47 Comments
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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

Oh this is amazing. Thank you for taking this decision because I was agonising over whether I could stay on as a paid subscriber- money is tight and every penny counts! You’ve made me happy at least 😊

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India Flint's avatar

That’s very kind of you. Thank you. I’d much rather read the occasional unforced missive than a series churned to meet a deadline. I switched my own site to “free to read for seven days” after which posts slip behind a paywall, with a paid membership offering unfettered access to the archive, which I think is reasonable given there are instructions for making and dyeing that (if offered on my school) would keep my table supplied with butter (an essential daily vitamin).

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Kirsty's avatar

This is great news for someone who hasn't been a paid subscriber but also for yourself! I don't know how authors keep up with their writing books and regular substacks! As a reader I prefer less regular and shorter posts. All the substack notifications and posts are overwhelming.

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Laura Scott's avatar

Agree ❤️

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Elaine R. Frieman's avatar

Thank you so much. It was a joy to be a paid subscriber for a writer so many of us love. 🫶🏻

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Julie Gerber's avatar

Believe it or not, I was actually feeling the pressure for you of having to post regularly. I’m glad you’re doing this for yourself! xx

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Jojo Moyes's avatar

what a sweet thing to say! thank you x

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Julie Gerber's avatar

❤️

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Florence Knapp's avatar

This was an issue with Substack for me, too - I felt really uncomfortable letting subscribers down if I couldn't write as regularly as I'd intended. Although I wish there was an option that offered the slightly more contained feeling of talking to a smaller and more known audience that comes with a paywall, without people actually having to pay...

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Hayley Dunlop's avatar

As someone who has previously paid but had to stop, this is music to my ears – thank you!

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Nataliya Deleva's avatar

Thank you, Jojo, it's so kind of you.

I took a similar approach recently to make my post free to everyone, which I discovered brought much more freedom to experiment and to post when curiosity and the need to write finds me, not vice versa.

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The Step Witch's avatar

Bravo Jo Jo,

I just cannot afford to subscribe to all I would like but still love to hear their experiences.

My Substack journey is new and I have left it free although I could do with some writing earnings. And I get the pressure thing. We just want to read when you want to tell. And for me... I have stories to tell that I hope might help someone.

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Janice Arrowood Jennings's avatar

This is what I love about Substack. Thank you!

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Ellen Bennett's avatar

Yes! I am new here and I find the subscription ‘value’ daunting. I want to share my writing without chains. I hope more follow your footsteps. Brava, Jojo.

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Amy Soscia, Author's avatar

Thank you. It seems like everything I see on social media related to writing is about selling something. I will buy your books, with pleasure, but I can't pay for subscriptions to all of the authors I follow because I'm a writer who is struggling to make anything for my writing. Thank you for taking care of yourself and being honest about how this added burden wasn't helping you to produce good writing. Maybe more authors will follow your lead and change this trend

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A French Table 1's avatar

Hi there Joni! Thank you for making your writing accessible to a wider audience - like me. Your generosity and openness really stand out. Looking forward to reading more—what a gift.

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Sue's avatar

So generous… Thank you for doing this JoJo!

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Regina McIntosh's avatar

I just subscribed after I found you. I read one of your books, The Giver of Stars, and was so impressed by your writing. You really know how to tell a story and creatively. I so enjoyed that book and left you a review on Amazon I believe. I was so excited to find you here. I have since bought another of your books, The Girl You Left Behind, but haven't had time to read it yet. I will. I encourage everyone to buy your books and gave my copy of the Giver of the Stars to my little cousin to read. - I write too, but not fiction - Christian poetry and devotionals. But I am considering a fiction book - maybe someday. God bless you and thank you for the great time reading your words.

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Carolyn Parker's avatar

Thank you .. as a recently retired support worker and fledgling writer I am grateful to be able to subscribe in a free plan.

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