Filter Feeder’s entering a new chapter (again)
& I'm so happy you're here for it!
When I started this newsletter, it was a place for me to document all the things I learn as I try to connect more deeply with nature and community in my little corner of Los Angeles. Now, there are almost 250 of you (which of course might not sound like a lot compared to other Substack numbers I’ve seen floating around), but it's about four times the amount from this time last year — a whole lot more than I was expecting at this point.
As this space has grown, I've started to really understand what I love to create and publish through this specific outlet. Comics, essays, and stories about cool things I observe and interesting people I’ve been lucky enough to interaction with. I’ve also realized, though, that there are way more stories out there than I alone have time to highlight, which is why now also feels like the perfect time to expand the network of people who tell stories here.
Introducing: the Filter Feeder Contributor Network
The Filter Feeder Contributor Network will (hopefully) bring together nature enthusiasts, writers, advocates, creators, and artists who want to deepen their connections with local nature and community — and publish their stories along the way. We welcome submissions around a new theme each month, and you don't need any specific experience to join. Just curiosity and creativity!
If you’re not looking to submit your work to get published but still want to stay plugged in, there’s an option for that, too. Either way, you can click the button below to learn more! And stay tuned for February’s theme, for which submissions will open January 1st. You’ll find the latest on the Filter Feeder Instagram.
The future of paid subscriptions & zine-mail club
I paused paid subscriptions for a bit while things were hectic in my personal life, but I'm about to turn them back on. If you're already a paid supporter, thank you SO much for all your contributions and for your patience as I figure out the logistics of actually doing something like this (I’m very friendly with our post office thanks to our lil' mail club). Zero pressure to renew your subscription, but I would of course be incredibly honored if you stick around for the coming year!
Free subscribers will continue getting regular dispatches about nature, community, and finding delight in unexpected places. Paid subscribers will get all of that plus some extra goodies like behind-the-scenes snippets, immediate access to A Natural List, exclusive digital zine downloads, and, of course, access to the opt-in mail club! You can learn more about specific (and the most up-to-date) offerings here.
For anyone thinking about a paid subscription, here's what your support will mean starting January 2025:
Your subscription (about the cost of one overpriced-yet-delightful coffee per month) will go into a growing pool that'll help compensate our future contributors
We're starting small with a goal to eventually grow — each contributor will receive either $15 or a portion of monthly proceeds (whichever is higher) as an honorarium
After Substack's 10% platform fee and Stripe's 2.9% payment processing fee, each yearly subscription ($60) gives us about $52 to work with - enough to support two whole humans sharing their work!
The remaining funds will fuel more fun paid subscriber benefits (see: zine mail club)!
I'm planning to use the next 3 months to build out runway, figure out an as-seamless-as-possible system for bringing contributors on board, and work out a lot of things on the fly. The goal is to launch actual compensation in the spring. Fingers crossed, and I’ll keep you posted along the way.
This whole thing will remain — as it always has been — one giant, fun experiment. I'm still learning so much as I go, just like I’ve been since first launching paid subscriptions. Thank you endlessly for your patience and grace while I figure this all out. <3
With excitement and gratitude,
Arya
P.S. — If you have thoughts, feedback, or experience running something like this contributor network, I'd love to hear your perspective. My biggest goal is to slowly and steadily grow a self-sustaining network of contributors from scratch in a fair way, which is pretty new for me as of now.