An Update & Appeal

How You Can Support Sitting Queerly

Hey everyone.

Well. I got a job :-)

Those of you who have followed me for a bit have read about my being cast aside by my former employer for no other perceived purpose than my own supervisor’s political survival. I can also report that my former employer is kind of up shit creek at the moment, the latest in a series of crises that have befallen it in the past year. Thus, “Schadenfreude” from the musical Avenue Q has been on loop in my head recently.

But I digress.

I am returning to journalism; I’ll be working under one of my former editors at the publication she took over soon after I left the biz. She is one of the best people I have worked for and is one of the few who never talked out of both sides of her mouth or expected more than she was willing to put in. The newsroom is small but friendly, the workload will be manageable (especially in relation to what I was producing when I last worked as a reporter), and I can flex my schedule and work remotely as needed by my family. On top of that, the publication is profitable, is privately owned by a company that has diversified its holdings well and there’s a roadmap for promotion so that I don’t have to think of this as a short term gig.

That all said, it is a journalism job. And it’s a well-paying journalism job. But I haven’t worked in journalism for nearly a decade and instead worked for entities that provided annual cost-of-living adjustments and even gave me a raise I requested. My family’s standard-of-living adapted to that prosperity. And while we’ve managed to trim a lot of costs and expenses in the time before I was laid off this summer, the gap between my previous salary and this new one is…significant. 

So, what does all the above mean for Sitting Queerly?

For starters, this publication is not going anywhere. And each weekly newsletter will remain free for all subscribers. I made that pledge when I launched on Substack nine months ago and I fully intend to keep it.

I have plenty of things I want to write. Essays about my late-blooming experience, sure, but more than that. I want to do deeper dives into the issues and challenges facing folks similarly coming to grips with their queerness late in life. I want to bring in more of their voices. I want to make Sitting Queerly into a resource and refuge for late-blooming folk from end to end of our queer community spectrum

I turned on paid subscriptions several months ago and a handful of you have stepped up to demonstrate financially how much you value my work.  To those who have become paid subscribers: I am extremely grateful for your contributions. They have helped my family make it through my career transition while also affirming my writing. Your support means more than I can ever repay.

And so, to my free subscribers, I humbly ask you to do one of three things…

Become a paid subscriber to Sitting Queerly

Monthly subscribers ($5 per month) have the ability to send me direct messages through Substack and will have first look at potential special projects. 

That means if you have an idea for a potential post or feedback that you don’t want to share publicly, you can share it with me. You’ll also get early access to my other writing or creative endeavors, such as excerpts of a novel I’m writing.

Annual subscribers ($50 per year) get all the same perks as monthly subscribers PLUS a small handmade item from me mailed to them.

This requires an annual subscriber to provide me a mailing address to send said item, which could be a hand-embroidered patch, a hand-bound Coptic stitch-style journal and/or another handmade craft from me. And yes, this means you’ll get a new handmade item each time you renew.

Founding subscribers ($200) get all the monthly and annual perks PERMANENTLY plus a signed copy of one of my self-published photobooks.

As a founder you will always be able to DM me and get first look at special projects. You will receive a handmade item each year on the anniversary of your subscription so long as Sitting Queerly is published. I will ensure you are always considered a paid subscriber. As for the photobooks, they include a collection of photos from the Klamath Basin in southern Oregon, film shots depicting parenting two young children, and three dark humor Christmas-themed vignettes. Founding subscribers will get to choose which one they’d like to receive. Again, to get the full benefits, I will need the founder to provide a mailing address.

Support me financially in other ways

My photobooks are available for purchase via MagCloud, as either printed or digital versions. I receive a small portion of the price when they are ordered. They make good gifts for the indie, creative or photographically-inclined folk in your life. There’s even a three-book series, The Little Library Of Christmas Drear, that can bring a bit of dark/irreverent humor to your friends and family this coming holiday season.

If you have potential freelance writing or photography work you can steer me toward, that would also be greatly appreciated. You can send those tips to sitting_queerly@yahoo.com. And if you want to further assess my writing or photography before passing anything along, you can view my professional portfolio.

Support other Substacks that are doing critical work in journalism and queer issues

Because of the financial uncertainty in my life, I’ve not been able to pay for any Substack subscriptions myself. This has pained me as, while all the ‘Stacks I follow are producing great writing and creativity, some are providing a badly needed service in watchdog journalism. Such publications and individuals are going to be desperately needed in the years ahead. So, if you’re not willing to going paid for Sitting Queerly, I strongly encourage you to purchase a subscription to one of the following:

• Erin In The Morning (coverage of trans issues and advocacy)

• Radical Reports (alt-right/white Christian nationalism coverage)

• How Things Work (government/corporate watchdog through a pro-labor lens)

• Zeteo (independent journalism led by Mehdi Hasan)

• Popular Information (independent journalism led by Judd Legum)

I understand that not everyone is in a position to do any of the above. Times are tough for a lot of folks and, in all honesty, are probably about to get a lot tougher. I appreciate you reading and considering my appeal.

That’s all I got. Again, thank you for reading. I am so glad you’re here.