A progress report
And a financial announcement.
On August 9, 2023, some seventeen years after I began blogging, I published my first post here on Substack. It took a little less than a year to reach the 1,000-subscriber mark. I’m happy to report that my readership now stands at more than 2,600 subscribers and more than 2,700 “followers” (readers who see my stories and notes on the app but don’t receive email notifications).
One of my published posts, “I Wish I’d Never Seen These Ads,” set a personal record: almost 9,000 views, 144 “likes,” and 57 comments. One of my notes — some complaints about a current bestselling novel — has been “liked” more than 1,300 times. I am astonished.
For all this time, unlike many — most? — of the writers here, I’ve never switched on payments. Every Fritinancy release has been free, gratis, $0.00.
Why? That’s a long-ish story, one I unspooled in an October 2025 post.
And now it’s time for a change.
With my three-year Sub-versary in sight, I’m finally acknowledging that if I want to keep writing here — and I do! — the 100 percent free model isn’t sustainable. This newsletter is, when all is said and done, my business. Research takes time, writing takes time. My experience and skills have value. I’d like to start paying myself a wage.
You can see where this is headed, can’t you. I’m about to join the ranks of the monetizers.
Which is to say that, beginning on Monday Wednesday, August 10, I will be enabling — but not requiring — payments on this platform.
What does this mean?
If you’ve pledged a subscription — you know who you are, I hope — your credit card will be charged on August 10. Many thanks for your trust, your patience, and your support!
If you are considering a paid subscription, the rates will remain $5 a month or $50 a year for the next three months. On October 16 they’ll go up to $6 a month or $60 a year. If you choose to become a paying subscriber, my advice is to lock in the lower rates now!
Also beginning October 16: New posts will be free for all; posts older than one month will be paywalled.
What won’t change: I’ll continue to publish an average of two posts a week, plus occasional Notes and Chats (probably more Chats, possibly restricted to paying subscribers — I’m still working on that). If this thing really gets going, I may paywall some posts, hire a copyeditor, record some audio posts, and even create goodies for you high-flying founding-level subscribers. Merch, anyone?
As always, you’re welcome to support my writing without embiggening Substack’s bottom line. Here’s a link to donate through the Buy Me a Coffee platform, and my thanks to everyone who has already contributed this way:
Thanks to all of you for reading, “liking,” and commenting for the last three years of Fritinancy on Substack. See you in the comments.
(And yes, I’ll post a reminder or three before August 10.)
Apologies if these questions reflect poorly on my reading skills, but 1) do you have a preference between receiving payment via Buy Me a Coffee vs. Substack, and 2) will funders via Buy Me a Coffee also have access to the older Substack posts?
It’s about time! I’m still in. Hope you have the right credit card number. I keep getting hacked and needing a new card.