Art For Art's Sake, Money For God's Sake
I’m noticing something on Substack. More and more writers who have turned on paid subscriptions are becoming increasingly concerned with justifying that decision, it would appear. They’re offering paid only articles, emailed to all 'subscribers as ‘Previews’, they’re opening comments only to paid subscribers, they’re fretting about not putting out enough material and they seem to be churning out material, not because they are inspired necessarily, but because they feel obligated to give people their dime’s worth (or penny’s worth).
I don’t want to get into that situation. All my stuff is free to view. Comments are open to all. I’ve got a few pledges which I’m extremely grateful for and view these as a token of appreciation, not as payment for a service. Hence I’m reluctant to open my account to paying subscribers, lest I fall into the trap of thinking that I have to produce material on a regular basis, simply in order to justify my ‘fees’. Not going there. This is not how creativity works. Money makes the world go round. You need it to put food on the table and pay the bills. It’s a fact of life. However, the commercialisation of talented writers, who are also often dissident voices, on Substack, does make me feel slightly uncomfortable.
Anyway, here’s a 10CC song, gratis (no thanks to Youtube; I had to search around for a version that would embed on Substack):
And your honesty and pure motives are why I love your work!! Thank you for sharing. Love, Steshu.
I can’t claim credit for the insight, and unfortunately can’t recall it’s source, but paraphrasing: movements, in time, become businesses, and eventually become rackets. I see an analogous risk with paid subscriptions.
It’s easy to understand how writers may want to get remunerated for their efforts, particularly when their willingness to speak the truth has resulted in their loss of employment. So there is no simple solution.
I think el gato malo, one of the writers on substack who is always interesting and very entertaining, has a good model, with his substantial articles being free, and bonus, non-substantial (humor) articles for paid subscribers. But he may be an exception with his probably unusual ability to create a second, distinct product under the same masthead.