Happy Independence Day, for my fellow US friends (and for everyone else!)
While we’re on the subject of independence, do you know about Patreon?
The company bills itself as the best way for creators to build a sustained income. From what I’ve seen from many Patreon accounts, it’s succeeding. 35 creators each earned over $150,000 in 2016, according to a recent Patreon blog analysis. Many more earn a respectable $500 to $1000 each month from their subscription services.
Who’s on Patreon already? Artists of every kind. Writers of fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and webcomics. Science and pop culture bloggers. Musicians, gamers, teachers…it’s a dizzying array of skills and interests.
All operating under one simple idea: fans helping content creators afford to be creative, in return for regularly delivered content (often first-run or available nowhere else.) This can range from digitally delivered stories, interviews, podcasts, videos, songs, lesson plans, and even physical items. The Patreon service can run indefinitely, for a limited duration, or a set financial goal.
The webcomics on my right sidebar? Most have Patreon accounts. If you love them, subscribe!
Are you a content creator? What could you do with an extra few hundred dollars a month? What would you do if you didn’t have to rely solely on a day job, publishing royalties, a gallery or art agent, or a music label?
All you need to do is set up an account with Patreon, be somewhat social, and have the time, energy, and willpower to provide that regular content.
I’m not at the level of name recognition to jump on Patreon, and I don’t have enough professionally-edited content to do it well. If the Lonhra Sequence books don’t end up with an agent or a large publisher, I might bolster my self-publishing with a Lonhra/Blue Night Patreon. But that’s probably a year away, at least.
I have several friends who are researching their Patreon options right now. I plan on hosting their links when their accounts are operational. It will be an interesting experiment to watch!
Added December 9, 2017: alas, Patreon did a very stupid and greedy thing under the guise of ‘helping’ creators. Patreon changed its fee structure to effectively penalize small (under $5) donors.
Here’s a link to some of the resulting ruckus. https://techcrunch.com/2017/12/07/patreons-new-service-fee-spurs-concern-that-creators-will-lose-patrons/
For me, it means permanently disabling my Patreon account and finding other ways to send my tiny contributions to creator friends.