Special thanks for this month to the following patrons
Anonymous
Do you crave recognition and thanks? If you give more than $5 a month on Patreon, you can have your name here, and receive all the glory and adulation that comes with supporting an independent writer.
When I started this blog, I wanted to make sure that it was built using only the best platform and tools. I wanted that, that is, until I saw the price tag, and decided to reign in my ambitions to something more realistic. Still, I wanted to have my platform be independent (or at least as independent as a non-technically savvy person can be on the internet), which means paying for hosting.
While I’m fairly content to keep paying for hosting in order to keep this place running and free for all to enjoy, I’ve also had a number of people telling me that the quality of my work and the effort I put into it is such that I really ought to be looking to the long term, into professional writing, and into trying to make a living from this blog. I don’t have nearly the hubris to think that I should put up a paywall, nor the inclination to seek out corporate sponsors or merchandising options.
Still, I’ve gotten these kinds of comments enough that I have decided to put the infrastructure in place to make it possible. You know, just in case something here suddenly becomes really popular overnight or whatever. That kind of fame is fleeting, and if you want to cash in on it, you really have to be set up in advance.
So, here’s the deal: I’ve set up a Patreon page, so that you, if you like my stuff, and feel exceptionally generous, can give me money for it. By default, it’s set up for monthly recurring donations, because this is the best way for me to get an accurate picture of whether I’m breaking even or not.
If you do decide to make a contribution, you can unlock various rewards depending on how much you give. Think of these not as products being sold, but as tokens of my appreciation for your support. Or think of them as products, if that’s what motivates you to give. The point here is that these are optional to enjoying the blog.
It’s important to me that this is crystal clear. I’m in this writing business because I enjoy writing, and posting what I write here has more of a positive impact than keeping it locked down on my tablet, not because I expect to roll in the money from pounding words onto a screen. I am only setting up this infrastructure now to have it in place for the long term. If, and only if, you are financially stable, have the funds to spare, and giving me your money will not have adverse effects on your life, you can contribute on patreon.
If you don’t meet all of the requirements above, but still want to support this blog, you can always share it with people you think might enjoy it. Regardless of whether or not people give me money, simply knowing that my ramblings here are bringing enjoyment to others makes it worth the effort.