Tip the Voices That Matter
We tip almost everyone, so why not the writers and artists who move us?
We live in a world where tipping has become second nature. We tip baristas for pouring our coffee, drivers for dropping us off, and delivery people for leaving food at our door. Many of those tips are deserved. But if we’re honest, sometimes we tip out of habit, even when the service was rushed or impersonal. Without thinking, we add two, three, or five dollars here and there every day.
Yet how often do we tip the people whose words shape our mornings, comfort our evenings, or give us courage on the hardest days? Writers and artists rarely stand in front of us with an open jar or a payment screen, but their work is no less valuable. In fact, it often reaches us in deeper ways than a cup of coffee ever could.
Words are everywhere, but connection through them is rare. Substack is one of the few places where that connection is still possible, where a writer’s voice can reach you directly, without algorithms or corporate filters getting in the way. If you find yourself returning to someone’s work because it stirs your heart, sharpens your mind, or makes you feel less alone, that isn’t an accident. That is a gift.
Writers Give More Than Words
Writers and artists pour themselves into their work. They wrestle with ideas, memories, and emotions so they can offer something that resonates with you. They are giving their time, thought, and often part of their soul, with no assurance anyone will care. What they ask in return is not applause, but simple acknowledgment. And for many, acknowledgment means the difference between continuing to write or falling silent under the weight of financial pressures.
Think about the writers who have become part of your life. The ones whose new posts you open without hesitation. The ones who make you laugh on a dark day, or keep you company in the quiet moments.
A few dollars a month, five, six, maybe eight, is less than thirty cents a day. That’s smaller than most tips you give without thinking. But for a writer, it can mean groceries, rent, or simply the strength to keep going.
Restacks Keep Voices Alive
Support doesn’t stop at money. On Substack, a simple restack can place a writer’s work in front of someone who never would have found it otherwise. You might be the reason another reader discovers a voice that feels like home. Restacking is free, and yet its impact is enormous.
A Modern Form of Patronage
Art and writing are not luxuries. They are part of what makes life rich and human. Supporting a writer with a paid subscription is a modern form of patronage, no different in spirit than the way Shakespeare or Woolf kept writing because someone believed in them. You don’t need to be a duke or a millionaire to play that role. You just need to decide that a voice matters to you enough to keep it alive.
We tip strangers every day. Why not also tip the people whose words stay with you long after you’ve closed your browser?
A writer you love is waiting for that simple sign:
I see you. I believe in you. Keep writing.
On a personal note: My favorite writers are the storytellers and people who provide good, actionable advice for long-term relationships. Sometimes, they are the same person. And I support local rock and roll musicians. Long live Rock…. and Good Writing.
Yes!