The stories are staying free.
+ An explanation of the optional, new content in the paid tier, and another giveaway of free weird Sci-Fi by other writers.
Last week I sent a free 7 day trial to all my subscribers. That trial is ending, so I thought it would be a good time to explain a little about my thinking behind it.
Simply put, I have been working on new content which is harder work for me than the free short stories, and which fits best behind a paywall. I wanted your opinion on this content, and I didn’t want to charge you for it.
Therefore a free trial is the best way to show you what I’m up to behind the paywalls so you can help me shape it, and make it worth your time.
The breakdown.
This newsletter, as you know it, is staying FREE.
You are still going to get free short stories.
I am adding NEW types of content behind the paywalls.
Splitting my focus between paid and free content means I can make both better and take the next big step toward being a professional writer.
So that’s it. Nothing to worry about, you’re still a free subscriber at the end of the day and the content you are familar with isn’t going to suddenly have a paywall slapped on it. I’m not a newspaper.
So what are the perks of being a paid subscriber?
Access to additional stories and chapters (such as from Synaesthesioid)
Longer, chaptered stories will be posted in the paid tiers as I write longer pieces out of order (currently editing all 69 chapters of Earthloop simultaneously, whilst tying in some references to The Stephanie Glitch, which in turn attach to another book I’ve not even told you about yet) and only a small percentage of my most devoted readers have any interest in giving themselves migraines by trying to keep up with all that.
Spoilers. Big horrible spoilers.
More detailed writing advice.
A weird return for my Halfplanet Classroom/Writers and Poetics society, which I taught at Edge Hill University from 2013 to 2017. Some paid posts will evolve into little lectures about writing. Looking into getting a discord server set up for this. More news soon.
Behind-The-Scenes information about the how and why of a story.
Each writing project requires its own unique approach, so whilst the SevenStoriesSeries might work on Kickstarter, other books might work better here. I might put Earthloop chapters here, or Hologram Kebab, or another book.
[this one needs input] The names of paid subscribers could be included in some way in the final release of books created in the paid tier. In that way, I’m using it as an alternative form of crowdfunding.
Paid subscribers should be getting discount codes for stuff, too.
An example.
In my post “Seven stories about ?????? travel.” I added a paywall, behind which I revealed the titles of the other two books in the SevenStoriesSeries. That meant that people on the paid tier got to find out what the titles were before anyone else.
You can check out that post here. There are still 3 days left to vote on how I am launching SSATT. You get to decide the fate of this collection.
Why I’m doing it.
I have a lot more writing to post, some of which may only be of interest to my most dedicated readers. That same writing also takes a lot of time. This post took about two hours to put together, but my little essays on writing and story design take a lot longer. A paid tier means that you become my employer, and I get to finally say I’m an entertainer without feeling like an imposter.
I also get to go to the self-employment office and say “Hey, you don’t have to make me find a regular job in February 2023 because I make a bit of money off my newsletter and books now. I have finally got into teaching in my own unconventional way, and I also send them stories about robot crabs.”
My goal since 2012 has been to make a living with writing. I have made conscious efforts to give up that dream before, but I always get dragged back to the stories. Right now I have a lot of momentum, with about 14 books floating around in my head. This is who I am. I can’t change that. It’s a weird life, but it’s the one that keeps my brain stimulated. I don’t want it to gather dust.
My business card remains true.
Here is my redesigned business card. It was very popular at ComicCon. If you met me at ComicCon, could you say hi?
You are always going to get free short stories here. That will NEVER change.
Thank you.
There are close to 400 people following me here now, which is incredible. As you know I’ve been posting a lot of polls lately in an attempt to perfect my content here, making it as entertaining for you as possible. That’s my goal as a writer, I want the ‘thinky stuff’ to be a main character, but for the stories to be entertaining first and foremost.
So, what would you like to see on the paid tier?
What the paywall looks like.
As always, I’m a storyteller, so the paywall is signposted by this image. If you see this on a post, that means the content beyond it is for the paid tier, and is additional material complementing what you’ve just read, such as spoilers, character design notes, scientific references, writing advice, and anything else that helped me craft the story.
Free books?!?!?!
As promised, here’s the weird sci-fi giveaway. I love it. I am getting better at finding things in my niche on Bookfunnel, so you can expect more unusual stories in the future.
I have tried on and off to start up a newsletter since 2013, but could never find a platform that worked for me. Substack is my home now. This digital space is fantastic.
Thanks for being here!
Phillip