So, I'm making the jump and submitting a Patreon page for the review. I've been looking how writers on this and other sites like it use Patreon without making it obtrusive, and I'm going to do my best to do the same. (People seem to like me here. I'd like for that to continue.) That said, it's also a bit nerve wracking, since it means pairing my professional name and 'Rubicon' together. I may go ahead and change my profile name when that happens, or I may not. Either way... I feel a little bit like I've jumped out of a plane, and I really hope this thing on my back's a parachute and not my lunch. How have others who've gone the Patreon route on CHYOA and other Fan Fiction Friendly sites handled these transitions? And do folks have advice?
While I don't have direct experience with Patreon, I do support a couple of developers via it. I myself do a bit of software development and have a Paypal donate link instead. The reason I'm mentioning both is because based on how you plan publishing your work is going to affect the outcome. Patreon by design expects you to release updates on a frequent basis. This is not dictated by the site but by the expectations of your supporters since its a monthly subscription. If you are one of those who is able to do so, you will not only amass a good following but also more importantly retain all your loyal subscribers. The biggest downside one can have here is to not be able to put out your work for a length of time and losing all the subscribers you might have diligently tried to gather. Paypal on the other hand is more like updates/work at your own convenience and pace. When you do get to post something good people will come out and support but neither they have the expectation nor are you obliged to release updates frequently. I have had people drop in at times amounts that I felt were much higher than what I would have valued my work, so that was one plus side. Other than that good work will always be appreciated, the form might be different. Good luck and all the best with your success !
And it is up and running at https://www.patreon.com/kimberlydale -- and thanks! So. Hi. I'm Kimberly Dale. Or Rubicon. Or Rubicon Cross. It's all sort of the same.
Good luck on your Patreon page! If you don't mind, can I ask why are you starting a Patreon page? Is there really that much of a market for people to pay for literary erotica?
Again not directly and might be a little off-topic, but I have loved playing adult text adventure games since the times of TADS, ADRIFT and other platforms that used to flourish growing up. They were all used to be free then, now days with the advent of 3D graphics they seem to look more refined but seriously lack verbiage. On top of that a lot of them are paid and people do seem to dish out a lot of moolah for them, of course its primarily for the visual smut than literary. So overall I do think there is a market, it might be a subset of an already niche market but none the less there are its followers.
Hey Rubicon. Good for you! I've had a Patreon for almost a year now. I can't say I am particularly successful but it has been an experience. I'm not sure I have much advice to offer though. I write in disparate niches, I am horrible at self promotion, I have very very little exclusive/paywalled content, and much of my stuff is here in sprawling CYOA style threads which are damn hard to move and promote elsewhere. I'm pretty much doing everything wrong. I guess my advice would be to do everything the opposite of me. LOL My patrons are awesome and supportive though. And it honestly feels so damn good when you see that there are people willing to put their own hard earned money down to support your writing. Good luck to you! Grim
You can absolutely ask! A few years ago I was a standard, working writer of erotica. ("Smut peddler" would be the technical term. Or at least my preferred one. ) It paid little, but it paid, and that made it easier to justify doing the work. However, I couldn't begin to touch things like fan fiction for all the obvious reasons, which meant I almost never wrote fan fiction even if I enjoyed it. When I did, it was under a different pen name (thus, Rubicon) and it was really rare. Mostly, I had to work to commission (not always the most pleasant work), though I had begun the process of building up low cost self published work. Then there was a bad year. Like, bad. My partner and I had to pull way back on almost everything, circle the wagons, and make it through. How bad was it? I didn't even try to publish or self publish for over five years. It's only recently that things have gotten better enough to make it possible to start over. But... the landscape's really different, now. There's a lot of erotica out there. And, more and more, the key to actually making enough money to feed the cat is through patronage. Patreon's the most famous alternative for that. And yeah, it's hard to build an audience, but if you work at it, publicize and engage, and have decent quality, you can make some money at it. And despite recent crackdowns on naughty material, erotic materials do very well on Patreon... with maybe the best example being Pin Up and Fan art at different levels. There are some really good artists who are producing fan art, cheesecake, pinup stuff, even some harder core stuff... and literally making six figures doing it. Admittedly, they're really good and really consistent, but if you have more modest expectations (again -- not expecting we'll be retiring on this) you can supplement your income relatively decently. And... the thing is? Suddenly fan fiction -- even erotic fan fiction -- is on the table. I can't sell erotic fan fiction (there are words for that, mostly legal terminology), but I can absolutely let people know where it is if they want to support my writing it. And... I have to admit... coming to CHYOA and working within this community and with the specific toolset CHYOA has? Is amazing. I want to do more. A lot more. And, well. It's a lot easier to justify the time and energy if it's feeding the cat and occasionally feeding us. And maybe it can build up to more. I'm certainly enjoying reconnecting to my older venues now that I'm back 'active.' And it's exciting. Will I get rich? Signs point to 'no.' Will I enjoy myself? So far, absolutely! Will it mean being able to stretch my creative muscles here on CHYOA and in other places? Oh man, yes. I've started posting previews (for patrons -- well, patron as of this second -- it's a start!) of an upcoming full Choose Your Own Adventure story I'm developing, called "Eight Days." I'm ambitious about it. (I won't pretend your own Blind Date With Catwoman story hasn't been an inspiration, there.) If it goes well, I'm thinking of getting some art assets together, putting it through Ren.Py, and making a Visual Novel out of it -- the logic's very close to the same, after all. I've missed being out in the world. This is a way to get back out there. And... it's less likely I'll need to take soiled panty humiliation commission work this time. Well, no. That's a lie. But they'd have to pay more for it now, and that's not nothing!
Absolutely -- and if one manages their own expectations properly, building up a presence in that market can mean... well, again. Cat food money. A chance to buy more Rifftrax content or indulge in my unholy love of DC Super Hero Girls merch. And that's all really neat.
And that's huge. Having people who like what you're doing and are willing to show it? That's serious mood-perk.
I had one for a few months and was super thankful for the three people who signed up. They weren't demanding at all. Unfortunately, I hit some personal life bumps and knew I wouldn't be able to meet the commitments I'd set up, so I had to pull back the Patreon. Honestly, I don't think the folks who were supporting my writing would have minded if I only tossed up a three or four chapters over two months, but it was eating me up that I couldn't meet my obligations. I guess my only advice is: heavily communicate with your Patrons. Be honest if you have some hardships that make it difficult to meet obligations. Don't beat yourself up - life happens. Oh, and don't necessarily expect feedback from your patrons. Some are happy to simply support your craft.
Wow! Thank you so much for such a grand epistle, it was a real joy to read and an honor to listen your story. I hope everything goes well for you, your writing career and your life with your partner. I confess, I now have tons of questions about your occupation and approach to writing, but I will not be a bother. Again, well wishes on your new endeavor.
Hey, it's never a problem asking. I do warn you... I get... 'enthusiastic' in replying, sometimes. (I babble.)
