Hello, dear readers! Because I would like to move out of my parents' house at some point, I am adding a paid option to this newsletter. (Astoundingly, some of you all have already pledged me money, a gesture I find incredibly flattering and encouraging. Thank you!)
The free weekly posts you've been getting thus far will continue to go out as scheduled, but paying $5 a month or at least $50 a year will confer exciting new rewards. Possibilities include:
- I will send an additional weekly letter featuring "What I've been reading/playing/etc.," with write-ups and recommendations. (This one is definitely happening.)
- I'd like to do an ongoing series of written-out play-throughs ("let's plays"?) of games that I really like, with screenshots and commentary and links to soundtrack highlights and so on. I'm thinking I would to try to focus on video games that I have the patience and time for but you all, quite reasonably, might not. (Options that I've been thinking about include the masterpieces Xenogears and Trails in the Sky. Very open to suggestions!)
- Access to longer things I've written. (I'm still thinking through the logistics here, so it probably wouldn't be for a little while.)
- Extremely in-the-weeds posts about Gene Wolfe. (This one is also almost certainly happening.)
And so on! I’ve got a lot of things brewing…
I do not plan on paywalling the archives; and the main posts will still, of course, be free. If you’d like to pay more than $50 a year, you will be considered, per Substack house style, a “Founding Member.” I am not sure what the reward for Founding Membership will be yet (beyond my sincerest appreciation and affection), but I have a few ideas. (And if the payments would be a financial burden, but you'd like the paid updates, please reach out.)
I really do like receiving requests and comments and so on, so if you all have anything in particular you'd like to see, don't hesitate to let me know. You can comment directly on the letters, and my email address is theodoramward@gmail.com.
(Also: I've received a couple of questions about whether it's okay to share these posts. It is! Please do, if you want.)
Thank you all so, so much! I have been having a lot of fun with this over the past few weeks. To be vulnerable for a moment: I really do think there’s so much that hasn’t yet been said about the art and media I care about, and working on this letter this has made me feel very encouraged and ambitious. I'd like to dedicate as much time and energy as possible to this project, and your support will really, really help.
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