Patreon Reward Ideas For Writers

If you've spent any time watching YouTube videos, you've likely heard of Patreon. It and similar platforms like Ko-Fi act as virtual tip jars that creators can use to build their communities while supplementing their income through paid memberships.

Patreons can have multiple tiers and, in exchange for supporting creators, users (known as Patrons) can gain access to perks set by the creator.

For YouTube, this might include Patreon supporters being listed on-screen or receiving shout-outs in videos, getting to watch upcoming content early, bonus content not available anywhere else, community polls, and exclusive merch.

Patreon isn't just for YouTubers, though! Many authors have created Patreon pages to build a space for readers to engage with their writing.

And while many readers and followers are willing to support their favorite creators without receiving anything in exchange, having a few perks on offer doesn't hurt.

If you're in need of Patreon reward ideas for writers, you've come to the right post. These are not only great options for Patreon or Ko-Fi, but can also work for newsletters or pre-order campaigns ahead of your book's release and, of course, YouTube memberships.

First Looks

Readers want to know what their favorite authors have in store. Offering exclusive sneak peeks is a great option for Patrons who want that insider knowledge.

This might include cover reveals, title announcements, character art, upcoming merch, pre-sale access for upcoming events, or even teasing the next book in your series with the first couple of pages.

Don't underestimate the appeal of being in the know before everyone else!

But if you're signed with a traditional publisher, just be sure to clear the sharing of that privileged information with them beforehand.

Bonus Chapters And Scenes

Have a few scenes that ended up on the cutting room floor? Give them a new home on your Patreon!

Think of it like the Deleted Scenes on a DVD. I can't be the only one rushing out to the local Best Buy to get my hands on the High School Musical 2 DVD just for "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a." The promise of an exclusive, never-before-seen musical number from the film made me want it all the more.

Breathe life back into your murdered darlings by sharing them with your readers.

Exclusive Stories

If someone subscribes to your Patreon, chances are they're interested in your writing already, so why not give the people more of what they want?

Exclusive stories can be a lovely treat for readers who already enjoy your writing. And if you haven't published any of your books yet, an exclusive short story can give your audience a sample of your style or introduce them to your characters and their world.

These stories might be continuations of your books, maybe bridging the gap if there's a time jump or acting as a bonus epilogue or prologue. You could write a story following a fan favorite side character or one that further expands the world you've created.

Or it can be something totally separate!

Some writers will release just the one story, while others have a new one to read monthly or quarterly. Author and YouTuber Andrea J. Severson featured a story written like an Advent calendar last holiday season, with a new chapter released each day leading up to Christmas. If you're thinking about doing periodic uploads, I'd advise making sure you can post them as promised; in other words, setting an upload schedule that's manageable for you.

And of course, make sure your writing is up to snuff. As is the case with a published book available to all, Patreon rewards are paid content, so (even for a free membership tier), make sure it's in the best shape possible so your readers are getting their money's worth.

Annotations

One giveaway prize I've been seeing more often lately is a print copy of a book annotated by the author, where they might share insights into their writing, changes made to the story along the way, or highlight their favorite moments. It's a really unique idea that adds a personal touch.

You could select a chapter from your book and add those comments to a digital version available to your Patrons.

Exclusive Merch

Merch is a fun way for fans to show their support for their favorite creators, and that includes writers. Patreon-exclusive merch items can take this to another level, whether it's exclusive variants of an existing product or a brand-new design. As an example, you might create an emblem for each membership tier if you've assigned fun names to them and make it available on merch. Community polls can make it extra special, like the addition of the Sakura Blossom Dragon in Dreamlight Valley, a companion whose design was influenced by player votes.

Patreon itself has a merch creation setup available to Pro and Premium members; items are made available to purchase for members who have been subscribed at the required tier for three months.

Speaking of merch, you could also run Patreon-exclusive discounts on merch or similar offerings, either year-round or on special occasions like the anniversary of your book's release or heading into the holiday season. This, I feel, needs to be in addition to other rewards, because subscribing to save on a one-time purchase like a mug or t-shirt without receiving other benefits seems unfair to me.

Writing Livestreams

Writers already have a lot on their to-do lists, so why not invite your audience to join you—especially if they're fellow writers working on books of their own!

Body-doubling is a trick many swear by, where you buddy up with someone while working on individual tasks. Having an additional person around, even as you're just unloading the dishwasher, creates a presence reminding you to stay on track. And seeing someone else working on what they're supposed to be doing can motivate you to get your own stuff done.

You can find body-doubling videos for mundane household tasks, along with the popular study-with-me style.

Writing livestreams grow in popularity during National Novel Writing Month, as community write-ins are a beloved part of the challenge, though many creators host them throughout the year. Your audience might also enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at your process in real time as they work on their own projects. They create a productive space for your community to come together, get things done, and learn from each other.

A common format for writing livestreams is alternating between writing sprints and chatting about the progress everyone made in that time, what they're working on, or doing mini Q&As.

Vlogs

One of the things you'll hear the most when it comes to social media is how important it is to be genuinely yourself. Readers want to get to know their favorite authors, while many writers enjoy seeing how their peers tackle the process.

Vlogs can pull back the curtain and give your supporters a behind-the-scenes look at your writing.

Remember: you don't have to share absolutely everything (and, frankly, you shouldn't), but if you'll be attending a bookish event, for example, you could consider bringing your followers along for the ride.

Additionally, don't be afraid to show the everyday stuff. It's common to worry that your life isn't interesting enough to vlog, but there are interesting things hiding in the ordinary, and your audience might appreciate seeing how you balance your writing goals with everything else you have going on in the average week.

Book Clubs And Readalongs

Patreon book clubs crossed my radar last year and I think they're perfect for bookish creators of all sorts.

Writers definitely read differently from the average non-writer Joe or Jane, so your audience might be interested in seeing how that affects your experience. Meanwhile, you may be able to gain a little insight about what makes a book enjoyable for your readers.

You could select a book yourself or put it to a community vote, and gather virtually to chat about it. This can also be a fantastic way to showcase your writerly friends' new releases. And as a bonus, you could even invite your friends to join in the discussion!

Discord Servers

This one's especially popular for YouTube creators, but I think it can work well for writers, too.

Setting up a Discord server for your audience gives them an exclusive corner of the internet to hang out in, like your own virtual clubhouse, a space to post updates or for them to chat about your books. Plus, Discord has other features that can work in tandem with writing, such as Sprinto for writing sprints.

With Discord servers as a Patreon reward, however, I'm inclined to issue a word of caution. We all know how unbridled the internet can be. Even with clearly established community guidelines, things can get out of control with just a few taps on a keyboard. Depending on the size of your server, you may need to enlist moderators to help keep tabs on everything and make sure everyone is adhering to the rules.

Also, remember that reviews are for readers first and foremost. If your Discord members are having conversations about your book—save for scenarios like Q&As where the author is being explicitly invited into the conversation—that is NOT your place to engage.

Things To Keep In Mind...

To close out this post, I want to leave you with a few considerations to note as you're setting up reward tiers to make sure that both you and your audience make the most of it.

• Keep it affordable. Let's be real, money is tight for so many people. Having even one person who is able and willing to support you on Patreon, Ko-Fi, or any other platform in their vein is not something to take lightly. That being said, even though you're providing exclusive content, the entry point shouldn't be exclusionary. Lower barriers to entry make it more accessible to a wider audience. This doesn't mean everything needs to be available at that lowest tier. If you're posting a Patreon-exclusive story, that's something you might want to limit to middle tiers and up because it requires more effort and time to produce, and it's more substantial than shorter update posts or an invite link to a Discord server. Price points are a balance between keeping things affordable and staying true to the worth of the offerings.

  
  

• Quality is everything. No matter if it's a published book, merch, or subscribing to your Patreon, once money changes hands, your reader becomes your customer, making the quality of your product all the more imperative. If you're offering a short story or bonus content from your book, make sure it's edited. If it's a discount code for your merch, double-check that it works when applied to a purchase. TLDR: give the people what they're paying for.

  
  

• Don't make promises you can't keep. It's wise to only offer what you can reasonably deliver. If you're able to do weekly livestreams, by all means do so. But if your schedule cannot accommodate weekly streams, don't promise it to your Patrons. Chances are, the majority of your audience will be understanding when life gets in the way (e.g., not being able to stream because you're recovering from surgery or have a personal emergency), as long as you let them know. But if unreliability becomes the norm, they'll be well within their rights to withdraw their support.

What creative Patreon rewards have you heard about? Which from this list would you most want to see from a writer? Tell me everything in the comments!