An Old World Concept Made New: How Patreon Works for Writers

By Jana Oliver, @crazyauthorgirl

Part of the Indie Authors Series

Crowdfunding can offer authors another source of revenue.

Finding additional sources of revenue has always been an issue for authors, especially us indies. Occasionally you’ll see Kickstarter campaigns for specific projects, be that novels or anthologies. 

But for those who want a more steady source of income, Patreon has become their crowdfunding source. Now instead of having the Medicis or the Borgias support your art, you can use the power of social media to find dedicated patrons.

On Crowdfunding and Patronage

By Dario Ciriello

Part of the Indie Authors Series

A couple of months ago I received an email from an indie author asking if I’d help sponsor him and his writing career. I was taken aback: I barely know this fellow, and though his writing is good it’s not my cup of tea; nor has he produced a great deal of it. On the other hand, his life circumstances—through no fault of his own—are so difficult that it’s impossible not to feel for him.

This writer, like many other artists and creators, had signed up with a new service called Patreon. A crowdfunding site using the same basic model as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, Patreon’s mission is to facilitate ongoing support rather than one-time startup funding for creative individuals.