Why we're moving to paid subscriptions

A letter from our founder.

Since its inception, The Subtext has been a labor of love—bootstrapped and built on nights and weekends with the mission of amplifying the creatives often left out of the conversation. The full-body embrace we’ve received from the industry and creative community has exceeded my expectations and renewed my resolve that this space was worth building.

From the start, we’ve been determined to provide high-quality editorial content within a beautifully designed publication that’s free and open to all. Our growing library of resources, expert advice, and insights via our interviews, along with in-depth coverage of verbal branding projects, is something I always wished I had. A space purpose-built for the verbal side of branding and the wide world that exists within it (naming, strategy, writing). A space created to not only acknowledge the brilliant work of working creatives but to give access and opportunity to those still breaking in or finding their footing.

Why now?

To sustain the quality and depth of our content, and to fairly compensate the incredible writers and staff who make The Subtext what it is, we need your support. We’re building out new features on our website, adding new categories, planning events and forming exciting partnerships that require more time and investment. Offering paid subscriptions on Substack gives our readers the opportunity to dive deeper with bespoke content and exclusives while affording us the ability to continue delivering thoughtful editorial pieces, helpful resources, and in-depth coverage free of charge.

What does a paid subscription offer?

Starting this month, we’ll be introducing new content and offerings. Think of it as an invaluable resource for your professional self (a tax write-off, perhaps?) with an extra helping of entertainment and inspiration for your off-the-clock self.

Here’s what you’ll get:

Field Notes: A bi-weekly newsletter covering what’s happening in the industry and on the job front.

Marginalia: Our monthly vibe report where we share our moodboard, musings, brand spotlights, and favorite internet rabbit holes.

Subtext-created Resources: We're opening up our archives and drives to share the internal resources used within my branding studio. From project and client management to producing top-notch work, these resources help us (and now you) better manage the creative process.

Salary Stories: Real talk from real creatives about what they make and how they got there.

Discounts: Plans are in the works for live and online events this year. Paid subscribers will get early access and exclusive discounts on tickets.

How much does it cost?

$5/month
Yup. Just $5. That’s less than most lattes these days, so it feels like a steal. The price will increase to $7/month soon, so snag this rate now to lock it in.

$50/year
That’s about $4/month. What can $4 get you? A few hours of parking, a jar of salsa (tortilla chips sold separately), or a gallon of milk (definitely not where I live). This offer is also temporary and will increase to $65/year next month.

For those who don’t want to pay, can’t pay, or already have enough Substack subscriptions on their bank statements, I get it. We will continue to send our monthly editorial newsletter free to all subscribers. And if you really want to enjoy the added perks of a paid subscription but can’t swing it, send us a message.

A final note.

I feel insanely lucky that I get to do what I do for a living. And now, I feel even luckier to be building a global community alongside my incredibly hardworking team for brilliant creative folks like you.

Thank you for being part of The Subtext. We can’t wait to show you everything we have in store this year.