Very, very reluctantly going on Patreon: advice needed. (Let the $0.00 flow.) · 4:26pm Apr 4th, 2016
The short form: I got a three-digit traffic ticket which is due paid-in-full cash-only in a little over two weeks, and I don't have the money.
The long form: I went through a yellow light. I probably could have proven in court that it was a yellow: there was a potentially-working camera over the signal. (Of course, then there's court costs.) But I did so in view of a police officer, she pulled me over, and asked for my ID -- which I didn't have. I'd left my residence in a hurry and since I didn't have anything to buy, why bother carrying the full kit? I could display insurance and vehicle registration from the glove compartment, but not a driver's license. So she left me hanging on the side of the road for fifteen minutes -- and then she decided to be nice to me.
I'm sure she saw it as being nice. If she'd charged me with running the supposed red, I would have gotten points on my license. An increase in my car insurance payments. Possibly a year-by-year surcharge paid directly to the state. So she didn't charge me with that. Instead, I got hit with the very legitimate Failure To Display ID. The fact that the fine on that violation is nearly double that of running a red...
Lots of calling to the precinct was recently wrapped up. As said, cash only. No installment plans permissible. I can't and won't fight the charge in court because I legitimately was not carrying my license. And after I finished that, I started putting together every spare cent I had available for the month. I came up with about two-thirds of what I needed, and that was only by effectively bankrupting myself through the start of May and possibly a bit beyond, just barely managing to find my Internet payment in that and nearly tossing that in too.
They are not going to accept two-thirds. The weather forecast does not allow me to host a garage sale any time soon (plus I'd need a garage) and I don't have very much to sell anyway, not which I could liquidate in a hurry and hope to see any real money for. It's not pennies on the dollar at this speed: it's a penny per item, pre-bulk discount.
Of course, I do have a relatively new computer I can let go.
It's only four months old. It probably hasn't depreciated past 90% of its original value. Besides, it's not as if anyone needs me online for a while, and the absence would be fairly short: I could just cash out my accumulated surveys over the next two weeks and put that towards a Windows 3.1 system which would run on dial-up, assuming I could find a dial-up provider...
And when I found myself seriously looking at that thought, I closed my eyes, sighed a lot, and started to set up the Patreon account.
It's not asking people to pay for my own stupidity and bad luck. (Mostly stupidity.) It's not asking people to pay for anything at all, because I'm expecting to see exactly $0.00 out of this. I told everyone before this: I've looked at the pages for other FIMfic people. Some of the most talented, popular, acclaimed writers on this site. And if they're not breaking double digits, I'm sure not going to get anywhere. I just basically thought... that the true (non-cutie) mark of a professional writer is not being paid for it, so might as well take that last step, and then when I fail to pay the ticket, I'll know I really did try just about everything legal. And in the meantime, hope for a garage sale. Plus a garage.
So I'm at the start of the setup process. I'm looking at the "Tell your patrons why they should pledge to you" window and haven't put a single word in it. I have no idea what to set for milestone goals, much less how I should pointlessly ask for donations. By the chapter? By the story? Word count? Given the way I write, word count... no, just think about doing something which would give people incentive to (not) donate. Try to write a fresh story, if I can just center myself enough to try. Maybe that idea for the Everypony In The Mane Cast Gets Sick seven-part grouping, all posted at once, and then there would be something to let people know I'm at least attempting to get a steady flow going, but it would have to be at a quality level which inspires that $0.00 to maintain after people at least visit the page before formally rejecting it, and...
...obviously not in a great mental place for proceeding with anything creative right now, and probably for the next hour or twelve.
So I could use some page creation advice. Things to put in what's essentially a sales pitch? Cute graphics? Milestones? Realistic amounts? (Other than the most realistic $0.00, which I do think I'm going to put in there somewhere.) Posted targets? Minimum guaranteed work flow on my end which would keep things shuffling forward? Rewards I could offer? Or just sincere outside voices telling me to Abandon All Hope or just Surrender Dorothy, because I've still seen some other people's totals and I'm not even that good.
How do I go about setting this up? What should the page look like? Who's been there before and can tell me where to find the fastest emergency exit leading back to reality? Should I even bother? Would anyone like to buy an unused MLP dry erase board? (Remember the dry erase board?)
*sigh*
But there is good news: emotionally, I'm finally ready for the $0.00.
I just added up my remaining resources after committing everything I could to the fine and $0.00 is where I'm at already. It's not going to particularly sting when I see more of it.
How much are you trying to raise?
Let me get you some data.
s29.postimg.org/3uikeir1j/Patreon_Graph.png
This is a chart of my patreon earnings. It's always been 'per chapter released' and, at first, I was very lazy about posting. Sometimes I'd only make one chapter a month, and sometimes I'd go up to four. But for most of 2015 I made 4 chapters a month and, occasionally, pushed myself up to six. Now I'm trying to make six chapters a month and, sometimes, can even push to eight.
The increase in result is both due to increased effort on my part, and an increase in both patrons and individual patreon pledges. It's consistently, at this point, around three-to-four hundred a month. That being said, Pateon skivs some money off the pledges for site upkeep--I've forgotten the exact math, but I think you receive somewhere around 97 percent of whatever is actually pledged to you. Furthermore, Patreon processes at the beginning of the month: If you set it up now, you won't get a payout until next month. And there's a little thing where it doesn't register new patrons on old updates--if you put a post up on the seventh, and a patron pledges on the eighth, the post won't acknowledge the patron.
That being said, it's a good system overall. There are flaws, but they aren't big ones.
...Might I suggest reducing your grocery bill by shopping at a dollar store? It's not healthy, but you can get the same amount of food for less money, and a ten to twenty percent reduction might cover your bills for this month.
Have a q&a? 10 cent/question, 50 cent/you rap "in da club"?
I can't spare much at the moment, but I'll chip in at least some because I like your work.
Are you going with a monthly charge or a by story/chapter charge?
What 3847587 said.
For what it's worth, I would definitely pledge for new Triptych chapters, and most of your other existing stories too, but Triptych is one of the few stories in the site that I'm just dying to read more of.
Edit: Stupid auto correct.
Yeah, how much are we actually talking about for the fine?
And for that matter, in what time frame? I would have said that Patreon collects at the end of the month, so if you open one now you won't be getting anything until the beginning of May.
Couldn't we just give you the money directly?
What 3847680 said. If you need money, particularly if it's not a lot; instead of going on patreon, and navigating that process, tell us how much you need and when you need it by and possibly enough people may chip in. The fandom has raised money for bronies to travel to conventions and pay for hospital visits so helping a brony out with some money troubles is up our alley. You've got some followers and having received many traffic tickets myself I can't believe that failure to produce a ID is that an insurmountable fine if we all chip in a little bit. Help us help you.
3847626 If a Patreon would allow you to write more Triptych, we're well into "Shut up and take my money!" territory.
Also, I know I'm in a minority here, but I'm fond of the style of Patreon where the goals are "a month's groceries", "a month's rent", etc. and the reward is "the artist survives to make cool shit another month". It feels more honest and immediate, and doesn't waste the artist's time putting on a dog and pony show just so the patrons can feel special.
3847680
Yeah, set up a paypal where we can just send you some cash real quick. Patreon pays at the beginning of the next month which might not be fast enough for you. None of us here would ever think of less of you for doing this, you know. Plenty of people have asked for more for less urgent needs. (Not to knock those people, but I'm just saying)
3847587
3847608
Too much. I don't want to start talking about numbers without having a page together. (Or, ideally, at all, but we left that point behind a little while ago.) But as has been suggested a few times and directly stated at least once before this, I am not financially well off -- if it wasn't for surveys, my Amazon shopping would mainly be "Hey, there's a penny on top of that gumball machine" -- and just having my Internet bill wrapped up on a monthly basis would be an imaginary comfort, so keeping any such page going beyond this incident would have a local purpose.
3847600
3847637
As far as the Patreon payment date goes... yes, that's an issue, but it's not a catastrophic one. If I can guarantee paying it within three weeks, I could potentially float a micro-loan.
I just went to your page and checked your donation numbers: it's a good chunk per person, but not many people. I honestly have no idea how to try working that kind of math on my end. If I posted said theoretical seven-chapter illness story in one shot on your current system and $ amount... for me, that feels too high: we're into Signed Limited Edition With Gilt Edging And Faux Leather Cover, which is really more appropriate to the college textbook publisher.
But then, for my postings, 0.01 feels too high.
As for dollar-store shopping... I already do some of it, and enough to know when it's a losing proposition because what you're supposedly getting in savings, you're losing in package size. There are categories in which it helps, but others where it really does cost more long-term. (In particular, beware of detergents.)
3847604
Rapping will never earn me money, but could bring my fruit & vegetable bill down to zero.
3847606
I don't know, and that's part of why I threw all this out there. I have no idea what kind of production basis to set, or the fees which should be attached to them.
3847699
... and now I feel like horse apple smear.
3847680
At least half of you seem to be out-of-continent. I'm not driving to your house.
3847729
I suspect he meant what about just sending you money via Google wallet, PayPal, or whatever else it is kids are doing these days.
3847745
Silly Admiral, Estee is just being his lovely sarky self.
I'd chip in, no matter how you set it up.
Since you need the money sooner than later, why not just a GoFundMe or something?
Pledge to write more random updates in your blog. You may not be Midnight Dancer, but your blog is quite entertaining. I would love to pledge if I wasn't already on debt.
3847764
Estee's a gal.
3847745
3847868
Beyond the time/date issues above: because then I can say I'm doing it from some form of work and not as charity.
Look: I created the most cynical Equestria ever. This means that no matter what anyone else here might ever write in the way of darkness, doom, and gloom, it is automatically less cynical and will be better received.
{James Hook}You undercut my cynicism. You owe me something.{/James Hook}
Question:
Have you already considered offering as a reward reviews of the pledgee's (pledger's? pledg's? English is weird) stories of their choice?
With the option of allowing the pledger to read the review beforehand and then deciding if they still want you to publish it on this blog.
And when I talk about reviews, I also mean critiquing what works, what doesn't, how it could be improved-etc. The whole nine yards. Even if it's about a red&black alicorn self insert.
3847924
Well, you've got me there. I only ever had my ponies eat a dude alive.
Estee can you just once not be cynical and self defeating about this?
Tell me where to throw money at you and I'll throw money at you.
3847887
Her then.
3847974
That really isn't all that cynical, though, just dark. There is a limit to the number of times one can be literally eaten alive. Metaphor has no such limit.
... and that sounds way creepier than I intended, sorry.
Just make sure to let us know when it's up and running.
3848022
Yeah, exactly. Horrible and brutal, yes. Cynical, not so much.
Oh, also this might be of interest to you:
How A Potato Salad Can Teach You To Run A Good Donation Drive
This was written in the immediate aftermath of the POTATO SALAD KICKSTARTER.
For those of you not in the now, one guy in 2014 decided to run a semi-serious Kickstarter for a potato salad party. He put in a decent amount of effort, put up the page to have a bit of a laugh, and it could have stopped there.
He got more than 55.000 $.
Understand: that money could have gone to starving children in Africa; it could have funded somebody's chemotherapy, or made a promising go through college. That money could have literally saved lives.
Instead, it went into potato salad.
Now, the guy didn't actually con anyone: he actually delivered what he advertised, fulfilled his stretch goals, and from what I gathered the party was pretty swell and a good time was had by all. He wasn't evil, or misguided, or anything else: he wanted to have fun and had it, and helped a lot of people have fun as well.
Maybe what's in the link won't be immediately helpful, since it talks about Kickstarter instead of Patreon...but still, I think you could use the lessons contained inside.
EDIT: I've actually looked around, and Brown (the guy who was behind the potato salad kickstarter) donated 20.000 $ to a local charity. I don't know when though.
3847972
As discussed in the version of this blog post where I was still able to treat Patreon as an unattempted personal joke, I will accept money not to review stories.
3847974
Don't tell me, tell Midnight Rambler.
...you didn't have them eat him, did you?
3848007
Hey! Do I tell you how to run your brand?
3848054
Despair For Humanity Quota: Filled.
...so seriously, does anyone have any ideas on per-chapter/story suggested amounts, word count, levels...?
A recent change in my employment means that I have a little extra disposable income. I'd be quite happy to chip in.
But I have no advice on how to set things up. My only experience with running a crowd-funding campaign was nothing less than disasterous.
If I can be frank for a moment, I offered a donation via private message months ago (almost a year now?) when you were in the market for a new computer if it would help get you to write more Triptych, but never got a response. I get that you probably don't want what you likely consider to be "charity," and I can also see my offer of throwing a couple hundred bucks at you via PayPal was probably seen as too good to be true, but if having an official Patreon will help you to view it more as work, and possibly help to get you writing the story I followed you for written, I'll put money toward that.
That having been said, I'm someone who is quite familiar with the time constraints pertaining to such legal issues as what you're facing, and how it can affect the rest of your livelihood and ability to pay one's bills. So, I would honestly like to give you what is necessary to pay the rest of your fine directly, via PayPal. If you have an issue with that, not wanting "charity" and all, we can consider it a down payment for a number of chapters of Triptych to-be-determined later, since that story is what I followed you for in the first place. We can hash out the details later.
PM me with wherever I can send the cash via PayPal, as I'll be checking FIMFiction twice daily. I think your work is worth my money, and when it comes to my money it is ultimately my opinion that matters. If it means squaring away your legal trouble and finally getting some more Triptych, then I want you to take the money.
3848058
Of course they did. It wouldn't be nice to kill something you're not going to eat.
I think you're making a mistake by not having a ... thing where we can just throw money at you. I don't do subscriptions generally - I can't justify an unnecessary on going financial commitment. But a one-time payment that both helps someone out and nets me continued entertainment?
I can do that.
So let me do that.
This sounds extraordinarily dodgy on the part of the police. Why were you talking to the precinct and not the courthouse? They shouldn't be involved in this past the process of issuing you the citation beyond providing testimony to the DA's office and enforcing potential rulings against you. If they are, and they're making financial demands on you, something is wrong. The cops should not be shaking you down. That happens, but usually in the context of them doing stuff that's only borderline legal, like the towns in Texas that haul in travelers and tell them they'll take their children away unless they sign over all the cash and goods in the car. (This is a thing that happens.)
If you want some advice for someone who has been involved in a lot of traffic citation courts in the state of New York... go to court.
Not to fight it. Unless you can prove you are innocent, that's a waste of time.
You go to court to buy time and to reduce the points on your license and the amount of the fine.
Here's what happens a lot; you decide to go to court. That usually buys you a couple months, because many courts are overworked and understaffed. Then when you get there, you're with a ton of other people who are all there for the same nickle-and-dime traffic tickets and one or two "serious" cases. The ADA there wants to clear out all the cruft. So they'll see people in a queue.
When it's your turn, you usually win a prize because you actually showed up to court, which demonstrates that maybe, just maybe, you're the person who will insist on an entire trial over a three-digit fine. They want to avoid that. So usually they'll plea you down. The ADA will go "this is what you were cited for; we'll reduce it to X if you plead guilty now. Otherwise we'll set a court date." 99% of people say "yes." The ADA instructs the person in question what to say when they're called before the judge, which is, to say "Guilty, Your Honor." The judge levies a fine, and directs you to the clerk, who asks if you can pay now or if you need time. (Many courts will only accept cash or a certified check; some will take credit cards.)
If you say you need time, they nod, and usually set a due date at least one month out. (Seriously. I once had a court clerk tell someone I was helping out "Sure, how does October 1st sound?" It was mid-July.)
And even if you can't pay by then, you can ask for an administrative hearing to prove indigence, or to make partial payments! Courts fucking love it if you can make partial payments, because that means they don't have to go to the expense of declaring you a scofflaw (that's an actual legal designation, by the way, which carries a separate fine) and flagging your license for the cops to cite you for Aggravate Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle the next time they catch you.
(The downside; going to court usually means getting hit with an administrative fee.)
You should have a lot of time, literally months, to play around with this. If a police precinct, NOT a judge, NOT a court official, is telling you to pay up in just two weeks, especially to pay up to them rather than to a court (you weren't clear on which is happening) then something is wrong. Especially if they're threatening you with consequences, also something you're unclear on. Because traffic citations don't carry consequences beyond failing to respond to them properly, and those responses, again, need to be made to a court, in front of a judge. The precinct should not be involved. The citation you were issued should have provided two options, and as far as I know this is true in literally every state in the country; pay the fine by X date, or show up in court on Y date, usually the same date but not always. But choosing to show up in court on Y date doesn't mean adverse consequences; it's simply you exercising the option.
Now, this is for New York State specifically, but a lot of it is universally applicable. Hell, here in New York, I'm not joking, I've seen "Failure to Display ID" plead down to failure to obey a traffic control device.
3848058
People had fun, for largely understandable reasons. They bought an experience, and got it.
The reason the Kickstarter was so successful was because 1) it was honest 2) it was fun 3) it didn't take itself seriously.
The author of the blogpost I linked noted how he himself had done a fundraising for his goddaughter who had brain cancer-and raised barely 5000 $.
He's not bitter about it; the circumstances are different.
Since nobody else is stepping up I'm going to give an eyeball estimation.
This is assuming 1000 words in 1-2 hours, by the way. Correct as needed.
Blog post on an argument chosen by the pledger, medium length (500-700 words): 5 bucks.
Minimal length snippet, choice of scene by the pledger ~1000 words: 10 bucks.
Note: this is basically a single scene, and should be presented as such.
Lengthy blog post on argument chosen by pledger, ~1500 words, perhaps shorter but with research, link, considering possible rebuttals: 15 bucks
Medium length story, see "Two plus Two equals Five": 20-25-30 bucks. Depends on presentation, depends on time schedule, depends on willingness to accept close direction as to the plot or not (please, please say no that)
Short multi-chapter story, see "Twilight Sparkle vs Equestria Cutie Mark Constellation Registry": 50-75 bucks. More money or less money, again depending on various factors.
Starting a new, long, multi-chapter story, see "A mark of appeal" 100-150 $. Might go up to 300 $ depending on how you present it. No, nobody will expect you to actually finish it.
Finishing a random story you have around unfinished: 500 $.
Putting out a new chapter of "A Mark of Appeal" (the choice I'd take if it were offered): 75 $. Yes, I will pay you that if you do it, I'm putting myself on the record here.
Finishing "A Mark of Appeal" 1.000 $
Finishing "Triptych": a newborn baby. Alternative payments: one's own immortal soul. A modest blood sacrifice of a small nation. A 10.000 GP diamond.
As you can tell, a couple of rewards are intentionally absurd and overblown; that's part of the fun of it, and....well, you never know, two different people paid 10.000 to see their fantrolls blown up in Homestuck.
This is the "I wonder if any of my readers are multibillionares" part of the rewards.
EDIT: Because I'm a doof: if anything in this comment is an insult to you or your readers....please tell me so I can apologize :-/
3848088
This.
This is important.
Read it.
3848058
Wait, would you be willing to make it serious?
Because I at least would be totally willing to pay a sum between 0.50 € and 2.20 € to ensure that Chasing your own tail never actually gets seriously reviewed.
Because that story is shit.
Even if it's the story I have with the most views/upvotes/comments/brand recognition/(strangled sounds of gross sobbing due to magnum opus dissonance).
Mind you, this wouldn't be charity, and I don't want to give you charity: I'd also expect a nice photoshop of a ribbon a là "Twilight's library" proclaiming you'll never set eyes on it, a very short but dedicated blog post advertising that you're very conspicuously not going to read, and a comment on the story saying that you're not going to read it.
Yes, the reward itself is non-sense: but that doesn't mean it doesn't have value (specifically, one somewhere between 0.50 and 2.20 €).
3848088
Because the officer admitted she wasn't sure about the exact amount of the fine, and advised me to call the precinct in order to confirm it. A court date is not mandatory, but one is assigned in case I want to appear. The fine must be paid at that time. There is no installment plan available. This is part of why I was on the phone: I wanted to make sure I had all my facts straight before I tried anything, because attempting to walk through a gate that's already been slammed in your face often hurts. A lot. And court costs are probably not going to be any kinder than the fine. Since I'm not looking at any points on this, all I can plea on is money -- and with installments already closed out, I've lost the biggest thing I could ask for.
The Voice of Experience
Here in Arizona, you can often beat traffic tickets just by showing up. The officer has to be there too & if he isn't, they have to dismiss. Then, if you can't pay they give you community service (which sucks). This was the way it was the last time I got a ticket (selling to underage in a convenience store, about 25 years ago, but I talked to traffic offenders)
IDK if that's the way they do it in your state, but you should be able to get community service instead of a fine.
Also, don't sell stuff -pawn it. Then you can get it back.
3848166 I am reminded of the story about the man and the flood. A great flood hits the mans town and all his neighbors flee, "Come with us!" they say but the man says "No, God will protect me"'. The flood rises higher and the man is forced onto his roof, a man with a boat comes by, "Get in!" says the man with the boat, "No, God will protect me." Hours pass, the water rises, a rescue helicopter shows up and drops a rope ladder "Grab hold, we will fly you to safety," says the pilot, "No, God will protect me.". The man dies and goes to heaven, upon meeting God he is quite angry. "I trusted you! Why didn't you save me!", God says "I sent you a boat and a helicopter, what more did you want?"
You have a problem, namely a traffic ticket, you posted looking for advice on a patreon, your solution to the problem of your traffic ticket. The community has responded "We like your writing and your blog, we would like to solve this problem for you." (I am assuming with the number of people who have offered to just give you money; together we could pay the fine.)
Your response so far has been "No, I don't want charity!" This is a little frustrating for those of us who wish to help but don't want to go through patreon to do it. If you want to set up a patreon for future earnings then great, do that. But this problem seems immediate and you're ignoring the obvious solution, and if you don't want charity make it clear that you're accepting donations as a down payment on future work and then set up a patreon.
Again, help us, help you.
3848166 Did they actually give you a court date in just two weeks? That's... fast, for a lot of jurisdictions. Admittedly I don't know where you live; in a sparsely-populated county or township that could be about right.
I would also note; the police precinct is not qualified to give you formal answers as to what the court would do. Nor am I. Only the court can. I would not assume that there's no possibility of an extension of an installment plan unless you hear it from a judge or from the ADA.
I can only say that it would be highly unusual for the court to say "Pay up right now or we'll levy a whole bunch of extra fines and take away your license" especially if you're right there saying "listen, I can cut you a partial check now, or the full amount on X date." When it comes to things like traffic citations, unless you're dealing with crazy habitual offenders, like Sovereign Citizen nutjobs who say they don't need a license because they don't recognize the authority of the federal government, and so have a whole binder full of violations, courts usually prefer to not waste every-bodies time. They would prefer to get what they're owed as painlessly as possible.
I'm not a lawyer. But, crucially, almost certainly neither was whoever spoke to you at the precinct.
Find out your court date. Find out the ADA who has your case. Talk to them. They will probably be really goddamn surprised you reached out to them about a minor traffic violation before you even turned up in front of the judge. Ask what they can do for you. It may be you've pulled a complete sociopath who is under the assumption that everyone who cries poor is a moocher out to scam something off Uncle Sugar... but it may be you have not. I can almost guarantee you that this guy would almost certainly rather have you go away in a productive manner than to have to deal with you potentially clogging up the system.
3847729
Since you're pretty clearly reluctant about this I'd suggest going on a by chapter/story basis. That way there's no chance of people backing you for a month and you feeling like you haven't produced enough extra to warrant it, and it makes it clear that this is a "Throw money at me and it will encourage me to write" arrangement. Plus people can set a limit to how many times they want to back you each month, so you don't have to worry about posting too many stories and forcing your patrons to pay more than they want.
That's pretty much how I set mine up and it works for me. You're a better and more prolific writer, so I can't imagine you won't get something out of it.
3848202 Thanks for being a dispenser of wisdom.
Well, at least The Powerpuff Girls re-premiered today.
"Sensitive Thugs." Most insightful boy band name ever.
3848132
I've seriously never timed myself for actual composition.
Wait. Are we talking about each, or total amount required between multiple people to launch?
This feels... high. Really, really high. Not just expensive. "High" as in "Whatever you've been smoking, I hope you brought enough for everybody."
I'd make a comment about how insane this is, but I just died.
You could put it towards my coffin. I heard those were expensive. And then I died.
But now that I'm dead, I don't have to pay the ticket -- wait. Is that a decimal point?
*temporary revival*
So $1.00 to finish the whole thing.
...sounds high.
So what's a $10.00 diamond, two micrograms? Is this getting into the gold plating again?
3848074
I apologize for the silence. It's just that...
...
3848198
...I have... trouble accepting something for nothing. A lot of trouble. There are people who can tell you stories and I'm very thankful that most of them are in no position to show up. But it's just something I've always had difficulty with. My first reaction to offers tends to be a wince, followed by guilt, and finishing up with an exit through the nearest window. Gifts... if someone drove up to me tomorrow and offered me their car, I'd probably figure scam. Then have concerns about the person's sanity. After that, there's taxes...
(Unless it's a Corvette. One of the older ones that's mostly shaped like a flying sneaker. Those are just beautiful.)
So when I don't respond, it's partially because I don't know how to respond, and the rest is... see above. This is just a sticking point with me, and I still have trouble getting past it. I know when it's happening: making the reaction stop is an issue.
It's easier for me to do this through Patreon simply in the sense that at least then, I feel like I'm at least being sort of paid for content. For something I'm doing. Salaried work. Etc. As opposed to gifts which I can't reciprocate or properly show thanks for.
...that went a lot deeper and darker than I wanted it to.
3848317
If you feel this way, then check what the minimum wage is where you live.
SERIOUSLY. REMEMBER, IT'S LITERALLY ILLEGAL TO PAY SOMEBODY LESS THAN MINIMUM WAGE.
It doesn't matter what you do. It doesn't matter if you dig holes in the ground and then fill them up. It doesn't matter if you stay in a chair and do nothing.
If it's your job, then you HAVE TO be paid at least that.
Time yourself to see how much it takes you to write, and then go off of that.
If you think it'd take too much energy, then ask around how much other people write in a set amount of time.
If you think THAT'd take too much energy, use my estimate.
I was talking about the price for a single story. Whether you want to offer it as something multiple people can chip in to or not is up to you.
Are you implying that I don't have good taste?
Estee, are you insulting me?
Accept that other people value your work, or...you know, it is for the better that I don't write on this topic anymore, I am too angry.
Yes, it is an extremely significant time investment and use of your creative juices, energy and willpower. If you feel that the price I suggested is TOO LOW remember that you're the one who sets the price, and can set it higher.
3848317
Forgive the state of this reply, as I had to switch to my phone while I'm at work. You aren't getting something for nothing, in this particular instance. I'm offering currency in exchange for a service, cash for story chapters. I understand personal difficulties accepting what you perceive to be gifts or charity, truly I do. But this is neither of those things on my end. I want you to write more of Triptych, and I am willing to pay to see it done, it is that simple. This is a business transaction, commission work, if you will.
I would also prefer you to have enough wiggle room regarding this traffic fine and your bills that writing will not feel like a misplaced use of your time. With that in mind, you stated your fine was in the triple digits, and you have accrued two-thirds of what is owed.
I am personally prepared to send you a triple digit sum I suspect will cover a hefty portion, if not all of the remaining owed, in exchange for new chapters of Triptych, the number of which to be determined later, and at a rate deemed reasonable and fair. If this is enough to convince you I'm not simply doing this out of charity, and you think it a good and fair exchange, please message me so we can set up the details.
3848317
Tough love for a sec.
3848198 has the right idea. You need this money now. You've been given a perfect offer ( 3848074 ) to solve your immediate problem. Whether you do work before or after getting paid, it's not charity. You would, quite frankly, have to be an absolute lunatic to pass this up.
Swallow your damn pride. Take the money. Do the work. Open a Patreon later if you think it'll work out for you. But fuck's sake, it's not worth losing, what, your house? Car? Internet? Food money for the next month? Just to avoid the guilt of being a financial burden on someone. Because Patreon won't fix this in the time frame you need it to, and what happens then?
Oh, okay. How do you feel about commissions, then?
'Coz I'd be happy to flat out pay for some of those rewards.
3848317
If being paid a sort of salary for future literary production makes you feel better about taking donations via patreon, then, would you agree that you might be owed something for content you have already produced?
Oh dear, it seems my account is in arrears. Kindly provide a point of contact where I might alleviate myself of my debt.
I can understand how you feel. There's a certain pride one can take in being self reliant. Not feeling beholden to anyone or anything. I feel much the same way. However there was a particular first season episode of a certain show about neotenous pastel equines that you might want to consider. Something about an apple farmer accepting help to bring in her harvest. Perhaps you're familiar with it? The point I'm trying to make is that, while it is commendable that you can navigate your own fate in the world, it's possible to take things a little too far. Sometimes you have to swallow that pride a little and accept help when it's offered.
Then don't respond. I generally tend to lurk on the forums and I'm not very active in the community because I have a difficult time communicating with people I don't already know. I think the stilted nature of this post is evidence enough. I certainly won't blame you if I never hear from you again beyond the occasional notification of an updated story. Just because I feel like I owe you already doesn't mean we have to become bosom companions. I certainly don't believe paying you for previously rendered services will engender any form of obligation on your part to entertain any cringe-worthy blathering about my Mary-Sue OC sparkle pone.
- Eak
I'll echo what 3848408 said (who was echoing me making this an echo chamber) as well as 3848410 and 3848407
I understand guilt and not wanting charity and irrational feelings. Believe me I do. But thinking as an author, you know those tragedy stories, the ones where the bad things didn't have to happen, if only the characters acted differently..aren't those heartbreaking? (when done well).
What I don't want to see and nobody wants to see is the divergent timelines of when your fine is due and when your patreon money clears to rear its head and now ontop of whatever your original fine is you owe late fees etc, or you have to shut of your internet or you go hungry all while we stand on the sideline saying please let us do something.
You can make it a group commission tell us how much you need and then promise to write more Triptych and Mark of Appeal and you can promise to write as much as you think is fair to cover the cost and I'm willing to bet collectively we're all willing to chip in. It's not charity and your not taking large sums of money from only one person, it's just a faster way for you to pay your fine without needing a micro loan.
And we'll all be happy knowing you don't have a small thing that threatens to upend your life hanging over your head.
Estee, the main issue you seem to be facing is being unable to view your writing as valuable and valued. This is an extremely common problem for writers, artists, & other creative types; we don't value our own work highly because it feels easy to do, & we see flaws as larger than they are because we're so close to the thing we've created.
The thing of it is, most people are NOT good at writing, drawing, music, etc... What feels easy to you feels impossibly hard to most people, just as there are things which you and I struggle with that comes naturally to others. Speaking as a budding author & amply experienced reader, both of pony stories and other fiction, your stories, your triptych continuum is MAGNIFICENT. By the quality and thoughtfulness of your stories here, you have earned a strong following of readers who value you and your writing very highly, highly enough to just about literally throw money at you in gratitude for what you've already written.
It is not hubris to accept such gratitude and generosity when it is so freely offered, it is not shameful to allow those which admire you to help you in your time of need. Remember the lessons that FiM itself has taught us all; how Applejack learned to recognize when she needed help, how Pinkie Pie learned that her friends were there for her even when she was at her lowest, how Fluttershy learned to embrace her own artistic gifts with the Ponytones. You have people in the double or triple digits pleading for the chance to show their gratitude and appreciation by easing your financial burdens; please, let them, let US, help you.