Getting Past Long-Held Beliefs

As you may, or may not know, we recently opened an account with Patreon, a fund-raising site popular among artistic and creative types.  On our As We Wonder site (www.patreon.com/aswewonder), we have various levels of patronage ($3, $5, $10, $25, $50 per month), a list of content-creating equipment we hope to buy with the contributions, and the list of rewards we will provide to our patrons for their generous support.

We hesitated joining Patreon for quite some time, not because we believed it to be nefarious, or some scam, because it is neither of those things. It is a very popular site, quite legitimate, where millions of dollars are raised in support of those who are creating content for the world to enjoy.

No, the reason for our hesitation is an old-fashioned one, one which dates back to our upbringing. I’m talking about the hesitancy to ever, and I mean EVER, ask for financial support from anyone for any reason.  It’s the way Bev was raised. It’s the way I was raised.  You never ask for money, period, end of story.

Especially since the money is not a deal-breaker

In truth, we will continue filming videos and writing articles and creating content whether anyone supports us or not.  Why? Because we love doing it! We love the creative process, and we love sharing our adventures with all of you.  Proof of that statement? I have written, in the ten years I’ve been a freelance writer, over two-thousand articles, articles which have been read over two-million times. I have written eight full-length novels, four nonfiction books, six novellas, and three anthologies. I have provided assistance and instruction to hundreds of writers.  And not once have I asked for money for any of those things.  They were all produced through the love of creation, and anything created in the future will also be created through love.  Yes, I have hired out as a tutor from time to time, but those business transactions were mutually-agreed upon, value for value.

I had to change my thinking

Most people pay for content daily.  Netflix is a paid-streaming content creator.  Hulu, Amazon, and dozens of others.  People have supported the Arts for centuries, contributions to help fund creative endeavors.  Why is Patreon any different?  Harper Lee was supported, by a friend/patron, for a full year while she wrote “To Kill A Mockingbird.”  Artists are funded, have been funded, and will be funded, some financial assistance to help them survive while they paint and sculpt and magically produce beautiful creations.

Why is Patreon any different?

The fact is, I’m not asking for money. I am simply telling people that, if they like what we produce, and they want to assist us by funding our creative efforts, they can do so through Patreon.  And, in return, those who do support us will receive certain rewards in exchange, a simple transaction, money for creative gifts, and I can live with that type of transaction.

The bottom line

Help us, don’t help us, we will create content no matter.

Help us, don’t help us, we will still be appreciative every single time someone watches one of our videos, or reads one of our articles, or listens to one of our podcasts.

Again, if you want to become a Team Member of AWW, go to the support link for Patreon listed above, pick a support level, and sign up.  You can stop your contributions at any time, one month, three, a year, whatever. There is no obligation to continue once you start giving.  And, if you don’t give, thank you so much for even considering.

Thank you, all of you, for your support, in whatever form that may be. I am still blown away that this shy kid has had his words read over two million times. That is mind-blowing and always will be.  People have actually found value in what I create, and that just seems like a miracle to me.

Bill