What would YOU like to read?

Checking in with you, a valued subscriber of Story Cauldron

In this extra issue of Story Cauldron, I am turning to you, my valued readers, to ask you a few questions to find out what you would like to see from me in the future.

John Tenniel, The poetical works of Edgar Allan Poe, 1858. Source: OldBookIllustrations.com

Pardon the interruption, but I would love to pick your brain for just a moment.

A few months ago, I decided to start a newsletter that was different from the typical writer/author newsletters out there. Instead of simply sharing tidbits about my life and my process, I decided to write articles about storytelling and where you can find stories in everyday life.

However, as time goes on, not all of my articles have really touched on that topic in the way I had intended. I don’t think I’ve strayed entirely from the premise, but I’m not sure if what I am writing about is what you, dear reader, find interesting, or what you would expect—or want—from me and a newsletter called Story Cauldron.

If you would be so kind, I would love to hear from you in the comments. Here are some of the things I’d love to know:

• Have you found my content worthwhile?

• Do I publish often enough? Currently, the free newsletter comes out once a week.

• What kinds of topics are you most interested in—and have I written anything in particular that really stood out to you as something you want more of?

• Would you like for me to share more of my short fiction, or less?

• What can I do to ensure this newsletter remains worthy of your time?

There are no wrong answers here, and if you like things just as they are, I’d appreciate knowing that too. But as I review what I set out to do and what I have accomplished so far, I’d like to make sure I continue to write content that is what you’re looking for and that will motivate you to keep coming back.

I’d also love to hear what would tempt you to subscribe to the paid section of this newsletter, which I created both as a way to share my long fiction and as a way for fans of my writing to help support my journey (much like a Patreon campaign).

Paid members currently receive my first YA fantasy novella, The Girl Behind the Camera as a serial story, with new chapters dropping each week. Shortly I’ll also be sharing some photos, a map, and other tidbits about the story and my process. After that, I plan to continue by publishing book 2, The Boy Who Can Taste Color, this fall.

To make the paid section more enticing and worthy of your hard-earned cash, I’ve toyed with including additional nonfiction articles or more short fiction. I could even make these stories, currently in serial form, available as e-reader (e.g. Kindle) downloads once they have concluded. Would any of these options make you more inclined to sign up for the paid content? Please let me know.

Thanks for your feedback, and even more than that, thanks for your support. What every writer wants more than anything is to know that people are reading, and enjoying, what they write. By being here, you help me feel like what I’m doing is worthwhile.