>>When it's really a freely chosen donation, I prefer sending a relatively large chunk (e.g. $15 every three months rather than $5 every month) because that reduces how much money Paypal gets to keep.<<
That makes sense if it's a general donation. With poetry, I've noticed that fans often go for "multiple poems" over "one big poem." In a poll, they'll only nab the big one if it's extra shiny.
>>I also sent $10 or so years ago to help with the printing cost of a comic anthology. That anthology never happened, and I got no refund - mind, I was too hopeful and meek to ask for one, too. So now I'm a tad leery of paying up-front, if there's no track record of actually going through with previous projects...<<
It's important to think about your reasons for contributing. If you're sending money because you want to get something (i.e. a piece of writing or art) and it doesn't materialize, that's disappointing and a reason not to donate to that person again. If you're sending money because you want to support something, it may not matter -- the main point is to communicate interest in, say, sexual or ethnic diversity.
Thoughts
That makes sense if it's a general donation. With poetry, I've noticed that fans often go for "multiple poems" over "one big poem." In a poll, they'll only nab the big one if it's extra shiny.
>>I also sent $10 or so years ago to help with the printing cost of a comic anthology. That anthology never happened, and I got no refund - mind, I was too hopeful and meek to ask for one, too. So now I'm a tad leery of paying up-front, if there's no track record of actually going through with previous projects...<<
It's important to think about your reasons for contributing. If you're sending money because you want to get something (i.e. a piece of writing or art) and it doesn't materialize, that's disappointing and a reason not to donate to that person again. If you're sending money because you want to support something, it may not matter -- the main point is to communicate interest in, say, sexual or ethnic diversity.