430
patrons
But times change. Publishing has changed. I've changed. In 2012 I experienced total creative burnout. It took me nearly a year of sabbatical to recover my energy and focus, my joy in the work. What I never did recover was my former speed at producing stories. I didn't want to accept that, so I kept scheduling myself as though I could simply shove through ideas and words by will power alone.
I can't.
The end result is that each year I fall farther and farther behind schedule while I try to rush through the stock pile of promised projects. I have to deliver a certain amount of work every couple of months simply to survive--and that's doable--but it means I can't take the time I need to really concentrate on making every book as rich and layered and satisfying as I'd like. As my readers would like.
Financial necessity means I don't have the luxury to craft my stories the way I once did.
Writing has never been an easy way to make a living. There's no guaranteed income--and there is no retirement plan. Adding to the problem is the fact that changes within the publishing industry mean every project takes longer to earn out than it once did.
Patronage is an idea as old as art itself. When you support the artists you love with a few dollars each month, you make art and music and, yes, stories possible. Not only possible, better, because when the burden of financial anxiety (occasionally outright panic) is removed, joy and innovation return to the creative process.
I've tried to come up with a series of exclusive and enticing rewards for patrons at every level. I hope you'll consider joining me on this creative adventure.
Thank you so much for checking out my Patreon page!
Josh
Tiers
For the price of a dollar
You are granted access to all my Patron-exclusive posts AND your name goes in the back of every book published during your period of patronage! (Unless, of course, you'd prefer to remain anonymous.)
Three times the fun
Your rewards include access to all Patron-exclusive posts, your name listed in the back-of-book credits AND access to at least one serialized novel published exclusively to Patreon (1 - 2 chapters will appear each month).
Current Novel: Séance on a Summer's Night
(All patrons receive the edited, formatted version of SoaSN on their 6th Month Anniversary.)
Next up: Mainly by Moonlight
Means more than you'd think
Naturally you have access to everything in the previous reward tiers. You'll also get a backstage pass for Works in Progress. These first looks might include story snippets, playlists, character interviews, scenes written from alternate POVs, prologues, epilogues, character notes, etc.
Membership has its privileges
Access to everything in all previous reward tiers: your name in lights, the secret, exclusive serialized novel, the sneak peeks at Works in Progress.
Every THREE months you can also choose one ebook from my existing backlist in the digital format of your choice. AND every SIX months you can choose one print book from my backlist.
**Please note: in order to keep this reward affordable, it would be a great kindness if overseas patrons donate the extra postage required to mail outside the US.
P.S. I Love You
In addition to the signed birthday card, and all the other goodies, you get to choose a print title from my backlist every FOUR months (again, overseas patrons are encouraged to contribute to the shipping costs). You also receive ADVANCE (rough, unedited) DRAFTS OF CURRENT WORKS IN PROGRESS--with the opportunity to give feedback and even possibly (no promises here) influence the creative outcome!
You will also receive the finalized book files for the Patreon-exclusive serialized novels in the digital format of your choice: mobi, epub or pdf.
I'm Only Happy When it Rains
In addition to birthday cards, advance reading copies, sneak peeks at works in progress, tons of fiction available only through Patreon, and all the other goodies, you'll receive A SIGNED COPY OF ALL/ANY BOOKS THAT GO INTO PRINT DURING YOUR PERIOD OF PATRONAGE (and, yes, we will mail to anywhere in the world--it would be a kindness if overseas patrons could contribute to shipping costs, but it is not required).
You'll also receive one audio download every three months (either a coupon to Audible.com OR the first listen to audio created specifically for Patreon) -- beginning with your first paid month).
It's a lot to ask, but...IS it?
You get it all. Birthday cards, advance reading copies, sneak peeks at works in progress, tons of fiction available only through Patreon, and all the other goodies like signed copies of any books put into print during your period of patronage--AND one free audio download.
But the really cool thing about this tier is every six months you continue at this level of support, you'll also receive a MYSTERY BOX containing a collection of nutty, cool mystery-suspense-related goodies that I've personally curated for you.
Choose from this year's themes:
Lady on the Run
Murder at the Manor
Trouble is My Business
Murder Takes a Holiday
Every box is absolutely unique, absolutely one of a kind.
Going, going, gone
I'm offering one round of manuscript evaluation on the first 15,000 words of your manuscript--any genre. (That's about .016666 per word.) You'll receive detailed (and knowledgeable) feedback on pacing, conflict, dialog, character development, and plot structure. I will also answer one round of questions after you've received your initial evaluation.
You also receive all the other rewards that go with the $100. tier (minus the mystery gift box) for your pledged month.
**This particular tier is always capped at 1 person per month. It would sort of defeat the purpose of this account if I end up too busy to do my own writing!
Commission your own short story
Yeah, you either really love my work or you've got some very specific tastes in short fiction. ;-)
Want some control over my creative process? YOU'LL BE SORRY. No, seriously. It's okay, we can do this! You tell me what you want and I'll do my best to write it.
Assuming I like the way the short story turns out, I'll even publish it with your name listed as my sole patron and muse in the credits.
Goals
If I can hit my Patreon monthly goal, I plan to hire a full-time virtual assistant (or several part-timers) as well as a marketing company to handle all the stuff that keeps me away from writing.
More time spent writing means more fiction for you. Let's make this happen!
But times change. Publishing has changed. I've changed. In 2012 I experienced total creative burnout. It took me nearly a year of sabbatical to recover my energy and focus, my joy in the work. What I never did recover was my former speed at producing stories. I didn't want to accept that, so I kept scheduling myself as though I could simply shove through ideas and words by will power alone.
I can't.
The end result is that each year I fall farther and farther behind schedule while I try to rush through the stock pile of promised projects. I have to deliver a certain amount of work every couple of months simply to survive--and that's doable--but it means I can't take the time I need to really concentrate on making every book as rich and layered and satisfying as I'd like. As my readers would like.
Financial necessity means I don't have the luxury to craft my stories the way I once did.
Writing has never been an easy way to make a living. There's no guaranteed income--and there is no retirement plan. Adding to the problem is the fact that changes within the publishing industry mean every project takes longer to earn out than it once did.
Patronage is an idea as old as art itself. When you support the artists you love with a few dollars each month, you make art and music and, yes, stories possible. Not only possible, better, because when the burden of financial anxiety (occasionally outright panic) is removed, joy and innovation return to the creative process.
I've tried to come up with a series of exclusive and enticing rewards for patrons at every level. I hope you'll consider joining me on this creative adventure.
Thank you so much for checking out my Patreon page!
Josh
Recent posts by Josh Lanyon
Tiers
For the price of a dollar
You are granted access to all my Patron-exclusive posts AND your name goes in the back of every book published during your period of patronage! (Unless, of course, you'd prefer to remain anonymous.)
Three times the fun
Your rewards include access to all Patron-exclusive posts, your name listed in the back-of-book credits AND access to at least one serialized novel published exclusively to Patreon (1 - 2 chapters will appear each month).
Current Novel: Séance on a Summer's Night
(All patrons receive the edited, formatted version of SoaSN on their 6th Month Anniversary.)
Next up: Mainly by Moonlight
Means more than you'd think
Naturally you have access to everything in the previous reward tiers. You'll also get a backstage pass for Works in Progress. These first looks might include story snippets, playlists, character interviews, scenes written from alternate POVs, prologues, epilogues, character notes, etc.
Membership has its privileges
Access to everything in all previous reward tiers: your name in lights, the secret, exclusive serialized novel, the sneak peeks at Works in Progress.
Every THREE months you can also choose one ebook from my existing backlist in the digital format of your choice. AND every SIX months you can choose one print book from my backlist.
**Please note: in order to keep this reward affordable, it would be a great kindness if overseas patrons donate the extra postage required to mail outside the US.
P.S. I Love You
In addition to the signed birthday card, and all the other goodies, you get to choose a print title from my backlist every FOUR months (again, overseas patrons are encouraged to contribute to the shipping costs). You also receive ADVANCE (rough, unedited) DRAFTS OF CURRENT WORKS IN PROGRESS--with the opportunity to give feedback and even possibly (no promises here) influence the creative outcome!
You will also receive the finalized book files for the Patreon-exclusive serialized novels in the digital format of your choice: mobi, epub or pdf.
I'm Only Happy When it Rains
In addition to birthday cards, advance reading copies, sneak peeks at works in progress, tons of fiction available only through Patreon, and all the other goodies, you'll receive A SIGNED COPY OF ALL/ANY BOOKS THAT GO INTO PRINT DURING YOUR PERIOD OF PATRONAGE (and, yes, we will mail to anywhere in the world--it would be a kindness if overseas patrons could contribute to shipping costs, but it is not required).
You'll also receive one audio download every three months (either a coupon to Audible.com OR the first listen to audio created specifically for Patreon) -- beginning with your first paid month).
It's a lot to ask, but...IS it?
You get it all. Birthday cards, advance reading copies, sneak peeks at works in progress, tons of fiction available only through Patreon, and all the other goodies like signed copies of any books put into print during your period of patronage--AND one free audio download.
But the really cool thing about this tier is every six months you continue at this level of support, you'll also receive a MYSTERY BOX containing a collection of nutty, cool mystery-suspense-related goodies that I've personally curated for you.
Choose from this year's themes:
Lady on the Run
Murder at the Manor
Trouble is My Business
Murder Takes a Holiday
Every box is absolutely unique, absolutely one of a kind.
Going, going, gone
I'm offering one round of manuscript evaluation on the first 15,000 words of your manuscript--any genre. (That's about .016666 per word.) You'll receive detailed (and knowledgeable) feedback on pacing, conflict, dialog, character development, and plot structure. I will also answer one round of questions after you've received your initial evaluation.
You also receive all the other rewards that go with the $100. tier (minus the mystery gift box) for your pledged month.
**This particular tier is always capped at 1 person per month. It would sort of defeat the purpose of this account if I end up too busy to do my own writing!
Commission your own short story
Yeah, you either really love my work or you've got some very specific tastes in short fiction. ;-)
Want some control over my creative process? YOU'LL BE SORRY. No, seriously. It's okay, we can do this! You tell me what you want and I'll do my best to write it.
Assuming I like the way the short story turns out, I'll even publish it with your name listed as my sole patron and muse in the credits.