I fully support the idea that content creators should be paid fairly for their work. I just find it impossible to support all the writers I love with a substack subscription. I don’t have a solution, but this model seems unsustainable for the long term.
The challenge is not so different from other mediums — we used to have cable subscriptions and now we all have a zillion streaming memberships, for example. What I expect will happen is that the most popular channels will do fine and more niche authors will drop out akin to what has happened with news. The NY Times is killing it with digital subscriptions, while so many other publications are folding.
Oh man, I really needed to read that sellout article, thanks for sharing. As a self-employed illustrator/designer who is officially rebuilding my graphic design portfolio to apply for full time jobs, it was so validating to read. I'm SO tired, and for a moment at least, the idea of being potentially bored at my job, but having a stable paycheck, health insurance and a 401k, sounds so relieving.
“Next thing you know, it’s been three years and you’ve spent almost no time on your art,” he tells me. “You’re getting worse at it, but you’re becoming a great marketer for a product which is less and less good.” - I've never related to anything more, and it's so sad because I've started to forget why I even loved creating in the first place. I have no answers, but it's incredibly validating to know I'm not the only one.
I fully support the idea that content creators should be paid fairly for their work. I just find it impossible to support all the writers I love with a substack subscription. I don’t have a solution, but this model seems unsustainable for the long term.
The challenge is not so different from other mediums — we used to have cable subscriptions and now we all have a zillion streaming memberships, for example. What I expect will happen is that the most popular channels will do fine and more niche authors will drop out akin to what has happened with news. The NY Times is killing it with digital subscriptions, while so many other publications are folding.
Oh man, I really needed to read that sellout article, thanks for sharing. As a self-employed illustrator/designer who is officially rebuilding my graphic design portfolio to apply for full time jobs, it was so validating to read. I'm SO tired, and for a moment at least, the idea of being potentially bored at my job, but having a stable paycheck, health insurance and a 401k, sounds so relieving.
“Next thing you know, it’s been three years and you’ve spent almost no time on your art,” he tells me. “You’re getting worse at it, but you’re becoming a great marketer for a product which is less and less good.” - I've never related to anything more, and it's so sad because I've started to forget why I even loved creating in the first place. I have no answers, but it's incredibly validating to know I'm not the only one.