Unlocking the Library: A Proposal for a Reader Pass
How to support independent writers without the pressure of a full subscription.
Substack has done an incredible job creating a home for independent writing. It’s given thousands of authors a way to make a living directly from their readers. But as a user, I’m running into a problem: there are too many great writers I want to support, and even if I can afford it, I’m not inclined to carry a full $50/year subscription for every single one of them.
Currently, if I want to read just one specific essay from a writer I don’t subscribe to, I usually can’t. I hit the paywall and leave. That’s a loss for me, and it’s money left on the table for the writer.
I think there is a middle ground that would help readers explore more independent work while putting more money in writers’ pockets: The Reader Pass.
How It Could Work
The idea is simple: a way to support writers individually without committing to a marriage. It acts like a pre-paid tab for the whole platform with volume discounts built in.
Set a Budget: I set a monthly limit I’m comfortable with—say, $10.
Pay-Per-Post: When I want to read a paywalled post from a writer I don’t subscribe to, I can “unlock” it. This deducts from my budget.
Bonus Tiers: Once I hit my limit (e.g. 10 articles for $10), I don’t just get cut off. I unlock a “bonus” set of free articles.
Scaling Up: If I exhaust my bonus articles, I can approve the next tier. Each subsequent tier offers significantly better value (more articles for the same price), plus its own set of bonus free reads.
Here is how the value could scale as a reader spends more:
This structure incentivizes heavier reading. The deeper you go into the ecosystem, the cheaper it becomes to explore, removing the hesitation of “is this one article worth it?”
Why This Helps Writers
The biggest worry writers might have is, “Will my subscribers downgrade to this?”
I honestly don’t think so. True fans want the community, the archives, and the direct connection of a full subscription. The Reader Pass is for everyone else—the casual readers who are currently paying $0.
Earn from Casuals: Instead of bouncing off the paywall, a casual reader pays $1. That adds up.
Find New Subscribers: This is a great way for readers to “date” a writer before marrying them. If I find myself spending $5 a month unlocking a specific writer’s posts, it becomes an easy decision to just switch to a full subscription.
Why It’s Good for the Community
Right now, Substack can feel a bit siloed—we stick to the writers we already know. A Reader Pass turns the platform into a library where we can wander the stacks. It encourages us to take a chance on a new voice or a niche topic we wouldn’t normally pay for.
Respecting Independence
Of course, independence is the whole point of Substack. This shouldn’t be forced on anyone. If a writer wants to keep their work exclusive to full subscribers, they should absolutely be able to opt out.
Conclusion
The subscription model is amazing for supporting our favorite writers, but it creates a wall for everyone else. A Reader Pass would smooth that out, helping curious readers support more independent voices without the pressure of a full annual commitment.
Let’s Make It Happen
If you agree that a Reader Pass would make Substack better for everyone, let’s make some noise. Share this idea with your favorite writers, or tag Substack to let them know we’re ready for a middle ground between “all or nothing.” We want to support more writers—give us the tools to do it.