Update: Patreon have backed down, and will not implement the controversial changes I talk about below.
Patreon are changing their fee policy, in a way that is going to make small pledges of one or two dollars disproportionally more expensive for patrons (note that the first graph in that blog post is misleading, as it hides the fact that they will charge patrons more than they currently do). A lot has been said (see Engadget, Fortune, The Verge among others) about how this is affecting patrons and creators, but Patreon have insisted they will go ahead with it.
Looking at my list of patrons charged for November, 90% are supporting me with $1 or $2. Since the upcoming changes were made public in the middle of this week, 9% of my patrons have dropped their support because of this new fee scheme (there’s an exit survey to fill in when you stop supporting people, which is how I know).
Now, I have a full-time day job which pays the bills, so this is not a financial catastrophe for me. I use the kind patronage of my patrons to pay for little treats that improve my day – coffee and cake at a cafe, cinema tickets, books – and art commissions illustrating some of my stories. And I have been saving up to be able to pay for an assistant to help me run a kickstarter related to my stories next year.
So. If you need to cut down on the number of creators you support, or decide to leave Patreon completely in protest, I understand, and I don’t blame you. I will miss you, and if you decide to stick around I am, and will continue to be, grateful. But you must take care of yourself and do what is right for you.
For alternative ways to support me, you can buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi, or set up a regular donation on LiberaPay (€). Whatever you do, I hope you will continue to follow me on Twitter, Tumblr, Mastodon, Facebook, or Google+, and that you will continue to read and share my stories.
Many thanks.