Daniel - first of all, thank you so much for the kind mention! I also loved hearing your voice ❤️ I think you bring up a really interesting point here that ties into a larger cultural idea on the value of art. Do we inherently value the importance of art, writing, ideas enough to support it (to support artists)?
In the classical music world, wealthy patrons do this - provide monetary support, help musicians gain access to quality instruments, etc. They do this not to tangibly gain anything back, but because they love music so deeply they want to be a part of supporting those who bring it to life.
We see this less in other fields, including writing, but I think it's possible...we see this a lot especially in fandoms and other tight-knit communities in which people deeply identify and love someone's work and will provide financial support to enable its continuation.
I think if SubStack is able to continue prioritizing strong community building and the creative process itself (over traditional marketing / business models), writers have the possibility to thrive on this platform. I'm a big believer in deep over wide...that if you are able to truly build a community of people who are aligned with and resonate with what you do, you can thrive as a creator and artist.
Wonderful food for thought - thank you for this post!
Thanks Grace! Agreed on all fronts here. I think the pursuit of excellence in any craft is worth it, for the joy of doing the thing, but I do believe there's an opportunity to earn an income solely based on the work itself.
I do think we value art enough to support it without anything in return, but I think the art has to be extraordinary. It's easy to lose site of this when you're chasing paid subscriptions instead of focusing on the quality of your work.
"Substack's business model relies on writers monetizing their work. The author's suggestion of "just paying people to write whatever they wanted" is likely unsustainable for the platform and could lead to a decrease in content quality or quantity."
Unrealistic Expectations
"The idea of subscriptions being "a sign of genuine support instead of an access pass" ignores the reality that many readers are motivated by access to exclusive content. This transactional aspect, while perhaps not ideal, is a driving force in the digital content economy."
Motivation and Accountability
"The need to attract and retain subscribers can motivate writers to maintain a consistent output and quality. Without this incentive, some writers might become less productive or engaged."
Thanks so much for sharing my note Daniel :)
Sure thing man! Definitely one of the top notes that stood out to me this week.
Daniel - first of all, thank you so much for the kind mention! I also loved hearing your voice ❤️ I think you bring up a really interesting point here that ties into a larger cultural idea on the value of art. Do we inherently value the importance of art, writing, ideas enough to support it (to support artists)?
In the classical music world, wealthy patrons do this - provide monetary support, help musicians gain access to quality instruments, etc. They do this not to tangibly gain anything back, but because they love music so deeply they want to be a part of supporting those who bring it to life.
We see this less in other fields, including writing, but I think it's possible...we see this a lot especially in fandoms and other tight-knit communities in which people deeply identify and love someone's work and will provide financial support to enable its continuation.
I think if SubStack is able to continue prioritizing strong community building and the creative process itself (over traditional marketing / business models), writers have the possibility to thrive on this platform. I'm a big believer in deep over wide...that if you are able to truly build a community of people who are aligned with and resonate with what you do, you can thrive as a creator and artist.
Wonderful food for thought - thank you for this post!
Thanks Grace! Agreed on all fronts here. I think the pursuit of excellence in any craft is worth it, for the joy of doing the thing, but I do believe there's an opportunity to earn an income solely based on the work itself.
I do think we value art enough to support it without anything in return, but I think the art has to be extraordinary. It's easy to lose site of this when you're chasing paid subscriptions instead of focusing on the quality of your work.
Claude's Counterarguments.
Platform Viability
"Substack's business model relies on writers monetizing their work. The author's suggestion of "just paying people to write whatever they wanted" is likely unsustainable for the platform and could lead to a decrease in content quality or quantity."
Unrealistic Expectations
"The idea of subscriptions being "a sign of genuine support instead of an access pass" ignores the reality that many readers are motivated by access to exclusive content. This transactional aspect, while perhaps not ideal, is a driving force in the digital content economy."
Motivation and Accountability
"The need to attract and retain subscribers can motivate writers to maintain a consistent output and quality. Without this incentive, some writers might become less productive or engaged."