Where You’ll Find Me Every Day
The first is Page Count, where I and other writers dish on publishing, author marketing, livelihood issues, and more. This, I hope, will be a go-to place to get info on anything from the publishing process of a book to viable side hustles to keep your head afloat. We’re taking the red pen to the idea that money and art have nothing to do with each other. Expect candid, informative posts from professional writers and publishing insiders, as well as financial experts.
Read us below:
My other publication is Five Dollar MFA. That’s where you’ll find LOADS of craft posts, mindful process musings, and writing prompts and tips. It’s an MFA for the cost of a monthly Medium subscription.
Find me below:
A Note On Medium
Medium makes it possible for writers to actually be paid for their work (what a concept!). This means you only get 3 free reads a month before you have to bust out your wallet. This is equitable, a fair exchange between reader and writer. It was important to me to join a platform like this, and to edit publications where my writers have a shot at earning.
Writing is a job–and a service–like anything else. You pay for your coffee at Starbucks, right? Same thing.
This is why, if you believe in writers being paid for their work and expertise, and you are “consuming” their content, it’s important to chip in.
There’s a lot of pressure out there with so-called inbound marketing techniques for writers to constantly give away free content. But the return on the enormous time investment isn’t always so great. Don’t believe me? When is the last time you donated to a writer whose blog you read, clicking on their donate buttons, or going out and buying their books? Loads of writers read my posts on craft and process and they listen to my guided meditations for writers. They download my worksheets and watch my videos. Very, VERY few have ever clicked on the donate button. This is not good for our culture. It’s important that we honor our teachers, that we recognize that the work they put out is born of years of hard work and financial investment on their part. Also, exchanges of generosity feel good for both parties.
It’s important that we check ourselves when we make use of a teacher’s offerings and don’t click their donate buttons or otherwise find ways to give some kind of payment for their knowledge that we use.
I’ve had people say things like, “knowledge should be free” or “well, you put it up there” or “I can’t afford it.” All of these excuses frustrate me. The first is pure entitlement. The teachers worth their salt didn’t get their education and professional experience for free, yet you feel entitled to it. The second doesn’t acknowledge the donate buttons or the full spirit in which something is offered: most writers are offering knowledge for free in the hopes that you will one day return the favor in kind by buying their books, taking their courses, donating via things like KoFi, or engaging their coaching or editorial services.
Yes, part of it is building a platform and brand: a good platform can lead to speaking engagements and other interesting side hustle offers. This is true. But that isn’t your concern and shouldn’t be used as a reason to justify not throwing a bit in the tip jar. What you should be concerned with is if you are using someone’s materials a lot and they HAVE something like a donate or pay button (or their work is on Medium), you chip in.
The third is hogwash: think of all the things you buy.
Why should the life-changing knowledge and coaching and advice you receive from seasoned professionals be worth less than a cup of coffee, an ice cream cone, the many things in your Target cart you don’t need?
And if me saying any of this is making you feel some things, I hope you investigate that instead of writing me off. If this upsets you, any of it: why?
An annual Medium membership is $50 or it’s $5/month. We want all of us readers and writers to put our money where our mouth is, and to support platforms that support its writers and produce quality pieces. I hope you’ll consider joining us on this journey–and, if you’re a writer with experience, we’d love to have you submit to Page Count.
Here are a few writers / artists that I support on an ongoing basis, but this by no means includes all the people I’ve paid for coaching or whose books I’ve bought or classes I’ve taken:
Amanda Palmer: Being one of her patrons on Patreon is a gift. I give her $3/month and also purchase her books and records. She lets us into her creative process in an incredible way, and makes us part of it. I’ve learned so much from her and am inspired daily.
Susannah Conway: I started out by hearing her interview on the Biddy Tarot podcast, then I began reading her monthly love letters. After I received her amazing end-of-the-year reflection PDF, which she gives for free, I supported her by paying for one of her online courses (which was awesome!) and plan to take more. They are fantastic!
Maria Popova: Her Sunday Brain Pickings newsletter is a gem. When I read it regularly, I chipped in $3/month to support her work, which takes hours and hours of extensive research. As Maria says: Donating = Love.
Carrie Mallon: I adore her tarot work and found her first with her free online interpretations of The Wild Unknown tarot. She gives so much to the community with free readings and resources. So, I paid for the download of her Wild Unknown interpretations as well as sponsored her Kickstarter for her own deck, The Spacious Tarot. I’ve also done two personal readings with her, which I, of course, paid for.
Who are some of your favorite artists and writers that you support? I’d love to have them on my radar.
And, of course, if the work I put out is useful to you, I’d love to have you as part of my merry band of writers!
Find all my work on Medium below:
And, I wouldn’t be putting my money where my mouth is if I didn’t add this to the post, now would I?
I’m excited to help you on your writing journey! Thank you for reading and being part of mine. (Insert heart emojis, prayer hand emojis, and…glitter. Lots of glitter).
