Seeking Thoughts on Patreon · 11:08am Jul 22nd, 2014
TL;DR - I'm thinking of opening a Patreon account to help support cover art and maybe earn me a few pizzas every so often. Thoughts? Concerns? Objections? Support? Note: I'm not married to the idea yet, it's just a random, 7am thought for me right now.
So the big thing these days in the Brony Creative community is Patreon, a website dedicated to providing "Patronage" services to creatives of every shape and kind.
Now, I'm going to be up front. I love to write just for writings sake. No amount of money (Or lack therof) is going to stop my writing. With that being said, more than a few fans have asked me if I was ever going to put up a tip-jar or something of that nature. Given, however, that much of my work tends to be "Adult" in nature, I have always been extremely leery about linking my Paypal to my account out of fear that it might be shut down. Given that I use Paypal for lots of different transactions, including steam, I've simply sworn off doing it.
But with the advent of Patreon proving itself for artists across the community, which has lots of alternate ways to send you the money, that's no longer much of a concern.
HOWEVER.
I understand there to be a bit of a stigma against brony writers trying to "Cash In" sometimes. But given that the biggest of our names have all done it in one way or another (And given that I very much doubt enough of you are willing to buy printed copies of The Code's Apprentice or any of my other works*) , I'm hoping you guys will understand when I say I wouldn't mind trying to make a little myself. I've devoted a lot of hours to this little hobby of mine, as I try to make myself a good enough writer to actually tackle original fiction. But I'm also a college student, and frankly speaking... well, kind of a poor one. I don't have a real grownup job yet, and I don't know how long it will be between me and it. And these days, I find I can't bring myself to publish major projects without real cover art of their own, which sadly costs money since I have no art skills, and precious few of my fans seem to be so inclined. So far I've managed, but I've got a backlog of stories I'd like to give covers to as well.
So I figured I would put the word out to all of my fans, everyone's who's joined up. I'm not going to do this unless there's enough of you out there that both think it's a good idea and would be willing to contribute a bit. I have no idea what I could offer as rewards beyond continuing to provide the very best writing I can. Suggestions are possible.
Of course, if enough of my fans voice that they'd rather I not do something like this, ultimately I am writing to entertain and please both myself AND you guys. You're all a part of my creative process, and I honestly could not have written as much as I have without any of you. I value your input and your opinions about this sort of thing, and frankly I wouldn't feel comfortable going forward with it without your thoughts and support.
Oh, and for those of you who are curious, keep your eyes open for Dueling Piano's to be finished soon.
**** Also, if like, enough of you actually WERE interested in that.... Okay, I'd have to do a lot of thinking, but we could talk about it.
As long as you buy supreme pizzas, you have my support. If not, well . . .
We are going to have to have a talk.
Hmmm, I have an aversion to spending money on people I don't know, so sorry to say I could never put money towords a Patreon account. Also next time you need some cover art hit me up, here or on my Deviant art . My style might not be what your looking for but do keep it in mind I work for free.
I am personally of the opinion that the instant this MLP-Fan-Work-Patreon thing gets big enough, Hasbro is gonna shit a brick and come down like the hammer of god, personally.
I wouldn't ever want to get any of that on me.
If people have come up and suggested the idea of a tip jar or something it may be a good idea to do so, however personally my opinion in the while 'cash in on being a brony' thing is....
Anyone with this stigma needs a slap in the face. Anyone can sit down and type out written garbage. Creating an interesting, quality, read worthy, piece of fiction takes time, energy, and dedication. There is nothing wrong with an author asking for a bone thrown their way from time to time. Especially if most of that money will be used for cover art for future projects.
There is a big difference between an author saying, "Guys, if you like my work throw some spare change my way so I can eat and get cover art," and, "Here is chapter one and two. I refuse to finish this story until I get $100."
The second example is "cashing in" while the first is just asking for the community to give a helping hand.
I'd say give it a shot.
2306239
You've got a point. But the only problem is that people pay for pony art, which is technically the same thing as paying someone to write. I mean, we have people who pay people to write for others already, and that's not been a problem.
I think that Hasbro just doesn't care too much about that kind of stuff. I mean, people aren't making ACTUAL money off of this stuff. No one could support themselves with the money they get from doing commissions and such.
So while there is a chance, I think that nothing will really come of this.
I will gladly support your pizza addiction.
A tip jar on Patreon would be useful. After all, if you keep writing like this, I'd be willing to put a couple bucks towards your cover art/ pizza addiction.
i'd actually be willing to do cover art(in pony form of course) if i could snag sneak peaks at the creative process behind your story making :3c
If you want to do Patreon, then do Patreon. I, sadly, could not contribute anything, due to lack of any kind of monies, but I have no problem with authors leaving an option for people to drop a few pennies in a jar, so to speak. Basically: Do eet, filly.
Hype train, roll out!
Speaking of input and opinions: Hopefully I don't sound rude saying this, but I sent you a PM just under a couple of weeks ago, still waiting on a response. All I need is a yes or no response to it.
2306506
You're mostly into the anthro stuff, and a lot of my conceived cover art is going to be for standard pony stuff. We can still discuss the possibility, though.
Well, I'd say it can't hurt to try it, but it might bruise your ego to find out how little you make.
At the suggestion of one of my fans I put in a tip jar, and over the last few months I've made exactly $10 from it, mostly from the fan who made the suggestion. Maybe the regular format of a Patreon would make for better results, I don't know. (I thought about a Patreon too, but decided against it, because I don't want to be required to write when I'm not feeling it, and a Patreon does generally require you to turn out some kind of content in return for the support you get.)
2306773
Ten bucks buys two pizzas at Little Ceasars
Huuum, if you want to do it and have some benefits for those of us who support you... I can see myself chipping some money into this.
2308320
What sort of benefits do you think people would like? Watching me write on Livestream? Story teasers? Watching me sing a song? XD
2308330
Nothing too complicated. Story teasers, definitely yes. Singing songs... I can dig it.
Livestream writing? I honestly don't see the appeal. But that could be just me.
I would say, nothing that requires a significant amount of effort on your part though. Lest it distract you from writing, to attract Patreons, to fund your writing, that you are too busy to do. And if you can make sense of that, color me impressed!
2306239
You know, this Hasbro problem is kind of ridiculous. What is their motive? To ensure that 100% of the dollars that move due to artistic work where any MLP reference is made ends up in their pockets? That's entirely unrealistic, because it ignores the fact that the author/artist is putting their actual original talent into what is being purchased. The pony stuff is just along for the ride.
I mean, if someone writes a massively popular story, it's not Hasbro's work which makes it popular. All things being equal, a good pony fic and a bad pony fic all use the exact same MLP assets. One is popular, and the other sucks. So clearly here, the "stuff" which makes a pony fic good or bad is 100% the property of the author/artist, and not Hasbro.
Personally, I'm writing a pretty big story and it just so happens that I'm unemployed during this phase of my life. Not "college age can live with parents" unemployed either. "Middle-aged, nobody will hire my outdated (but good) programming skills but I have bills and a child to look after and money is running out" unemployed.
So I've been using my excess free time to write this story. Yeah I'll keep writing when I find work, but probably not as fast. So my buddy says to me "maybe open a Patreon account" and I think to myself "Does that actually work for ponyfic authors?" It does seem to be a rather unoffensive way to get a few bucks for the smiles you put on people's faces, which is much nicer than charging for services.
Which brings me to the point here, and that is the idea of Hasbro leeching off such a thing. If someone supports your work via Patreon, they aren't really purchasing MLP assets. Those are freely available. What supporters are doing is giving you tips for smiles, and that is all. The MLP assets are just along for the ride, as I said.
And I see no legal way that Hasbro could bitch and whine about you having a "digital tip jar" for smiles you give to people, when you are not charging for services. That is the key, here I think. Your story is public. People are free to read it and enjoy it without paying for it. The tips are just that - tips. I see no possible way Hasbro could justify shitting a brick over that.
2612913
It'd be lovely if someone DID leave a tip tho.
Maybe I should make a graphic...