avatarRoz Warren, Writing Coach

Summary

The article discusses the considerations for writers in deciding whether to put their content behind a Substack paywall.

Abstract

The article titled "Writers! Should you Put Your Work Behind a Substack Paywall?" by Roz Warren provides insight into the decision-making process for writers considering whether to monetize their work through Substack's subscription model. It highlights the importance of having a dedicated and paying audience, comparable to that of renowned writer Joyce Wadler, before making the transition. The author, a writing coach and editor, emphasizes that a large following on platforms like Medium does not guarantee a successful paid subscription base. The article suggests that writers should focus on honing their craft, publishing consistently, and building a loyal readership before moving to a paywall model. It also points out that readers' willingness to pay is influenced by the writer's reputation, publishing history, and the availability of free quality content.

Opinions

  • The author believes that not all writers with a significant following on free platforms like Medium will be successful in converting those followers into paying Substack subscribers.
  • A writer's track record, including past publications in reputable outlets and a devoted fan base, is crucial for a successful transition to a paid subscription model.
  • The article suggests that writers should prioritize improving their writing and growing their audience before considering a paywall.
  • The author expresses that readers may be more inclined to pay for content from well-established writers with a proven history of quality work, such as Joyce Wadler.
  • The piece encourages writers to realistically assess their readership's willingness to pay for their content, considering the abundance of free content available online.
  • The author, Roz Warren, offers her services as a writing coach and editor to help writers improve and publish their work, hinting at the potential benefits of professional guidance in the writing process.

ASK AN EDITOR

Writers! Should you Put Your Work Behind a Substack Paywall?

Here’s how to think about It.

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

One of my favorite writers, humorist Joyce Wadler, recently decided to put her work behind a Substack paywall. For now, she’s sharing her work for free. But at some point in the future, it’ll cost $5/month to read her.

Which, if you’re a writer, raises a question — should you put your writing behind a paywall?

So what exactly is Substack? It’s a platform that enables writers to publish directly to their audience and get paid through subscriptions. You start a newsletter. You build your community. You make money from subscriptions. What’s not to love?

Not so Fast

I’m a writing coach and editor-for-hire. Among other things, I work with Medium writers to help them improve and publish their stories. To substack-or-not-to-substack is a question many of my clients struggle with.

You’ve got lots of Medium followers who highlight and applaud your work every day. Yet you’re only making a few dollars a month here. Doesn’t it make sense to move to a platform where you can charge those fans to read you?

“I’ve been publishing on Medium for two years,” one writing client said to me last week. “I’ve got five thousand followers! Isn’t it time for me to join Substack?

“You’re a terrific writer and I really enjoy your work,” I replied. “But I wouldn’t pay a monthly fee to read it.”

You Need More Than Just Followers

I think she was shocked. But part of my job as a writing coach is to give the writers I work with a reality check. She is a good writer, with a respectable number of followers. But a following on Medium or News Break or even a gigantic email list of fans who are eager to read your latest story for free doesn’t necessarily translate into a critical mass of the kind of reader who is willing to shell out $5/month for access to your stories.

Why not?

There’s just too much good writing available to read for free. And that’s how most of us do our reading these days. Sure, I pay $6/month for a Medium subscription — but that enables me to read dozens of stories a day, which comes out to pennies a post. So just because I enjoy your work on Medium?

Don’t assume I’ll follow you to Substack.

Which brings us back to Joyce Wadler

The truth is that are very few writers whose work I’d actually pay $60/year to read. Joyce Wadler happens to be one of them. Which is why I signed up the minute I learned Joyce was on Substack.

So did a thousand other fans. And a good percentage of us are paying that monthly fee. Why? Because we enjoy her stories so much that we’re happy — even honored — to make it financially possible for Joyce to continue to write them.

If you’re trying to decide whether to put yourself behind a paywall, it might help to compare yourself with a writer like Joyce.

Joyce is a pro who has written for The New York Post, The New York Daily News, The Washington Post, New York Magazine and Rolling Stone. For years, she was a staff writer and columnist for The New York Times, where her humor column, “I Was Misinformed,” had thousands of diehard fans.

She’s also written several terrific books.

One of those books was even turned into a made-for-TV movie, with Meredith Baxter playing Wadler.

What’s Your Track Record?

Do you have that kind of publishing track record and devoted fan base? If so, putting your work behind a paywall makes perfect sense. What are you waiting for? Go for it!

If not? Here’s what I tell the writers I work with. Focus on improving your writing, publishing on a regular basis, and growing your audience —and one of these days, it’ll make sense for you, too, to jump to Substack.

And when that happens? I might be one of the hundreds of readers who are happy to shell out $5/month to read you.

(Writers! Have you put your own work behind a paywall? Do you have a Substack success — or failure — story to share? Please tell us about it — with a link if applicable — in the Comments Section. And if you’re curious about Joyce Wadler’s work? You can still read her for free here.)

Writing Coach and editor-for-hire Roz Warren, who writes for everyone from the Funny Times to the New York Times, can help you improve and publish your work. Drop her a line at [email protected]. (That’s Ros with an “s,” not a “z.”)

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