So! Hi! This is part announcement, part explanation, part musing . . . we’ll see. But first: The basic model of Substack for me and the vast majority of writers is this: I sign up and use the service for free. When someone signs up for my paid subscription level, Substack takes a cut. I’m fine with this; they provide a very easy-to-use service.
Here’s where things get tricky: It’s recently come to light that with some big-name writers, Substack is paying an advance to get them to use the service. I don’t know the details here and haven’t seen any contracts, but based on the way book advances work, the idea is that Substack pays the writer an amount of money up front, and then the writer “repays” that to Substack via their subscription fees. Substack also gives some writers grants and fellowships; again I don’t know the specifics because I’m not in that program, but it’s money being given up front. And because of their business model, the revenue Substack is using to pay those advances and grants and fellowships is the cut of subscription money they take from everyone else.
And again, fine! Makes sense! I don’t have a problem with that business model. The problem is that some of the writers receiving that money are using their Substack newsletters to promote anti-trans rhetoric. Which means that some of my subscription money is going to pay writers to spread views I believe are harmful and abhorrent. And it’s that money up front that makes the difference, to me: I wouldn’t expect that everyone who uses Substack has views I agree with, obviously, and if they were just using it the way I am - no money up front, just Substack taking a cut of subscriptions - that would be one thing. But the money you and everyone else’s subscribers are paying is going to subsidize those writers, and that’s the part I have a problem with.
Before anyone says it: Yes, of course, Substack is perfectly within their rights to run their business in whatever (legal) way they want. But I am also within my rights to not want to do business with them if they are promoting anti-trans rhetoric. As a queer person I feel strongly that this is important, but honestly I would hope any decent person would feel the same.
So what now? I’m not sure. For the moment, I am pausing paid subscriptions, so no more money goes toward these advances. I will keep sending the free daily link roundups here for now, and if that changes I will give you plenty of warning about where I’m moving and make the transition as painless as possible. But in the meantime I’m talking with other Substack writers about potential collective action to urge Substack to make changes before just leaving. I’ll let you know how that develops. Thanks for bearing with me.
xoxo, Katie