I hear you, Andrei. I recently wrote a very similar note, about asking for or trading recommendations, which I also find to be a turn-off.
Your point is perfectly sound: that you never pay for a newsletter simply because you are asked to, but rather only when the newsletter offers you a fair value for your money.
I hear you, Andrei. I recently wrote a very similar note, about asking for or trading recommendations, which I also find to be a turn-off.
Your point is perfectly sound: that you never pay for a newsletter simply because you are asked to, but rather only when the newsletter offers you a fair value for your money.
I couldn’t help but think about visual artists, painters, as I was reading your post. Artists, unlike writers, rarely give their work away for free, no matter how amateur it is. They display it at the local arts and crafts show, affix a price tag, and then hope and pray that they sell something. If the work isn’t that good, it probably won’t sell. But no one seems to feel the artist is being sleazy for putting their work up for sale.
The same artists often have their own webpage, or post pics of their work on Instagram, most often for one purpose; in the hopes of a sale.
This is just food for thought. Why do you think there is a different expectation of writers versus painters? I wouldn’t buy a painting if I didn’t really like it, but I wouldn’t resent the artist for asking for money for it.
Again, I agree with you about sales pitches that don’t work! Just presenting this dynamic for consideration. 🙂
Hey, Don! Hmm, yeah, that’s an interesting mirror image. To my mind the fault lies in how you ask, and in providing access to the work.
If all an artist does is showcase the work in hopes of a sale, they basically rely on the strength of the work itself. The work, in that way, sells itself or not through its own strength alone.
If a painter were to ask me for a membership fee to even have access to their work, that’d be a total turnoff. If they, however, presented me with 5-6 of their best pieces and gave me the opportunity to pay to view 25 more of similar quality, I very well might take them up on the offer.
Good point, Andrei. And now that I think of it, when an artist’s work is on display at a gallery or a show, you are allowed to look at it for free. That might compare to our free offerings here
That’s how I see it too. Which is why it angers and saddens me that writers with a very small following and not that much experience paywall all their stuff. How am I supposed to know whether it’s worth it for me to pay if I can’t judge the work beforehand?
So true! The other day I read a long, free essay that I really enjoyed. As I was reading, I was preparing my response. Then I clicked “reply.” Only paid subscribers are allowed to reply. There is nothing that makes me feel more disrespected! Now that’s sleazy! You want me to read your work but you don’t want to hear from me. It feels so manipulative. Like I am only a mark, not a person.
In my earlier years, I was an artist (graphite, watercolor, some oil) and was often asked to donate a picture to some "worthy cause" or others. And my relatives stole paintings I lent them and that they signed an agreement to return. It would have cost too much to sue them. All creatives are often asked to give away their work. Whether they do or not is their choice. But I advocate for value exchanges -- our creativity vs. their something of value (not necessarily money). Btw, on Twitter/X, I am constantly bugged by people who say they'll post positive reviews of my books for a fee. Paying for reviews is outside the scope of my ethics. Asking for recommendation exchanges seems to be the same thing.
That is a very interesting point. And basically what I think most of us do here: we give people the opportunity to check out our work for free, and if they want 'extra', they can support us. Nothing wrong with that!
I hear you, Andrei. I recently wrote a very similar note, about asking for or trading recommendations, which I also find to be a turn-off.
Your point is perfectly sound: that you never pay for a newsletter simply because you are asked to, but rather only when the newsletter offers you a fair value for your money.
I couldn’t help but think about visual artists, painters, as I was reading your post. Artists, unlike writers, rarely give their work away for free, no matter how amateur it is. They display it at the local arts and crafts show, affix a price tag, and then hope and pray that they sell something. If the work isn’t that good, it probably won’t sell. But no one seems to feel the artist is being sleazy for putting their work up for sale.
The same artists often have their own webpage, or post pics of their work on Instagram, most often for one purpose; in the hopes of a sale.
This is just food for thought. Why do you think there is a different expectation of writers versus painters? I wouldn’t buy a painting if I didn’t really like it, but I wouldn’t resent the artist for asking for money for it.
Again, I agree with you about sales pitches that don’t work! Just presenting this dynamic for consideration. 🙂
Hey, Don! Hmm, yeah, that’s an interesting mirror image. To my mind the fault lies in how you ask, and in providing access to the work.
If all an artist does is showcase the work in hopes of a sale, they basically rely on the strength of the work itself. The work, in that way, sells itself or not through its own strength alone.
If a painter were to ask me for a membership fee to even have access to their work, that’d be a total turnoff. If they, however, presented me with 5-6 of their best pieces and gave me the opportunity to pay to view 25 more of similar quality, I very well might take them up on the offer.
Good point, Andrei. And now that I think of it, when an artist’s work is on display at a gallery or a show, you are allowed to look at it for free. That might compare to our free offerings here
That’s how I see it too. Which is why it angers and saddens me that writers with a very small following and not that much experience paywall all their stuff. How am I supposed to know whether it’s worth it for me to pay if I can’t judge the work beforehand?
So true! The other day I read a long, free essay that I really enjoyed. As I was reading, I was preparing my response. Then I clicked “reply.” Only paid subscribers are allowed to reply. There is nothing that makes me feel more disrespected! Now that’s sleazy! You want me to read your work but you don’t want to hear from me. It feels so manipulative. Like I am only a mark, not a person.
Haha, damn, yes! I hate that as well. Another cheap tactic.
In my earlier years, I was an artist (graphite, watercolor, some oil) and was often asked to donate a picture to some "worthy cause" or others. And my relatives stole paintings I lent them and that they signed an agreement to return. It would have cost too much to sue them. All creatives are often asked to give away their work. Whether they do or not is their choice. But I advocate for value exchanges -- our creativity vs. their something of value (not necessarily money). Btw, on Twitter/X, I am constantly bugged by people who say they'll post positive reviews of my books for a fee. Paying for reviews is outside the scope of my ethics. Asking for recommendation exchanges seems to be the same thing.
Ew… I got a few DMs like those as well. Thankfully I don’t yet have any books to send for review😀
That is a very interesting point. And basically what I think most of us do here: we give people the opportunity to check out our work for free, and if they want 'extra', they can support us. Nothing wrong with that!
Good response. FYI: many amateur visual artists charge $ simply as reimbursement for physical material cost, i.e the canvas and paint.
It’s an expensive art form!