> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.joinyellowbrick.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Subscribe to authors

> Unlock premium pitches from an author, pick a plan, and use Yellowbrick Premium discounts when the author is a preferred partner.

Some authors publish free pitches and keep others behind a paywall. Subscribing unlocks that author's premium content. It is separate from [following](/guides/follow-authors), which is free and only adds them to your follow feed.

The screens below use [Aurelion Research](https://next.joinyellowbrick.com/author/aurelionresearch), an Elite author whose later pitches are premium.

## Find a premium pitch

Open the author's profile. Locked cards show a **Premium** tag, a short lock message, and **Get Access**.

<Frame caption="Locked pitches on an author page. Get Access opens the plan picker. Preferred partners often show a Yellowbrick Premium discount on the card.">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/yellowbrick/6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx/images/aurelion-profile-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx&q=85&s=bc0164df3b33610926a0400d0dd67431" alt="Aurelion Research profile in light mode with Elite badge, returns, and a locked premium pitch with Get Access" width="1498" height="984" data-path="images/aurelion-profile-light.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/yellowbrick/6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx/images/aurelion-profile-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx&q=85&s=fe132826596727ab30a0e04bb4da8f58" alt="Aurelion Research profile in dark mode with Elite badge, returns, and a locked premium pitch with Get Access" width="1498" height="984" data-path="images/aurelion-profile-dark.png" />
</Frame>

You can also hit a locked pitch from Home or from the pitch page itself. The same **Get Access** button opens the unlock dialog.

## Choose a plan

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click Get Access">
    The dialog is titled **Unlock** plus the author name. It shows their badge, bio, and the plans they sell.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick yearly or monthly">
    Yearly is usually cheaper per month. Monthly is easier to cancel. The primary button updates to **Continue with Yearly** or **Continue with Monthly**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the Premium discount">
    If the author is a [preferred partner](/authors#preferred-partners), Yellowbrick Premium subscribers get a discount on that author's plan (often 30%). If you are not on Premium yet, the dialog offers the discount if you upgrade. If you already have Premium, the discounted price is applied.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Continue to checkout">
    Complete payment. After that, premium pitches from this author unlock.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame caption="Unlock dialog for Aurelion Research. Choose yearly or monthly. Preferred partners discount the author plan if you have Yellowbrick Premium.">
  <img className="block dark:hidden" src="https://mintcdn.com/yellowbrick/6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx/images/subscribe-modal-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx&q=85&s=347fda825bd90ec9f29bde788eaeea83" alt="Unlock Aurelion Research dialog in light mode with yearly and monthly plans and Yellowbrick Premium savings applied" width="1498" height="984" data-path="images/subscribe-modal-light.png" />

  <img className="hidden dark:block" src="https://mintcdn.com/yellowbrick/6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx/images/subscribe-modal-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6MFWEn8aMv-vQvhx&q=85&s=36bf7d74af271f9f04672c953265fc22" alt="Unlock Aurelion Research dialog in dark mode with yearly and monthly plans and Yellowbrick Premium savings applied" width="1498" height="984" data-path="images/subscribe-modal-dark.png" />
</Frame>

Typical subscription benefits (wording varies by author):

* Full access to that author's premium content
* Discord access to their channels, when they offer it
* Q\&A or AMA sessions, when they offer it

Some authors also sell a single pitch instead of a full subscription. If that option is available, it appears under the plan list.

<Tip>
  Already paying the author elsewhere? Use **Already have a subscription?** on the locked card so we can connect the accounts.
</Tip>

## Follow vs subscribe

|                   | Follow                                                                        | Subscribe                               |
| ----------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------- |
| Cost              | Free                                                                          | Paid to the author                      |
| What you get      | New pitches in **From authors you follow** and notifications                  | Access to that author's premium pitches |
| Do you need both? | Follow if you want them in your feed. Subscribe if their best work is locked. | You can do either, or both.             |

Yellowbrick Premium is a platform plan. It does not replace an author's paywall. See [Yellowbrick Premium](/premium) for what the membership includes and how discounts apply.

<Note>
  Prices and discounts in the screenshots are examples from Aurelion Research. Always check the live dialog for the current plan.
</Note>