Flattr · 10:27pm Sep 26th, 2013
tl;dr — I'm going to start including a simple, text-only Flattr link in my author's note and so should you. This is the only time I'll mention it.
Flattr is a unique donation system
In the past, I've had requests for a way for people to show their appreciation for Sharing the Night with donations. I've never really been comfortable with the idea, knowing how unreliable I can be. Donation remorse is the last thing I want people to think of when they're reminded of my story.
Recently, however, the subject of Flattr came up. I've known about Flattr for a long time, and though their fees are on the high side (10%!), it's still a model that I quite admire. Like an upvote, the value of a single Flattr is defined by how many you give out, and therefore it is a much more casual sort of donation compared to assigning a specific value to something.
Why I decided to try this
Even though it's been requested, I'd normally see the whole asking for donations thing as tacky coming from me. There are, after all, authors who I think deserve attention (and donations) much more than I do. That, ironically, is what convinced me to actually do this.
You see, Flattr has one flaw, and that is that it's really quite awkward if you're only Flattring one or two people. Fortunately, this is a flaw that can be fixed easily: there just need to be more people participating.
This is not about me
This isn't me asking for donations. This is me asking you—readers and authors both—to participate in this. Make Flattr a thing here on FimFiction so you and I both can share some appreciation with the people that make our lives that much more enjoyable.
This is something I'd really like to see gain some momentum, not only here, but on the rest of the internet too. A little effort should go a long way, seeing as the easiest thing to do with Flattr donations is to Flattr others yourself.
A personal request
If you do participate in this, please do it as a way of thanking authors for what they've done, not what they will do. If being Flattred makes an author feel more motivated to get chapters out, then great. If a reader feels like they have to Flattr someone to make chapters come out, though, then that's not grattitude—it's obligation—and you'll make me sad.
In my case, well, I'm making this post, for one. I'm also going to stick to simple text links, and pretty much not say anything about it ever again.
What shocks me is the lack of comments.
On a more relevant note (albiet delayed), I'll check this out.