I'm torn by this. I really love that you give us a free newsletter each week - and I love the newsletter itself. In a world where everything can be monetised, it's great that you have chosen only to share what you find interesting, curious or thought-provoking rather than charge for it directly. It gives the Bluestocking a level of authenticity.
Clearly producing the newsletter week-in, week-out takes time which you could be using to earn actual money, rather than just applause from spoddy liberals. My worry wouldn't be paying so much as it might change the way you go about putting the newsletter together - and I'm aware that this sounds like the worst sort of dissembling - would there be more of an effort to chase likes? Are there subjects (I bet there bloody are, who am I kidding?) which would bring in more subscribers? Would subscribers feel they have more ownership of the newsletter and start pressuring you to include certain stuff (maybe they do that already)?
In short: yes, I'd be prepared to pay. But I'd also be ready to spring on every linked story that didn't interest me and probably every typo as a sign that the Bluestocking wasn't as good as it was back in the day.
Yes, I think that’s a reasonable set of concerns, and why I wouldn’t want to monetise the current newsletter-- it’s very obvious from the stats what drives traffic and creators do tend to bend towards that. The result can look a lot like monomania.
I just subscribed to the Atlantic ($60) because I’ve been interested 4+ times in clicking through to articles you share (mostly by you). That felt like a worthwhile next step. I love your newsletter and would now pay for it but if you have to pay right from the start would I have learned that? I think Ian Leslie’s approach of the top bit for free and the part below the fold for subscribers could be a good model for you. Gives you multiple and cumulative opportunities to entice to paid. Similarly David liebovitz where I have recently moved from free to paid (to listen to a cheese tasting podcast!)
Now that I rely on a pension for my income, I have to rotate my subscriptions. I’d read and pay for as many as I could- I love these Substack newsletters, but two national newspapers, Tortoise and a paid Substack is about my limit currently.
I always enjoy The Blue Stocking but I can't afford too many subs. I prioritise those who aren't already paid for their journalism. Yes I know writers should get paid but I guess you read the stuff you link to for work anyway?
This is a newsletter i would gladly pay for ( my first ). But i feel new joiners like me might need something initially to see the quality of what you write and find for this community .
I’m currently subscribed to over 100 Substacks. As an aspiring writer, I’d love to pay all writers, but as a carer who has little disposable income I can’t afford to pay even a traction of them. Many people, I suspect, are in a similar situation.I don’t understand why the guys (it will be men, won’t i?) running Substack can’t offer some sort of package deal, so that you could pay a monthly lumpsum and have access to, say, 20 paid posts. It’d make Substack more like a magazine, which would be great and probably more regarding for a greater number of writers in the long run. I binged The New Gurus and chased it with almost all your podcast interviews, enjoyed both. I already subscribed to Bari’s podcast, but thanks for introducing me to Modern Wisdom. I, too, often think of Mantel’s Some Girls Want Out - no other piece of writing has influenced my workdview to such an extent. BTW, I’m finally reading the book you recommended to me ages ago, In The Darkroom, and I find it riveting, even if at times frustrating, so thank you again.
A friend writes a financial letter daily for free and once a year he pesters his subscribers for donations to that year’s charity - most recently a playground at his village school. I guess the question for all of us is how much do we need the money. Is richer happier? Etc. your newsletter is worth lots, but (as in comments above) “monetising” it is perilous...
Helen. In response to your question about channelling your rage, it obviously fuels your writing so I think your question is more, how can you take time out from the stimulus you need, without losing your drive? Write a book maybe that is not about current affairs but something else that enrages you. What would I value here? I like your video content -especially when you go in depth on one subject or with one person. For this platform, more of your excellent humour.
D'ya know, I might actually pay for extra stuff, depending on the cost and the content. Yours is just about the only Substack I haven't unsubscribed from and which I pretty much always read all the way through.
I liked it better when Mikhaila was just up front about it and tirelessly posted pictures of herself in bikinis. Take that any old darn way you want.
I suppose she's part of the Rod Dreher faction now? We'll see. If she announces suddenly that Nashville is no longer the centre of cool freedom, but Orban's Budapest is, we'll have a definitive answer.
I suspect this isn't particularly helpful, but I really enjoy this newsletter and would be prepared to pay for it. I guess the question then is 'How much?', and I definitely think a monthly payment of around £5 is low enough for me not to be concerned about and enough to be worth your while. I'm concerned I wouldn't listen to a podcast enough, but as I enjoyed the Gurus series, perhaps I'd make time for it!
I'm torn by this. I really love that you give us a free newsletter each week - and I love the newsletter itself. In a world where everything can be monetised, it's great that you have chosen only to share what you find interesting, curious or thought-provoking rather than charge for it directly. It gives the Bluestocking a level of authenticity.
Clearly producing the newsletter week-in, week-out takes time which you could be using to earn actual money, rather than just applause from spoddy liberals. My worry wouldn't be paying so much as it might change the way you go about putting the newsletter together - and I'm aware that this sounds like the worst sort of dissembling - would there be more of an effort to chase likes? Are there subjects (I bet there bloody are, who am I kidding?) which would bring in more subscribers? Would subscribers feel they have more ownership of the newsletter and start pressuring you to include certain stuff (maybe they do that already)?
In short: yes, I'd be prepared to pay. But I'd also be ready to spring on every linked story that didn't interest me and probably every typo as a sign that the Bluestocking wasn't as good as it was back in the day.
Yes, I think that’s a reasonable set of concerns, and why I wouldn’t want to monetise the current newsletter-- it’s very obvious from the stats what drives traffic and creators do tend to bend towards that. The result can look a lot like monomania.
I just subscribed to the Atlantic ($60) because I’ve been interested 4+ times in clicking through to articles you share (mostly by you). That felt like a worthwhile next step. I love your newsletter and would now pay for it but if you have to pay right from the start would I have learned that? I think Ian Leslie’s approach of the top bit for free and the part below the fold for subscribers could be a good model for you. Gives you multiple and cumulative opportunities to entice to paid. Similarly David liebovitz where I have recently moved from free to paid (to listen to a cheese tasting podcast!)
A cheese tasting podcast? Rush me details. Epoisse 4 lyf
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/david-lebovitz-podcast/id1615181254?i=1000596550151
A subscriber only podcast- Steve Richards does that for Patreon subscribers
thanks -- this is an interesting one, not sure if it would be better to do a full scale podcast on a platform, or something more lofi here
Now that I rely on a pension for my income, I have to rotate my subscriptions. I’d read and pay for as many as I could- I love these Substack newsletters, but two national newspapers, Tortoise and a paid Substack is about my limit currently.
Maybe I will shed one of the newspapers...
Yeah, I think that’s a real problem now - I feel the same. I can’t pay for/read all the potentially interesting newsletters that are out there
A small tariff for a specific article?
I always enjoy The Blue Stocking but I can't afford too many subs. I prioritise those who aren't already paid for their journalism. Yes I know writers should get paid but I guess you read the stuff you link to for work anyway?
Another brilliant Bluestocking Helen - thank you for making my day far more interesting!
This is a newsletter i would gladly pay for ( my first ). But i feel new joiners like me might need something initially to see the quality of what you write and find for this community .
Keep up the great work Helen .
Lol for your paid subscription! Only just seen the ‘if’ in your mention of the possibility
No result from a search in the App Store!
For what?
Rewarding, not regarding. Sorry for the typos.
100! Wow, and I thought I had a hardcore Substack habit.
I’m currently subscribed to over 100 Substacks. As an aspiring writer, I’d love to pay all writers, but as a carer who has little disposable income I can’t afford to pay even a traction of them. Many people, I suspect, are in a similar situation.I don’t understand why the guys (it will be men, won’t i?) running Substack can’t offer some sort of package deal, so that you could pay a monthly lumpsum and have access to, say, 20 paid posts. It’d make Substack more like a magazine, which would be great and probably more regarding for a greater number of writers in the long run. I binged The New Gurus and chased it with almost all your podcast interviews, enjoyed both. I already subscribed to Bari’s podcast, but thanks for introducing me to Modern Wisdom. I, too, often think of Mantel’s Some Girls Want Out - no other piece of writing has influenced my workdview to such an extent. BTW, I’m finally reading the book you recommended to me ages ago, In The Darkroom, and I find it riveting, even if at times frustrating, so thank you again.
A friend writes a financial letter daily for free and once a year he pesters his subscribers for donations to that year’s charity - most recently a playground at his village school. I guess the question for all of us is how much do we need the money. Is richer happier? Etc. your newsletter is worth lots, but (as in comments above) “monetising” it is perilous...
Helen. In response to your question about channelling your rage, it obviously fuels your writing so I think your question is more, how can you take time out from the stimulus you need, without losing your drive? Write a book maybe that is not about current affairs but something else that enrages you. What would I value here? I like your video content -especially when you go in depth on one subject or with one person. For this platform, more of your excellent humour.
D'ya know, I might actually pay for extra stuff, depending on the cost and the content. Yours is just about the only Substack I haven't unsubscribed from and which I pretty much always read all the way through.
I liked it better when Mikhaila was just up front about it and tirelessly posted pictures of herself in bikinis. Take that any old darn way you want.
I suppose she's part of the Rod Dreher faction now? We'll see. If she announces suddenly that Nashville is no longer the centre of cool freedom, but Orban's Budapest is, we'll have a definitive answer.
I pay to read you in The Atlantic. 'Nuff said.
Nuff definitely said!
I suspect this isn't particularly helpful, but I really enjoy this newsletter and would be prepared to pay for it. I guess the question then is 'How much?', and I definitely think a monthly payment of around £5 is low enough for me not to be concerned about and enough to be worth your while. I'm concerned I wouldn't listen to a podcast enough, but as I enjoyed the Gurus series, perhaps I'd make time for it!
Yes, the lowest option on here is £5/month, which seems too high to me for the current newsletter
FWIW, I'd be happy to pay that. It's a highlight of my inbox!
Thanks for this -- that’s a good summary of what I’m thinking too.