Should I Start Exclusive Warzone Stories?

Intro

Okay, so I wanted to voice something for the 800-odd readers I have per day. For the longest time, I never wanted to monetize this blog. I often read OMAAT and TPG, and it can be hard to navigate those stories with all of those pop-up ads. However, there are certain stories that I am thinking about selling exclusively, and let me explain why.

My Conundrum

Believe it or not, I can actually write (Afghanistan story). I might sound passive and rushed in these blog posts, but that's because that's the way travel is. It's messy, and I want it to seem that way on paper.

However, over the past year, I have developed stories from regions that are practically inaccessible to foreigners. To the point where many of these places I go to, I am the only foreigner of the year to visit. Whether it be accidentally meeting "rebels" in Myanmar, or having an undercover FSB agent question me about the war in Siberia.

Another great example of this is Damascus

I spend tens of thousands of dollars per year traveling warzones to bring stories to share with the world, and feel that I could charge 5 USD per month for 3 stories.

I've always wanted to share the raw truth, the stuff I cannot publish under my name, but going to a news outlet never seemed like the way forward. They don't want to run a lot of these stories as they are too "delicate", or they end up changing the narrative behind it.

I don't know. That's where I stand. Maybe there is zero interest, maybe there are a few people, or maybe a lot of people would love to hear those stories 🤷‍♂️.

If I Did

So, if I were to do this, nothing would change about this blog. All the airline reviews, lounge reviews, experiences, and hotel reviews would still show for free, but the only thing that would change is a small bar at the bottom for those who wanted to subscribe to these "warzone stories".

The way I see it, I would offer 2 first-hand stories per month (1 every 2 weeks), and another first-hand account by someone else. An example of this is an interview I recently did with a woman who went to Myanmar to work, leaving her family behind, and she made over 20,000 USD per month. But some of the stories she shared... Wow.

Myanmar will certainly have 2-3 stories out of it easily.

Just an idea, and something I need to think through. Any advice?

Final Thoughts

Sorry if this is not what you came for on this blog, and don't worry, nothing is changing, but I was thinking of selling exclusive warzone stories. From Myanmar to South Sudan to Somalia to Ukraine, there are stories that I can't publish under my name. If you think this is interesting, feel free to reach out, and I'll happily send you over a demo story to see if this is something you like!