Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Content

I swear this is the last time I bother you with something that isn't a story update.

After giving it much thought, I've decided that I can't and won't paywall what I write. It just disagrees with me on a level I can't really put into words. Even time-gating things longer than needed is somewhat distasteful. I don't want to shut people out when I can provide something they enjoy.

I can already hear my consultant lighting up my phone as I type this out. 

Now, I do want to give back to you all somehow, especially the ones shelling out way too much on generosity alone. I have a few ideas on that, like upper levels getting to vote on what gets updated next, or heavy discounts if there is enough interest in original content merch. I'll work on that in the background for you all and get back to you. We'll see where that is in a few weeks.

I won't lie. The patreon falling back under the "full-time job" threshold spooked me and made using a paywall tempting. Being self-employed is sink or swim, after all. I dislike the alternatives even more, though, so either my output or quality has to increase, and I'll get one or the other done.

Speaking of output, Borne of Caution is making steady progress. Again, I will not put a hard date on it to avoid a jinx, but this long arc is finally nearing its close. 

Thankee much,Fuggmann. 

Comments

Prinny

I love you

Bacu

Your work itself is what makes me want to support you, even if there isn't a lot of support only perks, I feel like what you make is easily worth it.

Orion Dye

When you have a monetization plan that revolves around you producing content and you don’t produce that content, your business model will fail. You took too long to release chapters for your most popular IPs. I don’t necessarily agree with the paywall model but pretending there will never be another time where you will get writers block or get sick is also foolish. You should have some plan in place to produce money even if you’re not producing content. Maybe you could diversify by selling merchandise or do some collaborations with other more popular authors. Just some ideas.

andrew rousseau

Would def grab some merch 😁, after all the fire fox is of course best pokemon.

Cynocephali

The memories of reading a story I could truly relate to, that saw my nostalgia finally abated, are why I support you. As long you write good stories, I'll support you, no matter how long between updates. If you ask me, you've been overdelivering on quality for years now.

Sean

Facts. If you want this to pay like a job then hold yourself accountable to meet deadlines. Don’t ‘solve’ the problem by not having those deadlines either.

Green0Photon

Idk if you saw my long comment in the previous post, but dude, just paywall it. How you make money as a content maker? It can't just be free. It's either ads or paywall. Nobody survives purely on dono. You need to play the levers in people's brains, and that requires providing value when given value. You generally can't just expect people to get a gift and give a gift in return, however unfortunate that fact is. What do you think a bookstore is? The Kindle online store? Or even Kindle Unlimited? People get something in response to paying something. These are paywalls. The only exceptions are libraries and piracy. And fanfic. What people do in this industry is offer a free product to draw people in, since that's the hardest part, and then provide extra value for a price. With the ethics of fanfic, it's good to just have that be free, with some level of delayed release. But c'mon. Extra content should be paid. Someone can pay e.g. $5 and gain *all past content*. That can be incredible value. Or, you know, you could just release them after a few months if you really feel bad for the kids/the unbanked. Your intentions are noble. But the most important thing is to do this sustainably. One for your sanity, two so you don't have to get some other job, and three so you can pump out as much content for us as possible. All other options you may suggest are simply not as valuable. Discounts for possible future merch? That's a bit dumb for us, and just a losing or break even proposition for you. Vs actual extra stories, the main driver of value behind what you do? C'mon. I agree even more with your person now. This is a no brainer. Don't do this. Make sure you keep this Patreon going well. Would you rather do this, or be forced to go back to a job? There's many things by far that are far more unethical. Don't feel bad about this.

PXRB

I respect the ambition to keep everything available to everyone and i’m pretty sure I agree with it considering how many people read your work but aren’t donating, but I also agree with others and especially your consultant in regards to your earning. It’s inspiring that you prioritise everyone having equal access to your work over ensuring your financial stability by implementing such things, but it’s also stupid. I’m not going to pretend like I have any idea what a best way forward looks like, because i’m in uni and still don’t know how finances even work, but I can at least be another out of many that say we’ll keep supporting what you do for a long time yet. Unless you raise prices by like 100 times which would be fair in this economy but i’d probably be out then :)

t3chn0fr34q

while i applaud the stance if you feel like you need to put up a paywall because of life by all means put it up.

Swinter

You should do what makes you happy. But yeah, you should definitively paywall things. You're being unhealthily stubborn. If you want to make it a full time job you need to earn money somehow. You need to understand that your time is valuable. Do you really think your supporters would prefer you to starve? Or have to write Less? You're still giving it to free for people. Some people will get angry that they have to wait 1-4 weeks longer than the people who support you. But you can never make everyone happy. You can either make a tiny portion of people unhappy by "paywalling" things for a short bit. Or eventually make *all* your supporters unhappy because you won't be able to afford working on it full time. In the end, your choice. But you truly are choosing the worst solution for everyone. Oh and as for merch, or other physical crap like that? Not even slightly interested. I'm here for your words. Not embarrassing trinkets that I'd at best dump in a box and forget exist.

SwiftFate

While I think your decision is admirable. It's a mistake. You aren't 'paywalling' something like this, you are offering an incentive for you to continue writing FULL TIME. You still release the chapters for free, you still offer to continue writing for free, the incentive is for you to write them for free full time while being supported by fans to continue at a faster and more regular rate. THAT is the difference. We are willing to pay you money, to write more often so that we can enjoy your story more often. It's a mutual benefit to both of us in that regard. The idea that you are paywalling it some how is ridiculous because at the end of the day it is OUR choice to pay for earlier chapters. If we have a problem with that, or the story gets delayed too long for some reason, we simply unsubscribe and wait for the free release while keeping an eye on future updates. I can't tell you how many times I have subbed to someone writing a fanfic or oiginal story, only to take a month or two off to wait for free chapters to catch up and build up.. Then when I saw they were posting at a regular rate again, I resubscribed.

JM

I really enjoy your writing man, make a paywall if that helps you. I just upped my tier and if I have to I’ll do it again. Don’t hamstring yourself when your works are worth money.

Leander

I‘ll just summarize the other posts: TIMEGATE YOUR PATREON!!!! IT‘S FINE FOR US!!!! Just add a few tiers. Maybe like this: 1$ for 1 day early, 5$ for 1 week early, 10$ for 2 weeks early access. Maybe add a few more merch tiers or voting tiers and you‘ve got a good model going

Leander

This is rubbish. He should write a buffer for if he goes sick, yes, but attacking him for not meeting a self-made deadline when we pay next to nothing is just stupid.

VietDom

It is interesting seeing about 90% of the patrons suggesting to timegate/ increase the authors income. I also agree that you should, ( as long as consistently updating your work is not overly stressful. ) I have to say Fuggman you are truly loved for so many fans wanting to increase their support for you. ( I am sad I can't insert the Fry shut up and take my money meme)

VixenFlame

Time gating is perfectly fine! People are still getting the content, they just have to be more patient. Time gate us, please!

Orion Dye

I don’t know why you think my criticism equates to me attacking him. Yes its harsh but that is the truth as i see it. I don’t want Fugg to fail, i want him to succeed, but its obvious from his posts that his priorities are not where they should he to ensure his success at his chosen endeavors. Also i don’t know what tier you are on, but there are many people here who pay 10 dollars per month or more. That’s a lot to commit to someone who suddenly has a months long dry spell in uploads, especially if the Patron only cares about 1 IP like BOD or BOC. Ultimately all fugg is doing is just kicking the can down the road. he needs to face this problem head on and resolve it to the best of his ability now to ensure smoother sailing in the future.

amsice

King

Orion Dye

I agree with what you said man, but really you’re in Uni yet you don’t know what finances even are? Thats bad man, make sure you take a personal finance course before you graduate at the very least. It will be worth it.

Silver5664

The Early viewing system that's been going on has been fine for me. Even as someone who holds out until the chapter gets officially posted on the sites just to be sure I read the "final" product. If you want some ideas on what you could put behind a paywall for higher tier patrons, I recall you saying you were using some of the income to supply commissions for the stories. Why not have some of those hidden behind the higher tiers for those who want to see what the extra money is going towards and keep the writing to the base features.

Silver5664

Also something to remember, your financial consultant is there to make you MONEY. Not to be public relations advisor. Take their ideas, but be careful because they might accidentally cause you to burn bridges you didn't want to burn.

Crosswald

Yes but this system would require a precise schedule or more structured organisation, so maybe not something he might wants to do (yet?)