69 Comments
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Oct 14
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lyz's avatar

I've been wanting to leave for a long time. But like I said in the Patreon post, I literally couldn't afford it. I'm so happy Patreon is helping me with this because so many subscribers have been asking for it. Thank you for your support!

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Matthew Wright's avatar

Just in the short while I've been on the platform it's become more and more like all the others I deleted 9 years ago. Hopefully Patreon holds for a while. Looking forward to continuing to read your stuff!

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lyz's avatar

Thank you!

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Mike Janowski's avatar

Ok...so you said what you're doing, and what I could get if I followed you tbere...but not why you're leaving Substack, other than some vague group of readers have been urging you to do so for some time.

Do I ask...WHY are you doing tbis?

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lyz's avatar

I explain it in the post over on Patreon. You gotta click over there. https://www.patreon.com/posts/why-i-am-leaving-141136238

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Mike Janowski's avatar

Thank you, I understand now. Makes sense, I'll check out Patreon. Good luck k!

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Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

This makes me sad, but I understand. I guess I have to put Patreon back on my phone...

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lyz's avatar

Well, you should be able to just read it in the email because now you will actually get the emails!

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Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

I always got your emails! I know a lot of people are having issues though...they need to fix it (they won't, I know).

It mostly makes me sad because I hate that we are getting run off of YET ANOTHER platform. I feel like I'm the last one on the lily pad - I hopped over here to get away from Twitter/Instagram, only to have this turn into Twitter/Instagram the second I got traction. I hope this move works beautifully for you!

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lyz's avatar

Oh, I hear you, it sucks, and I resisted moving for so so long. Because like I wrote in the Patreon post, I definitely don't think abandoning spaces is always the right answer. I am still going to support friends on Substack. AND YET, so many subscribers of mine were asking for it, and Substack was getting harder to use for me. It's so hard to do this writing thing, under these conditions and in this America.

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Kari Bentley-Quinn's avatar

It is impossible. No way to get your bearings when the ground is constantly moving.

And yeah, abandoning spaces isn't always the right answer, but it also sucks to be like "did I wait too long? Am I tacitly approving things I don't approve of?". I regretted not getting off Twitter as soon as Elon bought it, but I still had naive hope he'd fuck up and someone else would take over. Not the case.

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Anne Vally's avatar

Hey Lyz: I’ll follow you anywhere. 😁 How will it work for those of us (aka me) who lives for the weekly dingus and pays annually? I have some number of months left before re-upping.

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lyz's avatar

You should have an email in your inbox titled "Claim Your Free Months to Men Yell at Me on Patreon" and then there is a link in there you click over and YOU WILL GET SOME FREE MONTHS because thank you!

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Carrie's avatar

I just subscribed last week with a $70 annual subscription and it’s saying I get one month free at the $5 level? Seems like a bummer honestly, as much as I want to support 😔

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Carrie's avatar

Should have read alllll the comments below ugh. Will try what was suggested

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lyz's avatar

Hi Carrie, $70 annual subscription works out to just a little over $5/month, plus the free month and you are getting a better deal than what you signed up for and all the same benefits

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Kiwiwriter47's avatar

I know how you feel...between the lack of money and the surfeit of grief, sometimes I wonder why I post here at all.

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Laura's avatar

I just paid for a year last week but the link I was sent said I get three free months. How can I fix this? All the links to submit issues are to patreon but is that the right avenue?

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lyz's avatar

So, click the link in the email. You will have to input your credit card (you won't be charged, it's just illegal for me to port that information over without your permission, as it should be). And then you will be credited for your whole subscription plus two additional months. Let me know if that's confusing!

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Laura's avatar

It's not confusing, but when I redeemed it, it said my access is only until January of next year when it should be January 2027 since I just paid for a full year, if that makes sense.

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lyz's avatar

Got it! Shoot me a quick email eclenz at gmail dot com and we can get this sorted with the Patreon team.

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Sue Kusch's avatar

I have been on Substack 2.5 years and agree 100% that it has become social media. I don't have the high membership numbers that you have but I am looking to leave. Patreon might be a better choice for me but will result in a much smaller audience and that may not be a bad thing. I don't have to make a living off of my writing (retired) so I have less pressure. Thanks for sharing.

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Jeanna Kadlec's avatar

i'll follow you over a cliff. excited for your next chapter! <3

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lyz's avatar

And I'll support you anywhere!

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Aileen's avatar

I'm glad you're doing what's best for you. I am a bit confused though -- I pay $5/month here (more or less, I actually pay annually), but for that same level (chats/discord/etc), it's $10/month on Patreon. Is there something I'm missing? Also the email says two free months on Patreon but the "coupon" says three free months? I haven't clicked yet, but is it 2 or 3 free months?

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lyz's avatar
Oct 14Edited

Definitely click it. I can't tell you what email you should have received without doing a deep dive into your account. But click the email and if you have any trouble with redemption let me know.

And at the $5/month level, that is the equivalent of what an annual subscription is over here.

The $10/month level over on Patreon has new features that don't exist here. For example, Patreon chat rooms, polls, and you can submit topics. Also, premium newsletters that definitely didn't exist on Substack (because I hadn't written them before). So a lot more new stuff.

But if you are really only wanting the $5/month level (thank you!), it's the same as an annual subscription over here. You can comment, be in the Discord, and get the Sunday links email.

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Aileen's avatar

Thanks! Will do!

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CAD's avatar

Thanks for explaining. I received the email to switch over and can see six months credit but then the only option is to sign up for a $10/month plan. Are there other options? Until now I was paying $30 per year for MYAM.

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lyz's avatar

There are two paying tiers on Patreon, the $5/month and the $10/month. So it sounds like you are subscribed at the $5/month and if you enjoy that, no reason to move up to the $10/month tier. And it sounds like you signed up for an annual subscription during a sale, which is great, so you are getting my newsletter at a steep discount plus some extra months for moving over to Patreon. Hopefully it's worth it.

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CAD's avatar

Yes, it's worth it! And I've been paying $30/year since I signed up in 2019 so I think I've gotten a pretty good deal for a long time. I'm going to go to the $10/month tier but FYI I don't see a $5 a month option when signing up through the email I got (checked via my phone and on my laptop). I see an option for $10/month or an annual option that amounts to $8/month.

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lyz's avatar

Like I noted above, that could be because you are already being gifted a subscription at the $5/month level. Which is why you aren't seeing that tier. When you clicked the link, it transported your subscription over. But if you have any technical issues fill out this form and someone will get back to you ASAP https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=40255883375885

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CAD's avatar

Thanks, as noted above, I signed up for the $10 / month so all good!

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Ashlie's avatar

Thank you! You are the only thing I still read on Substack and have been feeling mighty weird about it.

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lyz's avatar

And now, I don't have to be! Free yourself!

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Amanda Schuster's avatar

Good. For. You. And your newsletter was one of the only reasons I still look at Substack, so this is a HUGE mitzvah. Happily subscribed to Patreon (I refused to give this platform my money).

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lyz's avatar

I am so happy thank you, Amanda!

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Amanda Schuster's avatar

Can't wait to keep reading! It's been a highlight of my week.

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Robert Wallis's avatar

I am sorry to say that your assessment of Substack is accurate. Increasingly it is becoming a typical social media site. Such a shame; thanks capitalism. I hope Patreon is different; I’m looking forward to finding out.

Good luck and great success to you!

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Chris La Tray's avatar

I'm so intrigued by this and might try and hassle you for a deeper discussion.

But also, I ran into a glitch that maybe others will encounter? I've had a Patreon account for ages but it's under a different email from my Substack one. When I try and redeem the free months, it says I can't because the offer has to be to the email where my Patreon account lives. I don't want to have two Patreon accounts with different emails. I'll totally just resubscribe without the offer but also, as I said, maybe others will have this problem?

Also, if this is already addressed somewhere, my apologies. I haven't seen that.

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lyz's avatar

It hasn't been. And since we are pioneering this move, may I ask you to fill out this form so they are alerted to it and can fix it. https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=40255883375885

I am sorry to ask you to do that labor. But I will happily chat with you about the move and walk you though things in return. (Just kidding I'd do that anyway! You have my number!)

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Chris La Tray's avatar

Done. And I'll hopefully be in touch!

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Mary Hart's avatar

I'm in full support, but what if we were just charged for the year for your substack? Is there a way to either have that transfer or refunded so we can support you on Patreon?

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lyz's avatar

Yes, it can be transferred and you get extra months! There should be an email in your inbox titled "Claim your free months to Men Yell at Me on Patreon" then click the link in that email. It will ask you for your credit card, but you will NOT be charged.

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Helen Zaltzman's avatar

So pleased you're doing this. I love to be able to pay writers but just cannot give money to Substack

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