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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 11, 2016 19:16:07 GMT -5
Folks, I'm looking at Patreon as a way to defray some site costs. Cynus uses is and he has a few different 'rewards' set up depending on what you're doing. He also has is so that you can donate a fixed amount per chapter released or something. The idea is that you assign, say, a buck a chapter with a max amount per month (usually not a problem with me) and that buck per chapter comes due each month. For instance, with me releasing 4 chapters (total of 8) per month of Things We Lost and maybe one Sanitaria Springs, you'd have a 5.00 donation which would go to the site costs. This means the hosting fee, which runs me ten bucks a month/120 annually and the fees to renew the domains, which will come up next year (.com, .org, .net). I've put down a few things - copying from Cynus, some, but let me know if there are items that interest you or if there's something I (Cynus) didn't think of and could possibly offer.
Thanks!
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Post by Cynus on Feb 11, 2016 20:56:44 GMT -5
To copy Dave on this, Seriously, any ideas help.  I want to give more to my current patrons than I already am, I just haven't come up with good ways to do it yet. I'd love to know what you think. |
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Post by TeddyBower on Feb 11, 2016 21:00:15 GMT -5
It's interesting that you bring this up today. I was contemplating the issue of what it might take, or cost, to keep this site operating just this morning during a bit of a lull in the frenetic pace at work.
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 11, 2016 21:22:11 GMT -5
It's interesting that you bring this up today. I was contemplating the issue of what it might take, or cost, to keep this site operating just this morning during a bit of a lull in the frenetic pace at work. If I recall the site renewal is about 70-80 bucks each time I do it, but I do it for multiple years because they offer a discount to do so. Also, .net and .org get by some filters where the .com doesn't, so it allows readers more flexibility. |
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Post by PaulR5 on Feb 11, 2016 22:07:14 GMT -5
It's interesting that you bring this up today. I was contemplating the issue of what it might take, or cost, to keep this site operating just this morning during a bit of a lull in the frenetic pace at work. If I recall the site renewal is about 70-80 bucks each time I do it, but I do it for multiple years because they offer a discount to do so. Also, .net and .org get by some filters where the .com doesn't, so it allows readers more flexibility. I had been wondering about the site maintenance costs myself. Another thing about renewing for multiple years, you lock in current prices instead of risking a price increase. If you had a significant bandwidth increase because enough stories were added, doesn't the cost go up then, also? Or do you have plenty of bandwidth room to grow? Are all of your readers aware that you also have dabeagle.net and dabeagle.org as well as dabeagle.com? I had a temporary problem once where I had to use dabeagle.net to read the stories.
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 13, 2016 13:22:20 GMT -5
46 views and five votes guys, help a dog out!
Pualr5 I have plenty of room, the site doesn't actually draw that much traffic and I don't have pop up ads or anything else like that, with the exception of the message board - I'm within my bandwidth limits by a lot.
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Post by Lugnutz on Feb 13, 2016 13:54:21 GMT -5
I voted long ago. At least a few days. Can always do what they are doing with the Motor Trend YouTube channel. Give chapters or stories to paying people early. We would still get them, but later.
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Post by Cynus on Feb 13, 2016 14:17:46 GMT -5
I have voted, now.
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 13, 2016 14:56:02 GMT -5
Sorry - I'm not looking to shame you into telling me you did or didn't, I'm just saying a whole lot of views and not many votes. If you're the kind of guy that wants just to drop a few bucks when you feel like it or even if you are a kid or adult with no bucks and can't, that's cool. It's just weird so many people see it and don't participate. In a way it's like the stories - Things We Lost has been viewed about 500 times, but there have been few emails and a couple of posts so I'm kind of like...what's going on?
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Post by TeddyBower on Feb 13, 2016 15:13:17 GMT -5
I used to moderate a board that had some 12,000 registered users with an average participation at any given time at well over 100 members on the various boards. When we did a poll I was always somewhat befuddled at the low participation for it. I don't know whether it's apathy or what. I suppose it takes more energy or interest than most can muster up.
At any rate, regarding serial stories, I have developed a personal policy of never reading a serial till it is complete. I can tell you that I am looking forward with great anticipation for the final chapter of your latest :-)
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Post by PaulR5 on Feb 14, 2016 3:36:51 GMT -5
I used to moderate a board that had some 12,000 registered users with an average participation at any given time at well over 100 members on the various boards. When we did a poll I was always somewhat befuddled at the low participation for it. I don't know whether it's apathy or what. I suppose it takes more energy or interest than most can muster up. At any rate, regarding serial stories, I have developed a personal policy of never reading a serial till it is complete. I can tell you that I am looking forward with great anticipation for the final chapter of your latest :-) Dave, I am also surprised at the low participation rate. However, I would hazard a guess that those of us who participate more in this board are most likely to have voted in the poll. Teddy, you and I have differing philosophies on serial stories, and that's okay. Usually I will read one or two chapters, and I can tell if the story is worth reading. Some authors I will read because of who they are, such as Cynus, Dabeagle, Gee Whillikers, Ryan Bartlett (may he rest in peace), James Savik, Lugnutz, David Lee, Andrew Todd, Paul Jamison, and probably a couple of others who write more rarely, such as Addym Kehris, or Lance Kenman, who does not seem to have posted anything since 2009. However, reader response to an author is important, Personally, I need to do a better job of encouraging my favorite authors. That is one reason I appreciate this board. One can comment on a story and do so quickly. If something needs to be said from a more personal level, one can PM or email. Thank you, Dave, for coming up with this board. |
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Post by TeddyBower on Feb 14, 2016 12:57:05 GMT -5
I used to moderate a board that had some 12,000 registered users with an average participation at any given time at well over 100 members on the various boards. When we did a poll I was always somewhat befuddled at the low participation for it. I don't know whether it's apathy or what. I suppose it takes more energy or interest than most can muster up. At any rate, regarding serial stories, I have developed a personal policy of never reading a serial till it is complete. I can tell you that I am looking forward with great anticipation for the final chapter of your latest :-) Dave, I am also surprised at the low participation rate. However, I would hazard a guess that those of us who participate more in this board are most likely to have voted in the poll. Teddy, you and I have differing philosophies on serial stories, and that's okay. Usually I will read one or two chapters, and I can tell if the story is worth reading. Some authors I will read because of who they are, such as Cynus, Dabeagle, Gee Whillikers, Ryan Bartlett (may he rest in peace), James Savik, Lugnutz, David Lee, Andrew Todd, Paul Jamison, and probably a couple of others who write more rarely, such as Addym Kehris, or Lance Kenman, who does not seem to have posted anything since 2009. However, reader response to an author is important, Personally, I need to do a better job of encouraging my favorite authors. That is one reason I appreciate this board. One can comment on a story and do so quickly. If something needs to be said from a more personal level, one can PM or email. Thank you, Dave, for coming up with this board. I understand, Paul, and you folk here may yet convert me to reading serial stories as they come out. My problem is that I've been bitten way too many times by an author going gung ho on a story for a few chapters then you learn nothing more for months or years, or the story has so many chapters that it stretches out over years. I could name a few but I won't. I guess that also, I like my story all in one place at the same time so that I can either plough through it immediately or read it at my leisure, as the mood strikes. Not to take anything away from Dave who became a favorite author of mine back with the story about the kid who got sent to life with his grandfather and restored the VW Rabbit or Golf or whatever it was. I don't recall the name of the story and am being herded out the door as I type. So just saying, Dave, I absolutely love your stories. You have a real talent and one can tell from the words as they come off the page that you love your art. |
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Post by Dabeagle on Feb 14, 2016 14:12:27 GMT -5
I understand, Paul, and you folk here may yet convert me to reading serial stories as they come out. My problem is that I've been bitten way too many times by an author going gung ho on a story for a few chapters then you learn nothing more for months or years, or the story has so many chapters that it stretches out over years. I could name a few but I won't. I guess that also, I like my story all in one place at the same time so that I can either plough through it immediately or read it at my leisure, as the mood strikes. Not to take anything away from Dave who became a favorite author of mine back with the story about the kid who got sent to life with his grandfather and restored the VW Rabbit or Golf or whatever it was. I don't recall the name of the story and am being herded out the door as I type. So just saying, Dave, I absolutely love your stories. You have a real talent and one can tell from the words as they come off the page that you love your art. I used to be guilty of that on a grand scale and had disappointed many readers with my long breaks between chapters. I no longer release serial novels unless they are complete and my incomplete serials, save one, have been removed from the site, so I understand your frustration. I, also, read voraciously. Because of that I like getting the story at once, as a reader. It's why I've already read all of 'From The Cup of the Worthless' in a day and a half and am waving my pom poms to tell you all to read it, too. That was The Quantum, a story I have a folder going for on a rewrite. I do love it, and I love talking to the readers and other writers just as much. |
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Post by chris191070 on Feb 14, 2016 14:50:58 GMT -5
A great idea especially if there is an incentive as a reward x
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Post by JohnInOhio on Feb 14, 2016 23:38:24 GMT -5
I haven't voted because I don't know. I think if Dave starts a Patreon I would donate. I would probably make a single donation rather than a recurring one. Maybe once a year. I can afford it now, but who knows later. I have a part time job that gives me a little discretionary money. That's not going to last forever. I should have been totally retired long ago. As far as rewards, I really don't have an idea what I would vote for. I enjoy coming to this site and reading the stories then seeing what you all think about them. So... Why would I want them early? I pretty much intend to buy the book once it's out in paper. That's what I've been waiting for. And finally, the authors are gonna author.  They'll write what grabs them and I'll enjoy those stories. I may chime in from time to time (or not. For some reason I have to push myself to write on this board even though I read here frequently.) Right now I'm way behind reading. I've kept up with the SS stories, but have lagged on the others. (I spend too much time reading bloggs) I'm reading Railsea, a YA novel by China Miéville, and that's taking up a lot of time. Keep writing everyone. I'll keep reading. It's all good. John |
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I want to give more to my current patrons than I already am, I just haven't come up with good ways to do it yet. I'd love to know what you think. 
They'll write what grabs them and I'll enjoy those stories. I may chime in from time to time (or not. For some reason I have to push myself to write on this board even though I read here frequently.)