“Don’t we have an obligation, a responsibility, to our planetary future and the generations of humans and other species to come?” ―The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long-Term in a Short-Term World, Roman Krznaric When I started this newsletter, I gave myself a year to make sure I could keep it up before thinking about going to a paid version. A year came and went last August, but after starting a copy editing contract in May, I put off thinking about what to do with the newsletter in the long run. I learned years ago that I can write and copy edit but I can’t write
Your writing is a wonderful mix of certainty and uncertainty. A plan that you seem to be flexible enough to adjust. Cannot wait to read something like this for inspiration.
Jan 23, 2022·edited Jan 23, 2022Liked by Antonia Malchik
I would like to comment more on this when I have time, but quickly:
I would absolutely consider paying for a subscriber tier, when that time comes. Though I still have to catch up with the back posts, in my opinion what you've been putting out here qualifies for that feature or at least a discussion about it (no small achievement given the number of excellent free newsletters). As you may recall from another recent newsletter where you and I were both readers, initially when it was paid subscription the discussions were great and it felt like a community, but once it switched to free and the writer's priorities shifted elsewhere with new responsibiities, a lot of the energy drained away and it just wasn't the same (not a criticism of the writer to be clear, just a general observation). I have no idea how it works in the other direction but suspect it could be a valuable motivator.
The "paid vs. free" question is certainly coming up for many bloggers these days, so plenty of analysis already out there that you could mine for insights. One person I subscribe to has written at length on the rationale behind their own business model (though admittedly a very different kind of writer).
In addition to previewing your book-in-progress, have you ever given thought to a semi-regular book club on some reading of your choice, as another exclusive feature?
I don't do anything different for paid or free subscribers. My approach has been if my BS is worth something to you and you can afford it, pay. If not, that's fine too. Maybe it's shitty but I can't handle the additional complications of maintaining two versions, which will probably ultimate lead to the newsletter's demise. I'll die poor inside my truck at the end of a dead end road someday regardless, I think.
But man, am I ever intimidated by all the references I've been seeing by people I subscribe to mentioning editors and fact checkers. Of course my garbage could use both, but I'd be operating so deep in the red to accommodate it that I don't know how it's even possible. What a nightmare.
Hence, dead end road....
And as for book publishing, I find as mine languishes at the publisher knowing that it is still likely more than a year from seeing the light of day, and no idea when it will move forward, after the immense relief of turning it in I feel like it's behind me and I don't even care anymore. Hopefully that will change.
Your writing is a wonderful mix of certainty and uncertainty. A plan that you seem to be flexible enough to adjust. Cannot wait to read something like this for inspiration.
My Trekker heart warmed at the ST reference, Nia, and I look forward very much to jumping on board the paid version and to the new book!
This piece feels very much like the breath before the plunge. To pull a line from The Matrix, very exciting times to be sure!
Can’t wait to read more!
I would like to comment more on this when I have time, but quickly:
I would absolutely consider paying for a subscriber tier, when that time comes. Though I still have to catch up with the back posts, in my opinion what you've been putting out here qualifies for that feature or at least a discussion about it (no small achievement given the number of excellent free newsletters). As you may recall from another recent newsletter where you and I were both readers, initially when it was paid subscription the discussions were great and it felt like a community, but once it switched to free and the writer's priorities shifted elsewhere with new responsibiities, a lot of the energy drained away and it just wasn't the same (not a criticism of the writer to be clear, just a general observation). I have no idea how it works in the other direction but suspect it could be a valuable motivator.
The "paid vs. free" question is certainly coming up for many bloggers these days, so plenty of analysis already out there that you could mine for insights. One person I subscribe to has written at length on the rationale behind their own business model (though admittedly a very different kind of writer).
In addition to previewing your book-in-progress, have you ever given thought to a semi-regular book club on some reading of your choice, as another exclusive feature?
Of course I'll subscribe!
I don't do anything different for paid or free subscribers. My approach has been if my BS is worth something to you and you can afford it, pay. If not, that's fine too. Maybe it's shitty but I can't handle the additional complications of maintaining two versions, which will probably ultimate lead to the newsletter's demise. I'll die poor inside my truck at the end of a dead end road someday regardless, I think.
But man, am I ever intimidated by all the references I've been seeing by people I subscribe to mentioning editors and fact checkers. Of course my garbage could use both, but I'd be operating so deep in the red to accommodate it that I don't know how it's even possible. What a nightmare.
Hence, dead end road....
And as for book publishing, I find as mine languishes at the publisher knowing that it is still likely more than a year from seeing the light of day, and no idea when it will move forward, after the immense relief of turning it in I feel like it's behind me and I don't even care anymore. Hopefully that will change.
Dead end road....
Make the newsletter paid exclusively. Make the content available free after a 3 week delay. I would pay 25.00 a month for your writing , sign me up!
https://stratechery.com/ does a mix of paid/free content. I don't know if he uses substack or not.
Will be ready to hit that subscribe button as quickly as possible when the time comes.
I’m in.
I have a book due on Monday! And The Expanse is in it! Email me your address and I'll send you a copy.