Today is my two-month anniversary of being on Substack. It has been an amazing journey which has felt like a breath of fresh air. I even described Substack as feeling like a walled garden.
At the current rate of growth it won’t be long before 300 people will be subscribing to this Substack, and more than 600 are following in the app already. The interactions have been great, and I am forging some new friendships. On a technical front, I particularly enjoy using this tool to create my video podcasts, and I just can’t seem to get enough of them at the moment. I hope I am not filling up your inbox too much!
In my interview with Tim Challies which I published yesterday, he explained that he does not want to put his articles behind a paywall.
This struck a nerve with me that I had already been thinking about in the run-up to today’s anniversary. While neither Tim nor I have a problem with anyone else who does choose to do this, I share his determination never to do that myself. While I am still a newbie on here, I wanted to make a declaration now, which I promise will never change unless Substack forces us all to start charging, which I cannot imagine happening:
My videos, podcasts and articles will never be behind a paywall.
This decision is partly inspired by Matthew 10:8, although I am definitely not claiming that this verse actually prohibits paywalls:
“Freely you have received; freely give.”
I am conscious that I am aiming to offer hope, compassion, and healing to people facing all of life’s most significant challenges. Some of those who most need to read, and to ask questions, might not be able to afford even a modest subscription charge. I do not want money to be a barrier for them finding the help they need. Financial circumstances must not prevent anyone from accessing everything that I share here. And I refuse to keep my best articles out of the reach of most people.
However, Tim and I also spoke about the costs associated with writing, producing, and distributing articles, videos, podcasts, and published books to an excellent standard. Despite many people’s assumptions, very little by way of book royalties are earned by the vast majority of even apparently successful authors. And the costs involved are often huge. Christian books may have a significant impact without their authors being able to make any profit at all from the sales.
Similarly, podcasts need to be incredibly popular to make any money from advertising, and advert breaks can distract the listener just at the moment that they are benefiting the most.
Equipment, including computers, software, as well as professional support such as editors, not to mention marketing and advertising, is all incredibly expensive. If your goal is to get your work out to help as many people as possible you need to invest significant amounts of money, not to mention your personal time. I doubt many Christian Substackers or published authors are making even minimum wage for all their work once expenses are deducted. Good quality books take hundreds of hours to produce.
The reality is that there is no such thing as free content.
The question is, who has paid to produce it?
Do we want to help writers cover their costs, and to have the funds to improve the quality and reach of their work? How are we going to do this? Royalties from books won’t do it. Advertising revenues are insufficient. Unless we actually want writers to go on subsidizing the content we enjoy, or for human-generated material to disappear from our lives alt, then we have to find a way to support creative types.
And so there is this other side to the equation, which is why I totally understand why some people have taken a different path. It is also why, for the first time in over twenty years, I am going to offer you the opportunity to support my writing by a paid subscription.
There are several verses that speak of how it is right to partner with those we are benefiting from. So I ask you, if you feel that you are learning something useful from the videos or writing you read here or any other Substack, would you consider subscribing? This is a Biblical thing to do. Paul, who often preferred to support himself, said:
“Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them” (Galatians 6:6, NLT)
A few key points about how I am implementing this. It is entirely optional. And you should only subscribe if you have benefited from and believe in the work here.
If you cannot afford to offer financial support please do not. Some of you may wish to show your support by sharing some of your time with your favorite Substack writers if you have skills that could help. Others may want to join a launch team and gain access to books before they are released.
Writing reviews at any point in a book’s life is one of the main ways to guide Amazon and other sites to help them decide which books should be recommended to which people. You might be surprised to realize just how few additional reviews can make a huge difference. This is a free way for you to encourage any author, and help other people find good books.
One of the beautiful things about Substack is that the algorithm works for us not against us. But even here it is fed by your likes, restacks, and comments. If you cannot support in any other way, believe me any writer craves feedback more than anything else. Let me and other writers know how specific articles have helped you, comment with questions, or share with your own audience by using a restack with note. These are all free things that anyone can do, and they are like the oil that lubricates the machine of Substack, helping it to know which notes and articles to show to which people.
We often complain about other algorithms, and what they try and stuff down our virtual throats. But the truth is likes and shares are the digital currency on any online network. We all collectively shape the same algorithms that we hate so much. Please spend some of your social capital on content that you feel might make a difference to other readers. Even if you never write an article of your own you are playing a crucial role.
The costs and benefits of subscribing to my Substack
Substack gives you an opportunity to share what the benefits are for each level of subscriber. This is how I have chosen to describe each level. If any other Substacker wishes to adapt these for their own use I would be delighted. Just let me know in the comments below or by restacking this with a note.
Do not be afraid of turning on paid subscriptions. If you utilize this approach I cannot see any real drawbacks for readers, and only advantages for anyone who would like to support authors.
Free Plan
FREE videos, podcasts, and articles, never behind a paywall
Paid Plan
• Support the writing, production, and distribution of my Substack, podcast, and books.
• Partner with me in keeping all my content free for everyone.
• Keep my podcast and Substack free from adverts.
Founding Partner
• Contribute whatever additional amount you are able to give. Help establish this work and equip others.
The future
For most of you, nothing changes. There is no need to feel compelled to pay for a subscription, and there will be no subscriber-only content.
But if you would like to partner with me, and can afford to do so, that will be much appreciated. You will help launch this Substack and my books so they can reach more people. At this early stage, foundational partners can help send this Substack and my books, not quite into orbit, but towards everyone that they are supposed to find and benefit.
I promise that if you ask for my help, I will offer what I can, irrespective of what tier you may or may not be subscribed to.
This particular article will not be included in the podcast as it is private for those of us on Substack already. But do feel free to share this with others as I hope it will also spark some thoughts in other Christian Substackers, some of whom might also consider turning on their own paid subscriptions without enabling a paywall. But remember, I am not saying that people who take a different path are wrong to do so. I am just trying to be faithful with what I believe God is calling me to do.
Please don’t forget to also follow wherever you get your podcasts and help introduce my interviews and Bible reflections to a new audience.
Previous Interviews
Tim Challies “We Trust God With That As Well”
Keith Plummer “As I read John Newton, he reminds me that I need Christ.”
Daniel Johnson Would a wretch like John Newton be welcome in our churches?
Aaron Armstrong Whatever Happened to the Young, Restless and Reformed?
Dr Mark Mayfield Christians and Mental Health
Barnabas Piper Pastor’s Kid, Divorcee, And Minister
Are you interested in how I have set up my podcast to be produced here on Substack? Contact me for more information. Or ask for advice about implementing paid subscriptions on your Substack.
Congrats on the two-month mark, Adrian! Love this model—keeping the front door wide open for everyone while giving folks who have been blessed a clear way to support the work.
Waardevolle post, Adrian! Dank je wel voor het delen