I dont mind paying what Im paying, but your posts being infrequent, and Id bet a dollar that most of us feel the same way. Maybe ask in a post?
Also: less frequent posts will make people care more. Im too busy to read every House Call. Less posts is a good thing all around in my opinion. Take the money and run.
Either way, Ive got my little workshop I stole from here, and will have a book worth reading to sell in the near future.
Last one, it took me a minute to catch on and get to the meat of my thoughts:
What I’m trying to say is that if you were only active on here for an hour at a time, 2-6 times per year, its still worth $70. Im confident that the majority of subscribers feel similarly, but would rather they speak for themselves.
May as well collect that money for the animals. I actively ignore my phone and computer as much as possible and welcome less notifications from here.
Physical books have the added joy of being one of the few mediums where adds wouldn’t work as one could just simply rip said add pages out the book (and possibly save some money on toilet paper in the process)
I love this Substack and don't mind paying for it, but $5000 would be out of my price range. I appreciate thoughtful posts like this as you're making your decisions.
I think you need to just do whatever it takes to do whatever it is you want and love. I will always come back and read whatever it is you write - just do what you need to do for you Chuck.
I really enjoy your weekly Substack but I couldn’t even afford to save my own life for $5k a year. You could always just post less frequently, we will still be here!
Hey Chuck, love dipping into your world on occasion and read what all the writers are musing about, that said when I find myself reading too much online and not enough book books and not working myself I feel scattered, I would just go back to reading your books more. Enjoy your work immensely and will continue to support it in any way, though 5k subscription would be interesting, I would expect to be read bed time stories a few times a week for that price.
The above photo is from a party I attended last week. A well-connected book agent told me that some 700 independent book stores opened in the U.S. last year. All 'round, I hear good news about physical books. The A24 news was great!
Chuck I love you and you are the reason I joined Sub Stack but I can’t afford $5K. I hope this is a joke. If it isn’t, I wish you the very best. I will miss your content. It is the best part of this place.
There would still be free content, but less often, and only what I felt was truly useful. I do not expect anyone to pay the $5000, but it's the only way to choke off the paid folks for now.
Going beyond just Substack, I find I can’t really think about my writing process to a great depth because I’ll just start overanalysing and becoming extremely picky and doubtful with what I’ve produced and/or will produce. Starting a new writing project usually begins when I’ve managed to temporarily cripple my ego for a while, or whatever idea I’ve got excites me to a point that the voices of my doubts can’t be heard over the sweet sing song voice of said idea
That’s exactly it! I can usually tell when I’m going to eventually write something because the idea seems too good or too fun to waste and the thing’ll just haunt me if I don’t get around to exorcising it
I need to know more about this 5k figure. Is that the suggested individual subscription price for the year? Or is that the amount you'd make per month based off of all paid subscriptions combined?
I had thought of this. Personally, I think you are BEYOND generous with your time and effort here, Chuck. I think about getting off this platform daily (I almost deleted yesterday!). Part of it is that my time on here does cut into my writing or other kinds of art (it takes tiny slugs out of my creativity). But mostly, as an old addict, I realize my tendency to want to post something not because that is what feels like it should come out, but because it feels either expected or that the pleasure center of my brain is poking me to do it.
My suggestion, if I could give you one as a paid subscriber here, is to do what feels natural to you. You give us all here so much! The house calls are all out there now. People can go back and read them and pick them apart if they want to learn. It’s a huge resource! Personally, I would, at this point, rather see you post some random musing on avocado toast or the tidal sand-winds of the Sahara, do what you do best, get weird—get really fucking human, or yes, get the fuck off this platform, as it, like all social media, is the killer of artistic vitality.
I've never really minded paying the subscription cost, even when are posts are slow to come. I see it as a way of showing gratitude. If it wasn't for your Substack and the regular discussions around craft, my writing would not be finding the small successes that it is at the moment. This week I'm being featured in Strange Pilgrims, in a month or two I'll be in a queer speculative mag called Baffling Magazine, and after that I'll be appearing in the "Poisoned Folk Tales" anthology. That's all, in no small part, due to what you do here.
I'll always be happy paying a fee for all of the education and entertainment you've brought into my life. However, if it's blocking your creativity and causing stress, then of course I'll cancel. I'm not a monster, I just write about them.
No matter what, you've made a nice killer community here that's ready to support you however they can. 🖤
This substack has been a delightful little way to connect with my favorite author. I'm a writing student, and it was some of your advice that encouraged me to commit to fiction writing, so the tidbits you provide here are always so so valuable. That being said, I'd much rather have many many books to read from you than consistent posts here!
Even with far fewer posts, I think it would be worth my money, but I know that keeping paid subscribers at all might leave that guilty itch as things often do. If you do remove paid subscribers, I hope you find some other way for occasional fan interaction, though seeing what some people are messaging you and knowing the large fanbase you have I know that can be tricky and lowkey scary. Really, what's been best about subscribing here is seeing that you're a person, just like me or anyone else! That's obvious, of course, but it's still cool to see that your creative hero is just a cool guy.
Totally unrelated, actually, but while we're here and before the paid arm of the substack possibly disappears - do you do much in the way of book festivals? I work for a pretty big book festival in my area and we're currently in the invitation process. I'm very eager to nudge them to send you an invite for Galleria, but I thought it would be worthwhile to ask if you're interested in those sorts of things before making it my coworkers problem.
I’ll be one of those last minute forgetters. Fortunately, there hasn’t been 5,000 in my account in like… ever so it’ll just bounce. It usually sends me a yearly reminder.
In any case post whenever the fuck you feel like obviously. I’ll wait. I am itching to read your new book. And hope you find the space to write more. Cheers!
I don’t mind paying the same each month even for more infrequent posts. I came here with no expectations other than the occasional update from an author who has shaped a lot of my creative practice. Maybe a once-monthly House Call or something for paid subscribers to keep up the illusion of incentive could work? Or something else similar?
I guess it comes down to you knowing whether or not this income is just additional or helps you on a monthly basis.
Just post at your leisure. Make this last on the list.
I would not care at all if you only post every few weeks. Quarterly, whatever.
But $5000 per year sends most of us packing.
That would be the point.
I misunderstood.
I dont mind paying what Im paying, but your posts being infrequent, and Id bet a dollar that most of us feel the same way. Maybe ask in a post?
Also: less frequent posts will make people care more. Im too busy to read every House Call. Less posts is a good thing all around in my opinion. Take the money and run.
Either way, Ive got my little workshop I stole from here, and will have a book worth reading to sell in the near future.
Last one, it took me a minute to catch on and get to the meat of my thoughts:
What I’m trying to say is that if you were only active on here for an hour at a time, 2-6 times per year, its still worth $70. Im confident that the majority of subscribers feel similarly, but would rather they speak for themselves.
May as well collect that money for the animals. I actively ignore my phone and computer as much as possible and welcome less notifications from here.
Physical books have the added joy of being one of the few mediums where adds wouldn’t work as one could just simply rip said add pages out the book (and possibly save some money on toilet paper in the process)
I love this Substack and don't mind paying for it, but $5000 would be out of my price range. I appreciate thoughtful posts like this as you're making your decisions.
Thanks. Trying to keep things transparent.
I think you need to just do whatever it takes to do whatever it is you want and love. I will always come back and read whatever it is you write - just do what you need to do for you Chuck.
I had to do the same a few years back. Too many words to juggle…and I don’t know how to juggle.
I really enjoy your weekly Substack but I couldn’t even afford to save my own life for $5k a year. You could always just post less frequently, we will still be here!
Of course, the $5000 is meant to drive off paid subscriptions. Otherwise, this is no elegant exit strategy.
Fair enough! Regardless, I will always enjoy whatever you write and sincerely appreciate your feedback last year!
Or raise the price.
Or use Substack to test the new chapters for the sequel to Consider This.
Then release the book a year from now.
Either way, I love every email you send.
And I’d gladly pay more.
Hey Chuck, love dipping into your world on occasion and read what all the writers are musing about, that said when I find myself reading too much online and not enough book books and not working myself I feel scattered, I would just go back to reading your books more. Enjoy your work immensely and will continue to support it in any way, though 5k subscription would be interesting, I would expect to be read bed time stories a few times a week for that price.
The above photo is from a party I attended last week. A well-connected book agent told me that some 700 independent book stores opened in the U.S. last year. All 'round, I hear good news about physical books. The A24 news was great!
Love this ! I try to support my locals , small world books on the Venice Boardwalk and book soup on Sunset
Chuck I love you and you are the reason I joined Sub Stack but I can’t afford $5K. I hope this is a joke. If it isn’t, I wish you the very best. I will miss your content. It is the best part of this place.
Hello Rick --
There would still be free content, but less often, and only what I felt was truly useful. I do not expect anyone to pay the $5000, but it's the only way to choke off the paid folks for now.
I understand. Thank you for all the paid content you have given us. You are generous and we are all lucky. I will always be here.
Going beyond just Substack, I find I can’t really think about my writing process to a great depth because I’ll just start overanalysing and becoming extremely picky and doubtful with what I’ve produced and/or will produce. Starting a new writing project usually begins when I’ve managed to temporarily cripple my ego for a while, or whatever idea I’ve got excites me to a point that the voices of my doubts can’t be heard over the sweet sing song voice of said idea
Yes! Or when a sudden shock jars you out of your self awareness.
That’s exactly it! I can usually tell when I’m going to eventually write something because the idea seems too good or too fun to waste and the thing’ll just haunt me if I don’t get around to exorcising it
I need to know more about this 5k figure. Is that the suggested individual subscription price for the year? Or is that the amount you'd make per month based off of all paid subscriptions combined?
Because those are two very different things!
If you even consider paying it, I will raise the price to $10,000.
Fella, if I had that kind of cash laying around, I'd be funding my own writing journey!
Seriously, though, I think we all want you to do what's right for you, whatever form that takes
I think he’s saying to raise the subscription costs to $5,000 a month so that everyone removes the paid feature since no one would pay that.
Apparently, I haven't yet learned to take people seriously but not literally 😅
I always take things literally too - so right with ya.
I had thought of this. Personally, I think you are BEYOND generous with your time and effort here, Chuck. I think about getting off this platform daily (I almost deleted yesterday!). Part of it is that my time on here does cut into my writing or other kinds of art (it takes tiny slugs out of my creativity). But mostly, as an old addict, I realize my tendency to want to post something not because that is what feels like it should come out, but because it feels either expected or that the pleasure center of my brain is poking me to do it.
My suggestion, if I could give you one as a paid subscriber here, is to do what feels natural to you. You give us all here so much! The house calls are all out there now. People can go back and read them and pick them apart if they want to learn. It’s a huge resource! Personally, I would, at this point, rather see you post some random musing on avocado toast or the tidal sand-winds of the Sahara, do what you do best, get weird—get really fucking human, or yes, get the fuck off this platform, as it, like all social media, is the killer of artistic vitality.
Thank you. Wonderful feedback. The community here is great, but begins to be a crutch.
I've never really minded paying the subscription cost, even when are posts are slow to come. I see it as a way of showing gratitude. If it wasn't for your Substack and the regular discussions around craft, my writing would not be finding the small successes that it is at the moment. This week I'm being featured in Strange Pilgrims, in a month or two I'll be in a queer speculative mag called Baffling Magazine, and after that I'll be appearing in the "Poisoned Folk Tales" anthology. That's all, in no small part, due to what you do here.
I'll always be happy paying a fee for all of the education and entertainment you've brought into my life. However, if it's blocking your creativity and causing stress, then of course I'll cancel. I'm not a monster, I just write about them.
No matter what, you've made a nice killer community here that's ready to support you however they can. 🖤
This substack has been a delightful little way to connect with my favorite author. I'm a writing student, and it was some of your advice that encouraged me to commit to fiction writing, so the tidbits you provide here are always so so valuable. That being said, I'd much rather have many many books to read from you than consistent posts here!
Even with far fewer posts, I think it would be worth my money, but I know that keeping paid subscribers at all might leave that guilty itch as things often do. If you do remove paid subscribers, I hope you find some other way for occasional fan interaction, though seeing what some people are messaging you and knowing the large fanbase you have I know that can be tricky and lowkey scary. Really, what's been best about subscribing here is seeing that you're a person, just like me or anyone else! That's obvious, of course, but it's still cool to see that your creative hero is just a cool guy.
I loved "Guilty itch."
Aw! Makes me happy to hear.
Totally unrelated, actually, but while we're here and before the paid arm of the substack possibly disappears - do you do much in the way of book festivals? I work for a pretty big book festival in my area and we're currently in the invitation process. I'm very eager to nudge them to send you an invite for Galleria, but I thought it would be worthwhile to ask if you're interested in those sorts of things before making it my coworkers problem.
I’ll be one of those last minute forgetters. Fortunately, there hasn’t been 5,000 in my account in like… ever so it’ll just bounce. It usually sends me a yearly reminder.
In any case post whenever the fuck you feel like obviously. I’ll wait. I am itching to read your new book. And hope you find the space to write more. Cheers!
I don’t mind paying the same each month even for more infrequent posts. I came here with no expectations other than the occasional update from an author who has shaped a lot of my creative practice. Maybe a once-monthly House Call or something for paid subscribers to keep up the illusion of incentive could work? Or something else similar?
I guess it comes down to you knowing whether or not this income is just additional or helps you on a monthly basis.
Thank you. This is all useful.