EXPLANATION:
Ever since I started this newsletter in early 2023 I have been, and remain, adamant that I do not want to try to make a cent out of my writing and photography. That position still holds and Whilst out Walking remains FREE for everyone who want to read the newsletters.
However, although I have a healthy number of subscribers, and even more followers (four figures), I have noticed over the summer that growth has leveled off. There is some minor churn, a couple leave and a couple join, but for whatever reason we are at a plateau. At first I assumed there is a natural limit to the number of people who are interested in what I do, and that’s fine. But it now seems from what I read (and Substack will never confirm or deny) that unless the subscription option is turned on, the algorithms that manage Substack limit the number of people who might see the newsletter and associated notes.
And so …
I have turned on subscriptions to encourage the algorithm, BUT I don’t actually expect anyone to offer me money. You can take a paid subscription, which will go to charity (see below) but it is far, far from being mandatory.
That being said. Should anyone value my writing and photographs enough that you want to pay a small sum each month, and I have set it as low as the system permits, then the money that will come my way will be regularly whisked out of the back door and donated to support the wonderful environmental work of the charity, NATURE CONSERVANCY CANADA.
I will also send paid subscribers a personal card each 21 December to celebrate the Winter Solstice. By post if you live in Canada and have sent me your address, and by email elsewhere.
Next Sunday’s newsletter has much about Bumble Bees
Nicely explained; I’ve been curious about doing the same. I’ll be interested to hear whether this change makes any difference. I wonder if we “small” writers have simply hit a natural plateau and are looking for ways to work around it? Hard to know, I’m sure.