I’m Building a Writing Platform that Pays $0.25 Per Read
Finally, a platform that works for you — not the other way around
Most content platforms follow the same pattern: Attract creators, build a readership, then slash earnings once writers feel locked in.
I’m starting a platform with a fundamentally different approach. I’m paying writers $0.25 per read — not per thousand reads — while creating a community that rewards the very act of showing up to write.
I currently have 500 registered users, 60 of which log on at least once per day. What’s crazy is 67% of these daily active users have opened their wallets to me, even though there’s no requirement for them to do so.
Let’s talk about trust
When Medium launched their “Friends of Medium” premium tier, they started out by collecting money from readers, promising it would increase earnings for writers, then failed to deliver on that promise.
Koala Quill flips this model on its head. I’m promising $0.25 per read first, then asking users to join premium writers guilds to help make sure I don’t go bankrupt. No vague promises. No “upgrade or I’ll demonetize your account.” Just immediate, transparent compensation followed by an invitation to deepen your involvement.
And remarkably, it’s working. The fact that only a minority of users decline upgrading isn’t just surprising — it’s an incredible sign of the health of this fledgling community.
To prevent abuse, you must write for at least 20 minutes to be eligible for monetization. I monitor keyboard activity, so that’s 20 minutes of actual typing, not 20 minutes of leaving the browser window open.
I only win when you win
On most platforms, the pressure is on creators to perform, to meet algorithm demands, to constantly adapt to changing rules—all while compensation keeps shrinking.
At Koala Quill, the pressure is entirely on the platform to deliver genuine value to writers. If premium features aren’t worth paying for, I don’t survive. It’s that simple. This creates a relationship based on trust: I trust writers enough to pay them first, which then inspires writers to upgrade and support our shared vision. This creates a healthier ecosystem where mutual respect drives growth, not exploitation.
On Koala Quill, you can get matched with a “quillmate” who’s online at the same time. You’ll see each other’s progress in real-time, creating the energy of an intense focus session. Your words remain private, but your stats are public.
Want more accountability? Join a guild. Put down a small stake — $2, $5, or $10 — and commit to writing consistently over several days. Complete your goal? Get your money back. Miss a deadline? Your deposit goes to writers who showed up. (I take a 10% platform fee before redistributing money to winners.)
Building a community that matters
This isn’t how platforms typically operate. The standard playbook is to extract as much as possible while only giving the bare minimum in return. But we’re proving there’s a better way. One based on delivering value first and trusting that support will follow.
This is the place where serious writers gather — not just to earn from their words (though $0.25 per read certainly helps), but to find their tribe. The ones who understand the struggle of the blank page. The ones who celebrate your word count milestones because they know exactly what it took to hit them. The ones who notice when you miss a day because your presence matters.
This isn’t just about building another content platform. It’s about creating the writing community we’ve all been searching for, one where fair compensation meets genuine connection. Where accountability meets encouragement. Where the platform is built on a model designed to create value for you, not extract it from you.
