On Getting Paid
From Jodi: You’re worth it
I started my own SubStack in 2022. Like I have said before, it was a way for me to collect readers of my books so they could see what I’m up to.
Previously, my newsletter had also collected the parents of kids that I taught art classes to, and also grownups who have taken my Circus Skills class. Oh - right - did I mention I was once trained as a circus performer? I’ve been on stage entertaining family audiences for a long time & now I’ve been off it quite a long time.
So, I had a variety of people who have followed me for - a while. Not sure how long. I brought them all over with me to SubStack. And wrote when I felt like it.
I strove for monthly (strove? Strived?) and did that for a while. Only wanted to share when something was important.
It felt very limiting, though. Because if I had a stage show and a book I was writing, I wanted to write about both, well, anyway, it felt very limiting.
I landed on a SubStack note somewhere in probably April, 2024, and it said I could write about ANYTHING. I needed this permission. I could write about loving blueberries, books I read and write, my dogs, my travels, playing on stage again in an orchestra after having given that up 30 years ago because I didn’t know any better, my family, all kinds of things.
So, I started writing.
At first, I apologized to the readers of my SubStack. Because I had promised them, 2 years before, “I won’t send out more than 2 newsletters per month, because I can’t stand being spammed.”
Raise your hand if you sign up for marketing emails and then get spammed every single day with their sales telling you to buy more of their stuff? Are you sick of it? I sure am. How many bras from that one brand do I need, anyway? I only have 1 pair of feet, I don’t need 300 different pairs of shoes for them. 4-6 will do nicely, thanks. I really only wear my flip flops almost every day, anyway.
So, like I said, I began to write. About everything. I eventually stopped apologizing to my readers, too. I write because I have a need in my brain to write. I want to share things, stories, anecdotes, things I think about, my travels, my music. So I’m sharing now and not limiting myself to “no more than 2ce per month.”
Someone I have met in a social media platform pledged me money on my SubStack. I didn’t even know that was a thing! It had gotten set up automatically, and I hadn’t paid attention to it.
I read somewhere else about how if people want to pay us, but that option is turned off, they cannot pay us.
I need money. Some people have full time jobs and earn a living. I can’t anymore. I have too many health issues to count. I sit at home, frozen, every day. I am at my kitchen table or in bed the vast majority of my days. I also go to doctors and therapy appointments. Now and then I get brave enough to go to the grocery store. A lot of the time, though, I use InstaCart.
I’m struggling financially. I have a fixed income due to things. And it’s barely enough. I can’t even afford my own medical copays or vet bills for my dogs. Like I said, I am struggling.
And here I had someone on SubStack telling me that my content is worth it. She was going to pay me if I turned on payments.
So here’s the magic - I took a Leap of Faith - and I turned on my paid subscriptions.
It’s a month later (or less?) and I just got my 2nd paid subscription.
Both of these people feel that what I am writing is worthy.
I want to say that again - maybe it will sink into my own head:
These people feel that what I am writing is worthy of payment.
My trauma history tells me I am never good enough. Not at anything.
People who have been reading what I write respectfully disagree with that assessment.
They want to pay me.
People who think I now send out too many newsletters are welcome to not read them or unsubscribe. Or maybe they will read a few every month or two.
And the people who find value in what I have to say, are choosing to stand up and say, “you’re doing good work; you’re worth it.”
So let me tell you this too - You - the reader of this newsletter right here - YOU are also worth it. Just turn your payments on. People won’t pay you if you don’t have that option set for them to be able to pay you.
And then, produce content. Think about things, pay attention to things, and start writing about it. Be worthy of the payments. Your content will get better.
It won’t be perfect at first. You’re getting your SubStack writing legs going. You’ll figure it out as you go.
Turn on your payment option. You’re worth it.
You go!! We are worthy! I like to say, “Productivity doesn’t dictate our value”.
I grew up with the idea that "work" that you get paid for had to be "painful" in order for it to count. The older I get the more I realize that that's nonsense. Learning and working does not have to be painful to be paid or effective. If someone tells you otherwise, run, don't walk far far away from them.
There are people who want to support us - we should give them the opportunity. I am glad that you know that you are worth it!