Ps. What happens when you're kind

And what happens when you're not

Yesterday, I put out an email about my new job. I was delighted that a bunch of people subscribed to my Substack - some paying; some free - to read it.

I also received two emails, saying the same thing but in very different ways.

For context, I put out a weekly email, via Substack, covering:

work, women, magic, meaning, focus

… all the work/life and ‘SQ’ (spiritual intelligence) subjects I’m currently researching and writing about.

With Substack, you’re encouraged to invite subscribers to pay a small fee to read your emails.

And the platform takes 10% of what you ‘earn’.

On other platforms, like Mailchimp and Klaviyo, you pay a monthly fee whether or not you email/earn and it can be a bit frustrating.

So this appealed to me - they earn if I earn. Also, I liked the idea of committing to writing a weekly email rather than my more intuitive ‘as and when’.

As a writer, I find it helps to create a habit. The more I write, the more I want to write.

And as my friend Rosamund Dean said: once you commit to writing weekly newsletters, the ideas start to just flow in.

Much like when you’ve set an intention, or started out on a manifesting journey, you start to spot new opportunities that will help you along your way.

I suppose starting a Substack is a form of intention-setting: I will write weekly, I will seek new ideas to share with my subscribers, and I will be paid for my writing.

The platform was set up to help working writers have more control over what they’re paid to write because, as I said yesterday: it’s hard to make a living in journalism now.

Book-writing can be more lucrative but it’s often irregular work/payment.

And so I decided to value the weekly emails I write - personal essays, coaching exercises - by adding a small subscription fee if you’d like to read the whole thing.

I wanted to charge £1 a month - an amount most people wouldn’t have to really think about - but the minimum on Substack is £3.50. So I opted for that, instead.

This isn’t about me earning a huge income, or even my ‘bread and butter’ from writing on Substack; it’s about me valuing my writing. Literally, putting some value on it.

And as women, I believe it’s so important that we do this.

We spend a lot of time sharing ideas and creativity on social media already, why not put a price on longer-form content?

So anyway. I put out the email and got one response saying that what I am doing ‘is just clickbait’.

It felt like a little punch in the stomach, to have someone write quite a scathing email to me about the fact that I’ve put a paywall on my writing.

But the other email? It said:

‘These newsletters leave me wanting more - I am a non paying follower as a part time worker mama - but you inspire me to get to a place where I could afford it! Thank you for sharing this Annie, you really bring a lot to my life.’

I deleted the first one, after reading it to my dad, who I was sat with at the time. We agreed that it didn’t deserve a response.

But I wrote back to the second woman, saying that I am always open to supporting women however I can.

I then sent her a code, so that she can read my weekly emails for free, for three months.

I’m not putting a paywall against my writing to exclude people; I’m putting it there because I need to earn a living and I do that - mostly - through writing.

I hope that the people who are in my community know that I am always here for questions, ideas and suggestions.

I want to be inclusive, not exclusive.

But I don’t respond well to what feels like an ‘attack’. I do, however, response well to kindness and a more positive approach, even if it’s about things being hard.

So if there are others who can’t afford to pay for my emails but really feel they’d benefit from the parts that are hidden, just get in touch.

And to all those who can, and choose, to pay - thank you. I really, really appreciate it.

Please know that you are not just supporting me, but you are also supporting those who can’t afford to pay by investing £3.50 a month in this writing.

If you’re thinking of subscribing (the paid version) and would like to know what’s coming up… for £3.50 a month, you’ll get weekly email on subjects like:

• How I’ve pretty much eliminated stress from my life

• The truth about being published as an author (the money side, pitching, good bits, trickier bits)

• A spiritual approach to regret (and why I have none)

• Why I’m no longer jealous of anyone (and how to reframe your own envy)

• Making your dreams come true (this was going to be a course, now it’s an email)

If there’s anything else you’d like me to cover in the coming weeks and months, please just let me know.

It could be about projects I’ve done, business tips, budgeting, mistakes I’ve made, coaching exercises.

I’m here to write for you so just let me know what you’d like to read.

Thank you so much for being here, reading and supporting however you can.

Love,

Annie x