A New Fishing Hole

My husband grew up fishing in the lake in his backyard. His whole family, back several generations, grew up on that property and fished in that lake. It was comfortable, familiar. They knew every inch in every season.

They fed the family from fish they caught in that lake.

(Stick with me here)

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Imagine something with me now. Imagine someone told him that there was a lake a few miles down the road that he could ALSO fish. There would be no need to walk or drive there. Due to special magic, he could blink and be able to throw his line in that lake and could keep whatever he caught. He just will need to fish a bit differently there.

Is there a catch? (I know my husband would have trusted this person- that's who he is. It's me. I. I'm the skeptic, it's me.)

• Does he need to stop fishing in the old familiar lake?
• Does he have to pay to use the new lake?
• Is he ONLY allowed to use the new lake?

No. No. No. No catch.

The new lake is your to use IF YOU WANT TO USE IT. It is your to use as long as you are a fisherperson. Since you fish in a lake already you are able to fish in the new lake.

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And THAT is the story of Vocal's Exclusive Stories, the newest OPTION on the Vocal+ Creator/Writer (Fisherperson) platform. Let me unpack this for you:

Vocal+ Creator/Writers retain all the privileges that they've had: increased payouts per read, payouts on ALL reads, reduced threshold for Stripe withdrawals, quicker submission-to-posted times. NONE of that changes.

Exclusive Stories is 'another lake'. It's an option for Vocal+ creator/writers to use if they choose. And you catch fish differently there.

Are There Fish in That There Lake?

It's a good question. Right now, as is the case with the (let's call it 'Public', as opposed to the new Exclusive option) Public posts/reads we've had; the writers need to publicize their writing to drive the reads.

That won't change. What will change is that the Exclusive readers will need to pay to read what you place in the exclusive area of your profile.

Said (much) more clearly: Readers that want to read your exclusive content must become Paid Subscribers. The cost of that is $2.99 a month, and from that you will receive $2.30 a month. That is how you earn on Exclusive content. {note: It is not clear if you will ALSO get a fraction of a cent for each initial read of the material by a Subscriber. If you do then I will amend this content to reflect it. But, honestly, how would you even tell?}

How Do I Get Fish in That Lake?

In the announcement that Vocal's COO (Justin) made, there are some suggestions:

Amanda Starks has a terrific post about it, too. (So much so that I submitted it on the Vocal Discord for a suggested Top Story recognition)

I haven't yet decided what I'll do, but I'm kicking around an idea brought to me by all of the Apple News teasers:

• Write a complete topic/story/rant/recipe/content, and post it choosing the Exclusive Stories option when I submit it. (It will immediately post and be live)
• Share the heck out of that in whatever social media options I have.
• Write a 'normal' post, I'll start a topic/story/rant/recipe/content, writing enough that I'll (I think) hook the reader into wanting more.
• Insert a link to the exclusive content, and then add a brief 'want to read more? Become a Paid Subscriber for just $2.99 a month' (needs work, I know, but you get the drift)
• Post the 'normal' post with the Exclusive content link to the Public 'normal' submission, choosing whatever Community seems appropriate.
• Share the heck out of that 'normal' link with people and social media in whatever options I have.

So- Is That It?

No, I don't think that's it. Let's go back to fishing (sorry/not sorry).

There is a 'good time to fish' and a 'bad time to fish'. Know what that time is makes the difference between sitting in a boat or eating fish for dinner. There's also an issue with choosing bait: you have to give the fish something to eat.

I think it would be prudent to make sure there is something for the fish in that lake to eat. Here's my suggestion:

Have a completed number of posts in the Exclusive Content area of your profile. (Directions in Justin's announcement post). I don't know what that means to you. Could be several chapters of a larger story. Could be a few posts on the same topic. Maybe several movie/music reviews? Advice on diet? I don't know. You do you.

Once you have enough there that YOU would pay $2.99 a month to read it, then I'd start to share.

Having additional posts completed in drafts, then start to drop them at regular intervals. What is that? I don't know. Daily? Every other day? Remember; people are paying you monthly to read what you write, so be sure you are ready to post on an anticipated schedule.

I anticipate it will take me at least a month or more before I am ready to thoughtfully and carefully invite people to become Paid Subscribers.

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Update: I tried a test post to my Exclusive (and currently nonexistent) Paid Subscribers.

Here is what I saw in notifications: (photo pending once whatever the current photo-issue is resolved)

Here is how is shows on my profile: (see above re:photo)

My guess is that I will have more on this topic, and ~who knows?~ I just might make that available to Paid Subscribers. Or not.

The point is- no one is taking anything away from the lake you're used to fishing. You are just- for the same price you are already paying to be a Vocal+ member- getting an new option and a new lake.

Please feel free to share comments, and if you are going to use this new option, what are your plans?