The captured phantoms “pay it Forward” Scholarship Fund

It’s time to pay it Forward.

Here’s how it works.

As a BIPOC and LGBTQ+ entrepreneur, I intimately know the struggles my clients face when it comes to systemic oppression, underrepresentation, and finances all while trying to get a business off the ground. Having access to education and professional services such as coaching, consultations, critiques, and editing can turn a good writer into a great one and help them get to the next level of where they want to be, but that access is often restricted or blocked due to lack of adequate resources and support.

Inspired by Jake Nicholls’ fund of the same name, I’ve decided to set up the Captured Phantoms “Pay It Forward” Scholarship Fund to help provide coaching, consultation, critique, and editorial services for those who can’t quite meet the full cost of such services at this time. It’s like giant tip jar and a rainy day fund combined that allows me to keep the lights on in leaner times while still serving as many people as I can. Please note that the fund is not a non-profit entity, and contributions made to the fund are not tax-deductible.

From January 1 through December 31 each year, five percent of all proceeds from my book sales, coaching fees, consulting fees, critique fees, editing fees, and any other related fees go toward the Pay It Forward Scholarship Fund. When January 1 comes around again for the next year, the fund resets itself, and leftover funds are reinvested in the business or help with other expenses at my discretion. Ideally, I would love to be able to offer scholarships or financial assistance of some kind every year.

All proceeds from other methods that I’ve listed below such as playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons with me (not kidding!) go toward the fund as well. However, the Pay It Forward Scholarship Fund is primarily supported through the generous contributions of people like you who want to support the wider marginalized literary communities.

Whether you’re an ally or a part of the community yourself, you can make any size contribution, no matter how small, in order to make a huge difference. It is through the power of the collective that we can affect the greatest change.

Here’s how to be considered for funding.

Whenever I provide a service for someone from this fund, I am paid from the fund up to the amount of what the client would have normally paid had they asked for the service originally. This way of going about things ensures that I am financially supported while still supporting others at the same time.

If you would like to be considered for the cost of your chosen service to be reduced or free, please indicate so through completing my Client Intake Q&A Form or booking a paid consultation service with me.

Here’s how You Can contribute to the fund.

If you would like to contribute to the fund directly and have 100% of the proceeds (minus applicable transaction fees that hit me on my end), here are a few ways you can do that:

  • Bookshop.org. If you’d like to support independent bookstores and me at the same time, please buy your next book from Captured Phantoms on Bookshop.org.

  • Ko-fi.com. If you have a penchant for tarot, video games, and pop culture, please buy a cup of tea from the Captured Phantoms’ Ko-fi page.

  • Merch. If you’d like to purchase some cool Phantoms-themed merch, please head to the Merch page, and peruse swag at your leisure.

  • PayPal. If you’d like to make a one-time, monthly, or yearly donation via PayPal, please click the link here to donate whatever and whenever you can.

  • SubStack. If you’d like to be up-to-date on the latest happenings with me, please become a paid subscriber to Karen’s Letters, my Substack publication.

  • Scrivener. If you’re interested in purchasing Scrivener, which I happily endorse, please click this link or the button down below that says “A scrivener using Scrivener”.

  • Stripe. If you’d like to make a one-time donation via Stripe, please tap the link here from your mobile device, or scan the QR code on this page.

  • StartPlaying. If you’ve ever wanted to roll dice and play Dungeons and Dragons with me and a bunch of other people, please book me as your next Game Master.

I plan to include even more ways to contribute to the fund soon such as doing livestreams on Twitch and selling music on Bandcamp, but in the meantime, thank you so much in advance if you do decide to support me! It really helps support my business, and it really helps level the playing field for marginalized creators.