Earlier this year, I restarted my Patreon community to allow me to build closer relationships with my audience and share more in-depth content and resources. I never would have imagined how fulfilling building this community would be for me! Patreon is now my favorite place to hang out and I love talking books with this group of smart, warm, middle grade lit fans.
Understandably, some readers don’t understand what Patreon is or why I need to create content on Patreon in addition to my blog and Instagram. This post is for you! I’ll be answering the most common questions I get about Patreon to help you decide if it’s a good fit for you and what other options there are if you’d like to benefit from my paid resources or support this site in other ways.
All You Need to Know About Joining Reading Middle Grade’s Patreon Community
These are some of the most frequently asked questions about our Patreon community!
What is Patreon, and how does it work?
Patreon is a platform that allows people to support creators in a subscription-based way. With Patreon you subscribe to your chosen creator’s page for a fee and receive additional (often exclusive) content from them on a regular basis. It’s a great way to support a creator you like, while also getting more resources from them.
Patreon also has extra features like a community chat that allows for live discussions. Unlike with blogs, creators can post videos, podcast episodes, and attach downloadable resources like PDFs in a seamless way.
Why do you need a Patreon community?
Great question! I want to make more than blog posts about kid lit, and I’d like to do it under the same virtual “roof” + get paid for creating these resources.
Of course, I can create podcasts and share the episodes on different platforms, but with Patreon, I can share a podcast and attach a supplementary PDF to the episode. I can host authors for book club and converse with my audience in a more intimate way — we literally send each other messages all week long (and not just one-sided broadcasts like you have on some social media platforms)! It’s the perfect blend of community and education for me.
Who is your Patreon community for?
My Patreon community is for anyone who wants more middle grade love in their life. We’re a great mix of parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and book bloggers, so everyone who loves middle grade books and wants to dive deeper into them is welcome.
I particularly recommend Patreon for NEW librarians and ELA teachers trying to figure out which books they like or what to recommend to young readers. It’s also wonderful for educators and librarians who wish they could read ALL the books but just can’t keep up! You’ll get a peek into so many NEW and backlist titles to choose from and you can ask me all the questions about content issues and best audiences for each book I read.
How much does it cost to join your Patreon community?
We currently have two Patreon tiers: The Minimalist tier costs $10/month, and The Educator tier costs $15/month.
What are some of the perks of joining you on Patreon?
I’m glad you asked! Here are the perks of each Patreon tier:
📖 The Minimalist ($10/month)
📖 The Minimalist member tier grants access to essential bonus content from Reading Middle Grade. If you’re only here for the printable versions of all our blog posts, this tier grants you full access to our Google Drive folder. You also get multiple sweet perks, including FREE access to our annual Summer Reading Guide as listed below!
- Seasonal Reading Guides (Summer Reading Guide, Spring Books Preview, and Fall Books Preview)
- Afoma’s Book Matchmaking service
- Abridged New Releases List
- Quarterly Reading Recaps & Other Podcast Episodes
- Summer Book Club
- 20% off all shop items
🧑🏽🏫 The Educator ($15/month)
This is a great tier for educators who want a fuller package of bookish goodness. In addition to everything in The Minimalist tier, you’ll get access to these perks:
- Additional Printables (Book Tasting Menus, Student-Centered Printable Lists, Book Discussion Guides, and more)
- Full Monthly New Release Lists (+ Printable)
Here’s what Patreon members are saying:
“I love having access to the great podcasts and feeling like I am a known community member that Afoma is happy to chat with in a meaningful way.”
Natalie D.
“Once you join Afoma’s Patreon group, you and your students will never have to wonder “What should I read next?” Her Reading Middle Grade seasonal guides are the best of the best! Beautifully presented, impeccably curated, with helpful summaries and categories so that readers can find plenty of options that meet their interests. Afoma is widely read and highly knowledgeable, staying up-to-date on the latest releases so that she can bring you informed recommendations and exclusive interviews. Want to know which books are must-reads? Want to know which books have (truly!) unique stories or characters? Looking for a specific topic or books for a certain age group? Reading Middle Grade has you covered! Want to talk with authors in a cozy middle grade book club or through Afoma’s amazing author visits? Come join us!”
Julie B.
“I love this community. The joy of reading middle grades is so strong here. I truly appreciate Afoma’s recommendations!”
Lindsay A.
I can’t join Patreon right now. Can I still access your paid resources?
Sure! Our printables (book lists, student printables, discussion guides, etc.) are available for one-off purchase in our Reading Middle Grade shop. You can register for events on our Eventbrite page.
Patreon isn’t in my budget. How else can I support your website?
You’re doing a lot just by being here — thank you! My favorite kind of support is word-of-mouth referrals. Share my links with your network and tell other educators to check out my work, subscribe to my newsletter, or attend my events. I would be so grateful!
Got any more questions about Patreon? Ask away in the comments!
Want to join us on Patreon? Sign up here.
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