eventually do with my own stack, now entirely free). This says we’ll what I’m coming to.
I don't see any downside to giving subscribers the option to pay, but not instituting a paywall. That's what I decided to do this past week.
robertsdavidn.substack.com/about
This morning started with a bit of curiosity and pulled me into the familiar rabbit hole of paywall strategy. Sorry to go on so long ... I just can't quite get to the bottom of this one. I could blame @ @kathryn vercillo for luring me once again into this frequently explored space ... but I was already teetering on the brim. I did get perhaps a millimeter closer with the arrival of the question of "friends or fans?" This is a web post only.