What is Patreon?
Patreon is a membership platform that makes it easy for creators to get paid and for fans to join in the creation process. It is similar to a Go Fund Me or Kickstarter except that instead of an individual funding event it is an ongoing page that sets up a continuing relationship between Patrons and Creators. Think of it as back in the old days when painters or theater troops would have wealthy patrons who funded their work. Only you don’t have to be wealthy to participate.
Patreon allow you to go around the traditional publishing system and cut out the middle men. You can pay me directly for the entertainment I am creating and in return you will be able to join in the the creation of my books. In some tiers of patronage I offer rewards like becoming an alpha reader or naming a character or even designing a monster.
No matter what tier of patronage you choose, all Patrons become officially adopted into The Big and Little People Tribe and will gain access to an exclusive community of like minded fans and special classes on my Discord server. I will post constant updates, telling readers where I am in the current novel and other details regarding my books and the worlds they inhabit.
In addition, you will be entered into monthly drawings for swag or audiobooks or whatever else I can dream up. Let me know what would interest you.
Lastly, you could have my help with your work. Are you writing a novel of your own? A short story? I could help you with your process.
Patrons are charged at the beginning of each month and you can change your tier of patronage or cancel at any time.
Where does your money go?
You might wonder what I will do with the money you pay me. Being an independent writer is more expensive than you might think. I have to pay for every aspect of the publishing process such as:
– Office supplies.
– Cover art (Bowl of Souls covers run $700 each).
– Advertising and Marketing.
– Physical copies of books. I do have an inventory I need to keep to bring with me to events.
– Travel expenses: Table space at conventions, hotel rooms, etc . . .
In addition to those work expenses, I have a family of six to support. There may be tight months where sales are bad and your patronage would pay my mortgage or power bill.
Again, my main goal is to continue to write full time.
Please, join with me. Lets have fun and expand the worlds in my books together!
Here is my page: https://www.patreon.com/trevorhcooley
Let me know what you think of the page. Do you like the rewards? Do you think they are too high or too low? Is there anything I have missed that you would like to see?