Should I do the Thing? THE PATREON ONE · 11:52am Jul 19th, 2015
Hello, everybody.
I know blogs like these aren't usually looked at, but I need attention from all you mad animals.
For those who don't know, this is where I ask you all what to do next with Woundsalt. Usually I get a reply involving a Last Air-Bender reference I don't get (I should really get back into that.), but I do get answers and they happen. The Fan group I'm shoving down everyone's throats wouldn't exist thanks to everyone telling me to do it.
Now, more than ever, is vital to have one of these blogs. Because it involves money.
The other day someone in Woundsalt's comments suggested to me to make a Patreon account for my work on Woundsalt. I admit I'm not too up on the idea. It sort of has a 'sell-out' vibe to it. That being said, however... well, I wouldn't call myself financially sound. And I do have a 3DS to replace... But I feel like, above all else, I should run it by you first.
A few questions about this I'm certain folks will ask:
Q: Is the new editor getting a cut?
A: I offered it to him... this is what he said:
This is your baby. It's your choice. But I want to make one thing abundantly clear. I would NEVER take ANY money from this project, should you start one. As I've said before, what lead me to messaging you and offering my support as an editor/idea-bouncer was that I loved what YOU do. What YOU write. The ideas and stories YOU come up with. I get to share in them just like anyone else. Paying me would be like paying a random reader. I volunteered for this because I wanted to help be part of this special world you've come up with. Any money you get is yours and yours alone, and well deserved too I should add.
He's a good kid, that Crim.
Q: How is this going to happen?
Well, that falls onto you. Crim and I have been talking about it and he seems to have gotten a good strategy.
Maybe make some levels for Patreon supporters. Like, at $5 a month, they can have access to the chapter a day or two early, or at $10, they could have an hour Skype call to discuss the story or anything else.
Are you guys okay with this? If you have a better plan, please PM it to me.
Q: How will this affect Woundsalt for us poor masses who think/know Patreon is for people who have bank accounts bigger than mine?
Ol' Salty will be coming to you as fast as he can as he always did. Nothing will change that. NOTHING
Q: Will this be used outside of Woundsalt? What are you planning, you filthy animal?
... Well, let's say I got a couple more blogs like this one to do in the future.
So that I got all that out of the way: SHOULD I DO THE THING?
I'm going to repeat what Crim said and say it's your choice.
I strongly suggest against it. Writing fanfiction is by definition a violation of copyright law, but most companies look the other way because it's good for their business.
But when you bring money into it you become a big fat target if Hasbro ever decides to exercise their rights. It becomes less "these guys are advertising for us" and more "these guys took X dollars from us". Plus by making money from someone else's intellectual property, you draw attention from the legal staff.
This is the kind of thing that I fear will eventually shut down FimFiction.
If you decided to I wouldn't mind. I mean you're not forcing us to give to the patreon, it would be an option and if one wanted to use that option that would be their choice. But ultimately as Crim said it's your choice if you wanted to do that or not.
I know of a few other successful fimfiction authors who've decided to use Patreon, I've yet to see one who regrets the decision.
It's a donations sort of thing, totally optional, so people can't really call you a sellout since the choice falls on them whether they want to support you more substantially than with a like and a favorite.
It's up to you in the end, but I don't think it would be a bad idea.
3251399 I wouldn't worry about that so much, considering most fanfiction is also considered "parody" and it's not so much "payment" as it is a donation, they'd have to really stretch things to make it into a real issue.
Why not let people kick you a few bucks if they want to!
3251410 In what way, exactly? Paypal? I kind of heard horror stories from them.
3251511 oh good Lord not paypal
3251511 Paypal isn't nearly as bad as people seem to think. I've used it for years myself and never had any issues with it. That said, Patreon is a great service though I've been told it can require some upkeep on the receiver's end of things if it really picks up. Ultimately, I'm with Jobuscus on this; if you're game for setting it all up, you've got nothing to lose except a bit of time.
3251408
Those are both nice thoughts, but unfortunately, they are both invalid.
Once a Pateron account is created, the author gets his donations only when he completes pre-determined milestones. At this point, you have an individual performing work on the promise of funds. This meets the legal definition of employment. At this point you loose the protections afforded by direct donations.
On the other thought; a parody is a work that mocks the original, and neither Woundsalt nor fimfiction in general are mocking MLP:FiM.
The usual argument is that fanfiction makes use of the "fair use" clause of copyright law, but there are four considerations there. Here is the fair use law in it's entirety:
How this relates to us is as follows:
1 - This is not educational work, so this caveat does not apply.
2 - We are a direct derivative on comparable medium. Our fics can easily be translated into screenplays. We cannot claim fair use by saying our work is of a nature that is incompatible with the Hasbro's business model.
3 - We derive most if not all of our characters and settings, so this does not apply to us.
4 - Here is our only loophole, and it's entirely subjective. Hasbro can claim that our readers directly detract from their viewers, and we can claim that we are free advertising.
If it comes down to trying to defend ourselves with article four of the fair use act, that means we are already in court. And FimFiction vs. the Hasbro legal team is something I never want to see.
3251554 Patreon has had a few hiccups, but I think that is due to it being new more than anything else. As for paypal, I had a hard @$$ time trying to unlock my account after being absent for atleast 3 years, and I was around 16 or 17 at the time without a federal or state issued ID it took literally months to get back in after having to go to the dmv to get my first drivers license. As for other problems my family has had with paypal, my sister has had her account hacked and had someone empty her savings account, total loss of at least a thousand dollars from what she told me.
As for the author starting a patreon, make sure that you say on your page that you are making free content and that the money going into the project is being used to produce the content that will be seen by everyone else. Anything else you do is up to you.
i.imgur.com/KCQ7gQn.gif
Fukken doo it.
Do what so many other groups do. Write something short and original. Claim all the Patreon funds are for THAT. Reality Check does original webcomics. I know another fanfic writer who sculpts. You get the idea.
Well, I don't much mind either way. I only have this to add: Making money off of your work is only selling out if you intentionally compromise on the quality and/or integrity of your work to do so.
very much yes you should. i have to ask, was i the one to plant this idea in your head or were you thinking of it before i mentioned it to you? i will donate if you go through with this. not immediately, money is tight and rafting costs a lot. when taxes and SSI roll around, i will pay you to be awesome.
your's truly, fuqface mcgee
Why aren't you already doing the thing? I can't help directly, but I can share the stories like Wound Salt that I do enjoy. Also, go do the thing!
3251511
Well pateron is fine. Im just saying if people like your stuff why not get paid?
m okay with this.