Though my output of novels has slowed dramatically, in the past few years I’ve actually written new words at a pace that I don’t think I’ve ever matched. Rather than novels, I’ve focused for a while now on shorter forms of fiction/storytelling — anything from captions on up to short novellas.
There are a few reasons why I chose this, but essentially, the main one was to avoid finding myself stuck in a creative rut. In the process, I produced several hundred thousand new words of fiction, much of it in niches (or themes) that aren’t always typical of those seen in my novel work.
All that said, it is time for a change, a return to what I am best at, and what my readers overwhelmingly prefer — novels.
To be clear: I am going to write more novels. Many more. Novels will be my focus for the foreseeable future.
As part of my foray into shorter forms of writing, I stood up new outlets/venues for my work, including outposts at Ream, Patreon, and SubscribeStar. These have become very valuable (and fun) places to share my work, and interact with readers.
Those sites all serve a similar general purpose in being direct-to-the-reader subscription based platforms for my writing, but they all have a specific emphasis unique to each. (This will deepen and become more apparent with time.)
So, this post is intended to explain a bit more what you can find at these outposts.
This is the site I am most excited about, and the one outpost I believe has the most potential to be a place I post my writing to for a long time to come.
The main focus of Ream is serialized fiction (the format/layout reminiscent of those once seen at places like Radish). Since I don’t really do serialized fiction, at first glance this would seem to be an odd choice for me. But stick with me here, I’ll explain.
Over time, Ream has evolved to become a more or less central hub for all kinds of direct-to-reader writing.
Even better, Ream is continuously improving, and listening to both readers and authors when it comes to suggestions for improvements/refinements/added features.
Lastly, Ream is by far the friendliest platform to authors who write darker/edgier themes and content. Their content guidelines are sensible, and easy to comply with (which is in stark contrast to the next outlet my work can be found at).
How I’m Using Ream
The focus for Ream for me will be longer form, usually novel-length, work. This will be the place readers can go to follow along with writing my darkest/edgiest/most messed-up books as I write each chapter. I’ll be posting new work here as I write it, and it will stay here until it (eventually) gets published in book form at retailers.
There will also be platform exclusive content at Ream that I’ll be posting from time-to-time, but if you want to follow along with the creation of novels or other long-form content — and be most certain the content won’t be banned/suppressed — then this is the place to follow me.
Let’s move on to my next direct-to-reader subscription platform — Patreon.
Ah… Patreon. All too often my very own bête noire.
A lot of people love this site — and I do too. But it’s got problems — big ones — for writers like me. Namely: content suppression.
Patreon has easily the worst, most inconsistent, and (at times) inscrutable content moderation policies. I’m not even sure their own staff really know what the content policies are, they’re so all-over-the-map with how they define content they will, and will not, accept.
That is the single greatest issue readers of my work who want to follow me on Patreon face: they are guaranteed NOT to be able to read all of it.
There are numerous pieces of my fiction that Patreon has — even after my multiple attempts at expurgation — simply refused to let me publish there. (And these were by no means pieces that even approached edgy, or taboo in the least.)
As I’ve always stated, that is completely their right, as it is their platform. They get to choose what gets published on it. Full stop.
But being unable (or unwilling) to explain, clearly, what the limitations on content are have made for crazy-making times over the years here.
The bottom-line for Patreon is that while it’s a site people know and trust, it is increasingly hostile to writers who focus on dark romance, and unequal power dynamics, as I do.
All of that said, I will continue posting there…but just know that it’s a tough row to hoe for this particular scribbler.
How I ‘m Using Patreon
In short, it’s the platform for the more sanitized version of what I do.
I will still post new work there, but it’s a coin-toss as to whether it will be blocked or not. I mean that — I really can’t predict it anymore.
When content is blocked, what I do is revise the post and convert it to a stub, noting that it’s been suppressed on Patreon, and directing readers to other platforms where they’ll be able to read the full version of that post. Then I apologize.
(I’ve done a lot of that over the years on Patreon’s part.)
It’s the place I use more frequently for new release or upcoming release information. Excerpts, what’s on the horizon, calls for ARC readers — that sort of thing. Patreon gets all of that.
I will also post interesting items at Patreon such as “Why I Wrote This Book”, interviews, and background info/lore/cool stuff from time-to-time. Patreon is actually great for that, so I will continue to utilize it for those sorts of posts.
I’m not at all trying to sh*t on Patreon: it’s a great place for creative people of all stripes, and I’m not (voluntarily) leaving it. I just wish it was a LOT friendlier to writers like us.
On to the last, but not least, platform — SubscribeStar.
This site (and concomitantly, my choice to utilize it) grew out of frustration with Patreon’s content suppression policies. Laid out in a very straight-forward, no frills way, it does exactly what it sets out to do — serve as a refuge for the wretched refuse cast out of Patreon. Once it went live, numerous creators either jumped ship from Patreon entirely, or began essentially mirroring their content there (which is largely how I’ve used it for the past few years).
With essentially no suppression, easy to understand rules, and a decent, bare-bones, interface, it’s actually a nice, if somewhat limited, site. It’s a heckuva lot better than not having any Patreon alternatives at all.
(One of the interesting quirks of the site is that it’s actually one of the easiest places to simply leave a tip for a creator — even one you aren’t subscribed to. Why other sites don’t make it this easy, I will never understand — but there it is.)
How I’m Using SubscribeStar
As I said previously, mirroring all of the content posted at Patreon was originally the purpose of SubscribeStar. I wanted to offer an alternative to people who didn’t like Patreon, and at the same time, back up all the hundreds of thousands of words of fiction my Patreon site had amassed over the years. None of that has changed, and won’t.
What has changed is that now, I’ve taken to using SubscribeStar as a sort of safe harbor, in that pieces that are banned by Patreon get showcased at SubscribeStar in a category I lovingly refer to as “Too Hot for Patreon.” As you’ll see when you read a few of those posts, you’ll understand why I’m so baffled at what is sometimes banned there — these are not effed-up, riding the edge of sane pieces of writing at all. Pretty middle of the road actually, even by my standards.
Anyway, beyond that, I now use SubscribeStar as the first place to go for dark, sometimes experimental pieces, where the prospect of the work being muzzled is basically nil. (I really don’t write anything particularly crazy, in the grand scheme, but it is what it is). Unique to this site are typically shorter (but on occasion quite lengthy) pieces that, while not suited for a novel, do need a home where they can be appreciated. SubscribeStar fits that bill very nicely indeed.
I’ve gone on much too long with this post, so I’m going to ask you: what do you think of all of this? Anything you’d like to see me create where one of these sites might be a good fit? I’m always open to ideas.
Next time I visit this blog, I’ll write a bit about the new releases, my newsletter, and plans for the next few months.
Until then.
-Trent
