WHY THIS SUBSTACK NEWSLETTER NOW OFFERS A PAID SUBSCRIPTION OPTION

So why the sudden shift? Why add a paid subscription option now?

SUBSTACK PROVIDES A LOT OF VALUABLE INFORMATION, BUT ONLY ABOUT SUBSCRIBER USAGE. READERS DON’T SEE THE PURPOSE IN SUBSCRIBING TO SOMETHING THAT’S FREE AND EASY TO GET WITHOUT SUBSCRIBING

Substack offers writers many benefits, but mostly only if they offer paid subscriptions, of which substack receives a small percentage. That’s how Substack makes money and pays the bills.

I can write all the Notes I like, and I can respond to the Notes and posts of others, but none of that is going to cause the Substack algorithm to shine down on me with favor. The algorithm only does that when there’s some money to be made, no matter how small it may seem. (It adds up for Substack.)

ARE THERE REASONS OTHER THAN OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE SUBSCRIBERS?

Yes, there are.

For starters, writers, like any one who does any sort of work, should be compensated.

I take great pride in carefully fact-checking my own assertions, and every factual averment I make can be supported by some credible and reliable source or evidence. If there are any legitimate doubts, I won’t cite it as a fact. Research and fact-checking takes a lot of time; in many…