Originally published May 28, 2019.
Back when I had a Patreon, quite a few of my patrons said that the perks were just bonuses for them. Ultimately, they were pledging because they wanted to support me. And since deactivating my Patreon, I’ve gotten messages from people saying they’re bummed they never got to join, not because they wanted those perks, but because they wanted to support me.
Let me say first that the fact that any of you folks want to throw any money my way because of these stories really means a lot to me. And I would never want to come across as ungrateful for those who want to support, and those who did support. But the truth is, I don’t need the money. I’m blessed to have a day job that allows me to live very comfortably, which definitely makes working on my art a lot easier. So while I appreciate you wanting to show your support monetarily, I’d feel bad about taking that money from you, when you might need it more than I do. That’s why the Patreon was always set up as folks getting extras for pledging: to give you something back for supporting me.
But apparently some folks want to support without getting anything extra in return. I’m incredibly grateful for that. And I’m happy to say that there is a way to support not just me, but any artist you like, and it doesn’t cost a penny:
Comments.
Don’t get me wrong. Knowing people are reading my stories is great. Favorites are awesome. But when someone leaves a comment on one of my stories, about something they liked or some way it resonated with them, that leaves me feeling like I’m on cloud nine for the rest of the day.
For example, “Big” is definitely not one of my most popular stories as measured by favorites. But the comments I got on it from folks who appreciated it meant so much that I still get giddy when I think about them. It takes a lot of favorites to match the amount of love I feel from one heartfelt comment.
So if you like someone’s art (not just mine), one of the best ways you can show support is leaving a comment. Tell them how much their art means to you. That’s the kind of thing that keeps us artists going when we get creative block, or get frustrated, or just don’t feel like creating. It makes the process feel so much more worth it.
The Plot Thickens 