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crowdfundingNow that I once again have a day job, it’s probably time to consider how successful my ventures in crowdfunding have been. I have a lot less time--should I keep doing this?
Financially, I didn’t make a lot of money. It certainly never came close to replacing a day job. I didn’t get wealthy (or even famous). But then, even with traditional publishing, there’s very few science fiction writers who don’t need a day job or other source of financial support. In the crowd-funded world, the people I look up to—people like![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
haikujaguar and ysabetwordsmith —aren’t rich yet either. Another example, Shadow Unit, by award winning authors including Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull, reportedly makes them “pizza money”.
If I were to measure my results in terms of hourly wage, I’d have to say it was a failure. In fact, I’m sure I’d make more per hour doing old-fashioned busking, me and my autoharp or guitar and a few songs on a street corner.
So, why do I feel like it was a good experiment, one that I want to find time to continue, in the time left over from working the day job?
Well, I’ve never wanted my writing and art to do nothing more than satisfy me. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, if it’s what you want—but I always wanted more. I’ve always wanted to share what I do, to bring other people the same kinds of joy I get from my favorite writers, musicians, and artists.
In terms of having my work read and enjoyed by people, I’d have to say it’s been at least as big a success, so far, as traditional publishing. It’s also been a success in giving me a chance to hear from my readers, both what people liked and what they didn’t like.
In terms of getting better at my craft, it has also worked well, by providing both deadlines and real-world feedback. (I don't blame editors for using form rejection slips, but they're neither informative or satisfying. That's part of why I love comments—even the negative comments people have left me taught me something about what I'm doing right, and what I can do better.)
But the best thing, I think, is the inspiration people bring me. Part of that is the deliberate inspiration people offer when they have given me prompts, story ideas, questions, or requests for more about one of my characters. Part of it is the cash—our culture teaches us to measure value in terms of dollars, and I’m susceptible to that frame of mind (and to the need to pay bills).
But the biggest inspiration has just been knowing that there are people who want to read my next story—knowing that I could bring a smile to friends I rarely see in person; knowing my words will cheer the day of someone on the other side of the world; knowing that if I do a good enough job, I might startle someone out of lurking to say hello.
So, all you creators out there—and you readers/viewers too—how do you measure the success of a crowdfunded project?
Financially, I didn’t make a lot of money. It certainly never came close to replacing a day job. I didn’t get wealthy (or even famous). But then, even with traditional publishing, there’s very few science fiction writers who don’t need a day job or other source of financial support. In the crowd-funded world, the people I look up to—people like
haikujaguar and ysabetwordsmith —aren’t rich yet either. Another example, Shadow Unit, by award winning authors including Elizabeth Bear and Emma Bull, reportedly makes them “pizza money”. If I were to measure my results in terms of hourly wage, I’d have to say it was a failure. In fact, I’m sure I’d make more per hour doing old-fashioned busking, me and my autoharp or guitar and a few songs on a street corner.
So, why do I feel like it was a good experiment, one that I want to find time to continue, in the time left over from working the day job?
Well, I’ve never wanted my writing and art to do nothing more than satisfy me. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, if it’s what you want—but I always wanted more. I’ve always wanted to share what I do, to bring other people the same kinds of joy I get from my favorite writers, musicians, and artists.
In terms of having my work read and enjoyed by people, I’d have to say it’s been at least as big a success, so far, as traditional publishing. It’s also been a success in giving me a chance to hear from my readers, both what people liked and what they didn’t like.
In terms of getting better at my craft, it has also worked well, by providing both deadlines and real-world feedback. (I don't blame editors for using form rejection slips, but they're neither informative or satisfying. That's part of why I love comments—even the negative comments people have left me taught me something about what I'm doing right, and what I can do better.)
But the best thing, I think, is the inspiration people bring me. Part of that is the deliberate inspiration people offer when they have given me prompts, story ideas, questions, or requests for more about one of my characters. Part of it is the cash—our culture teaches us to measure value in terms of dollars, and I’m susceptible to that frame of mind (and to the need to pay bills).
But the biggest inspiration has just been knowing that there are people who want to read my next story—knowing that I could bring a smile to friends I rarely see in person; knowing my words will cheer the day of someone on the other side of the world; knowing that if I do a good enough job, I might startle someone out of lurking to say hello.
So, all you creators out there—and you readers/viewers too—how do you measure the success of a crowdfunded project?
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(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 03:20 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 03:32 am (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 03:32 am (UTC)Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-22 03:45 am (UTC)Often I have a particular goal in mind:
* Poetry Fishbowl -- get prompts for stuff I probably wouldn't think to write about on my own, write more poems. Check, check.
* Torn World -- practice teamwork, write more fiction. Check, check.
* Crowdfunded photography -- shoot more pictures, improve skill. Check, check.
I highly recommend that anyone starting a project set at least one or two non-monetary goals that you can meet if you stretch a little. That will give you a sense of accomplishment even if you don't make a dime.
I also keep an eye on publicity and exposure. More fans who read my blog = more fans who may buy my stuff there or elsewhere. More yummy content -> more fans. So projects that haul in people, like the Poetry Fishbowl, are good for that.
Now, money. This is complicated. Most of my crowdfunding attempts haven't amounted to much cash. First attempt with fiction = $0. I think the photography is somewhere between $10-15 total. Torn World, occasional small chunks but really not much, probably less than $50.
Poetry Fishbowl ... people say there is no money in poetry. So not true. If I were making this as pocket money I would be gushing with glee, because it's an unbelievable success in a culture that disses poetry. That's harder to see when I'm using it to run a household because nobody's had a dayjob in 3 years. But you did mention one measure by which it's an objective, verifiable success: dollars per hour. I think this is the ONLY gig where I've ever been paid what I'm worth. I usually make what would be a good hourly wage, sometimes quite good. That does make me happy. My highest total take was from the July 2011 fishbowl, and I made $18.07/hour. A downside is that I'm only doing this one day per month; an upside is that I have leftover poems to peddle to magazines later.
Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-22 04:05 am (UTC)Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-22 12:30 pm (UTC)I think for now it's down to squeezing in writing as I have time.. the crowdfunding is basically supplying me with assignments to work on, so I never sit down with a blank page and wonder what to write. That's valuable to me.
Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-22 08:57 pm (UTC)That's good to hear. I like Poetry Kitchen. You should announce it on here, whenever you have the time to do a new session. I've caught ... two, maybe? They're fun.
>> the crowdfunding is basically supplying me with assignments to work on, so I never sit down with a blank page and wonder what to write. <<
Yes, for anyone who has a lack-of-ideas problem or wants to diversify their coverage, crowdfunding is terrific.
Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-23 01:34 am (UTC)Or is it something quite different?
I'm just curious--but I'm always curious. One of the great things about writing is that I get to know all the answers...once I figure them out, at least.
Yeah, time is an issue. So many stories, so little time!
Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-23 11:13 am (UTC)But the main thing is that I love to write but often either don't have an idea or can't figure out where to go with one I have. Comments and prompts give me material.
I told minor that I don't really have a creative brain, I have an analytical brain. It doesn't spawn a lot of new ideas, but it's good at making connections between things (sometimes not obvious ones).
Oh!
Date: 2011-07-23 09:28 pm (UTC)Or maybe it's something about theme or resonance...
Of course, it might also be that with a bunch of prompts to look at, I can use them to bridge from being in an analytical frame of mind to a more creative frame of mind. Interesting thoughts (if a bit meta).
(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 06:07 am (UTC)Monetarily, Torn World wouldn't be considered a success in sheer numbers... I've made maybe $0.00025/hour on that one. But it's active and exciting and causing the creation of wonderful stories and artwork, as well as spawning a whole print anthology, with more on the way. So I surely can't count it a failure, despite it's low return. It's too much *fun.*
Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-22 06:16 am (UTC)Re: Hmm...
Date: 2011-07-23 01:28 am (UTC)I have to thoroughly approve of Ellen Million Graphics' slogan--"taking the starving out of artists".
In a very real way, that's as much a part of what crowdfunding is about as finding new ways to bring together artists and audiences.
Yes...
Date: 2011-07-23 01:39 am (UTC)Agreed.
>>There's always been a luck factor involved in the arts. Skill isn't enough--too many of our most famous artists were unknown and/or starving during their lifetimes.<<
True. No matter how good you are, that's not much help in a culture that doesn't value what you do. Right now is a wretched market for poetry. That I have accomplished anything at all with it is pretty miraculous. But in some cultures, poets were the advisors of kings. Which, okay, I tend to hate, but you get the idea.
>>I have to thoroughly approve of Ellen Million Graphics' slogan--"taking the starving out of artists".<<
Agreed! Crowdfunding empowers people through money. It gives audiences more influence and creators more freedom. Those are good. This makes it easier to make, if not a living, at least enough money to do something fun or useful with.
Re: Yes...
Date: 2011-07-23 02:03 am (UTC)I suppose it's like getting someone with a great singing voice to feel confident enough about their singing to support their notes when they're in front of people. They have the power, but until they realize it, they won't use it--but how do you realize it unless you use it?
Re: Yes...
Date: 2011-07-23 02:46 am (UTC)* Creators posting about the impact their sponsors have on what gets created/released. I've done this a number of times. Frex, I have three poems about ancient Minoa linked on the "Serial Poetry (http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/serial-poetry.html)" page -- those were all prompted and sponsored by
* Patrons posting about what they have sponsored and why, especially if they had a specific reason like "I donated to Aether Dancer because I want to watch television with strong, smart female characters."
I've also written about this in the
(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-23 01:22 am (UTC)Yes...
Date: 2011-07-23 03:49 am (UTC)LOL
Date: 2011-07-23 04:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 01:10 pm (UTC)* The creator produces something I find enjoyable
* The creator enjoys her/himself enough, or makes enough money, that s/he does it again.
Yes...
Date: 2011-07-22 05:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-23 01:40 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-07-22 07:43 pm (UTC)1. The first one I ran, which had a set dollar amount that needed to be raised in order for the project to go, went over the required amount. With the second round of sales, my end profit was about 5 cents a word, which is within the range of professional payment. Definitely a success.
2. The second project was an emergency "oh god we have to move house and have no money!" There was no set amount needed, but the money earned literally got us through the move. Again, successful!
3. Third project was to light a fire under me to do revisions on a novel which the patrons then got to read. The entire point of this one was to make me get the work done. The fact that I made a bit of bill-paying money as well was a nice bonus. Success!
4. The fourth and current project has two levels: one, to get a bunch of stories written for a potential collection. On that level, obviously anything that makes me write 'em is a success. The second level was a dollar amount which I'd marked off mentally as making the project financially viable all by itself, even if the collection didn't sell. That amount was reached. So a success on both levels!
Also, because the way I'm running crowdfunding projects is largely to give me incentive to create material that I will then re-sell to a traditional publisher, I have a third totally different level of success to mark each project by. The first one has re-sold, the second and fourth are tied together and have been pitched to a publisher, and the third is doing the rounds, so there's a fair chance of success on that level as well, I think. Overall, crowdfunding has been doing me a lot of good.
I'm curious
Date: 2011-07-23 01:51 am (UTC)Re: I'm curious
Date: 2011-07-23 08:31 am (UTC)The larger publisher the second collection's been pitched to is unlikely to think to ask, but my perspective on it is that should they ask I would say a limited web audience has read some of the stories.
The revision project had a small enough number of backers that I consider it beta readers who paid for the priviledge. Since I've actually gotten useful feedback from it as well, I think it's an accurate way of looking at it.
The second two are the specific reasons I'm doing this with a relatively high buy-in and for an absolutely limited audience. If these were free-for-all materials there would be very little hope of convincing my publishers that I hadn't totally violated their terms for digital rights. A number of people think I'm bonkers for doing it this way--why not self publish totally?!?, they're asking--but I really think this is the way to both satisfy a small base of people willing to be patrons and help get new material created while also reserving the rights that my traditional publishers are considering sacrosanct.
And if it turns out I'm wrong with the short story collection stuff and they don't want it, well, then, I've got an entire book's worth of material I *can* release on my own. It's a win all around for me. :)
Wow!
Date: 2011-07-23 03:46 am (UTC)Re: Wow!
Date: 2011-07-23 08:33 am (UTC)