I’m Switching To Paid On October 1

After nearly two years of being free here on Substack, it’s time to switch to paid subscriptions.

I published my first article on Substack on December 4, 2022. I made the move reluctantly. I was using Mailchimp to distribute a weekly newsletter that covered my articles, media appearances, birds, and birdwatching. But Mailchimp’s algorithm blocked one of my email blasts for an unspecified reason, and Mailchimp was about to raise its prices.  

Rather than stick around for more censorship and higher prices, I moved to Substack. It has been an incredibly positive move. Over the past 22 months, I’ve published about 115 articles on Substack, and my subscriber list has grown 10-fold. This platform allows me to write what I want, when I want, how I want, with the photos and graphics that I choose. After 38 years as a reporter, that freedom is delicious beyond measure.

With my second anniversary on Substack approaching, I am moving to paid subscriptions. There are several reasons for this.  

First, I owe it to Substack. This platform is fantastic. It has allowed me to expand my audience and my writing in ways I didn’t expect. Thus, it’s only fair for Substack’s owners to be compensated for giving me this opportunity.

Second, I am considering adding new content to my Substack, including interviews and video. Going paid will encourage me to exploit Substack’s media capabilities.

Finally, I want to clean up the comments section on my articles and make them into an ecosystem that provides real value to subscribers.  

In short, just as I was compelled to move from Mailchimp to Substack in 2022, I’m now compelled to go paid. So what’s the deal? This site will go paid on October 1. The price will be $100 per year or $10 per month. I’m also offering a Gigawatt Tier at $300 annually for subscribers who want to turbocharge my writing and research. With the paid subscription, you will get access to exclusive content and a cleaner, more engaging comments section.

All the articles I’ve written until now will be available for free in the archive. After October 1, new articles will be behind a paywall.

Thanks in advance. Your subscription will not only allow me to continue writing, but also to improve the depth and variety of my content. I genuinely appreciate your support.