In the video, Tony mentions that there's more support coming for publication owners to make it easier to run a pub. I don't know what that means, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they're working on.
Hi Linda - each time I read your post I learn something new 😊 From the moment you announced your pub On Reflection, I knew I wanted to write for it 💙 Happy to be onboard 👍
I’m sorry Linda, but I’m not buying anything Tony says. His new policies cut my revenue by 90% and his response to me asking why made no sense and was actually insulting to a writer with 6000+ followers and over 1000 articles published. F this.
I'm sorry to hear that Martin. That sucks. 6K+ is a significant following. I'll share a little story of my own humble pie. The first time I got a story boosted way back when Boost was internal and there weren't nominators, I was so angry. Because everything ELSE was tanking. At the time, I had over 10K followers. I ranted and loud. Tony replied to one and I was as mad as you. I stopped writing there for a while.
But after a while, I thought about it. And I came back and made a few adjustments to how I approached writing. Because in the long run, it wasn't about Tony or Medium. It was about the 10K people that followed me. The changes made a difference. That you have built the following you have tells me you've got something. I understand the kneejerk F this. I did that too. But there might be a different option.
I’m still going to publish there but I’m not going to pay any attention to it. The changes they made to stats reporting, for instance, were designed to confuse and hide the fact that they are paying writers less. I’ve been Director of Marketing for three software companies and I know the programming for their statistics is intentionally misleading. It’s just not rocket science to get that right. I watched your earlier circumstance with Medium and I swore not to be you or any other writer bitching about change. But Tony insulted me directly, seemingly forgetting that writers are what makes Medium exist for readers. M
Congrats on the new pub & early Boost! I'm curious to know how you're reaching out to writers; is it via email, the PM function, or something else?
I went into Tony's Keynote the same way you did; with a shoulder dropped and expecting to hear more of the same. It was a nice surprise to hear him confirm almost everything we'd all be complaining about (pubs not getting enough attention, focus on the wrong metrics, etc. ). I'm also very happy to see Medium pivot away from their earlier "AI is okay with us!" stance. I'm just nosy enough to wonder what happened behind closed doors for him to have this change of heart.
Either way, for now I'm cautiously optimistic. And FWIW, my earnings under the new system are up compared to what they would've been before.
I'm using email because those little boxes make me insane. 400 char on the first message and 200 on subsequent don't cut it. I laughed at the nosy part. Me, too. I knew Ariel's work long before Medium and I think she's been a great addition to the team. But yeah, I'd love to be a fly on the wall there some days. Like you, I am cautiously optimistic. :)
That box drives me bonkers. It's short enough that I put language in to our submission guidelines saying that our feedback will likely be terse and not to take it personally. I hope expanding the character limit is on the dev team's roadmap.
Can't wait to get to know On Reflection. Congrats!!!! Glad it is going well. It will continue to because, as you say, it's not your first rodeo (even if it is a bumpy ride)
Thanks, Jill. I think I'm going to write a post about writing personal posts. Funny thing I notice is that every good story is good in it's own way, but we all make the same mistakes. I recognize them because I made them too. For sooo long I have everyone beat. lol
Congratulations that On Reflections is doing so well already and even got a boost! 🥳
You've also motivated me to watch Tony's video now, lol. I read a writer's summary of his video, which was encouraging, but it sounds like he covered a lot of stuff!
Yes, I agree that while we criticize, it's only fair to also acknowledge when they have owned up to things and made amends. And to not just focus on what they haven't done, but to validate what they have done, too. I was impressed that they're actually highlighting fiction this weekend!! Some fiction writer friends were super thrilled to be chosen, even boosted, since they had felt invisible and neglected all this time. (They also have relatively small followings.). I'm very pleasantly surprised that they even featured serial fiction and choose your own adventure fiction!
I was sorry to miss Medium Day (but also not sorry because I was on a long-planned trip to Kenya that turned out to be even better than I'd dare dream). I'll have to give Mr. S's talk a listen, once my brain catches up with my body.
Linda Caroll's essays are always worth reading and I am looking forward to any criticisms you will have about the article I submitted. You are very successful and I want to learn from those who are doing things that make money. Facts are facts, and success speaks for its self.
Wow. Yeah, I watched that video, and you're absolutely right. I can get on board with what he's saying, even if it hasn't- or doesn't ever- directly benefit me as a writer. Thanks for prodding me/us to watch it. Was worth the time (though I watched it at x1.75 speed). 😉
I'm glad "On Reflection" is doing well right from the start. It gives me hope for some future publication ideas I had for Medium.
In the video, Tony mentions that there's more support coming for publication owners to make it easier to run a pub. I don't know what that means, but I'm looking forward to seeing what they're working on.
Hi Linda - each time I read your post I learn something new 😊 From the moment you announced your pub On Reflection, I knew I wanted to write for it 💙 Happy to be onboard 👍
And I'm so happy to have you on board too, Yana. You are amazing to work with. :)
I’m sorry Linda, but I’m not buying anything Tony says. His new policies cut my revenue by 90% and his response to me asking why made no sense and was actually insulting to a writer with 6000+ followers and over 1000 articles published. F this.
I'm sorry to hear that Martin. That sucks. 6K+ is a significant following. I'll share a little story of my own humble pie. The first time I got a story boosted way back when Boost was internal and there weren't nominators, I was so angry. Because everything ELSE was tanking. At the time, I had over 10K followers. I ranted and loud. Tony replied to one and I was as mad as you. I stopped writing there for a while.
But after a while, I thought about it. And I came back and made a few adjustments to how I approached writing. Because in the long run, it wasn't about Tony or Medium. It was about the 10K people that followed me. The changes made a difference. That you have built the following you have tells me you've got something. I understand the kneejerk F this. I did that too. But there might be a different option.
I’m still going to publish there but I’m not going to pay any attention to it. The changes they made to stats reporting, for instance, were designed to confuse and hide the fact that they are paying writers less. I’ve been Director of Marketing for three software companies and I know the programming for their statistics is intentionally misleading. It’s just not rocket science to get that right. I watched your earlier circumstance with Medium and I swore not to be you or any other writer bitching about change. But Tony insulted me directly, seemingly forgetting that writers are what makes Medium exist for readers. M
Congrats on the new pub & early Boost! I'm curious to know how you're reaching out to writers; is it via email, the PM function, or something else?
I went into Tony's Keynote the same way you did; with a shoulder dropped and expecting to hear more of the same. It was a nice surprise to hear him confirm almost everything we'd all be complaining about (pubs not getting enough attention, focus on the wrong metrics, etc. ). I'm also very happy to see Medium pivot away from their earlier "AI is okay with us!" stance. I'm just nosy enough to wonder what happened behind closed doors for him to have this change of heart.
Either way, for now I'm cautiously optimistic. And FWIW, my earnings under the new system are up compared to what they would've been before.
I'm using email because those little boxes make me insane. 400 char on the first message and 200 on subsequent don't cut it. I laughed at the nosy part. Me, too. I knew Ariel's work long before Medium and I think she's been a great addition to the team. But yeah, I'd love to be a fly on the wall there some days. Like you, I am cautiously optimistic. :)
That box drives me bonkers. It's short enough that I put language in to our submission guidelines saying that our feedback will likely be terse and not to take it personally. I hope expanding the character limit is on the dev team's roadmap.
I hope so too!
Can't wait to get to know On Reflection. Congrats!!!! Glad it is going well. It will continue to because, as you say, it's not your first rodeo (even if it is a bumpy ride)
Thanks, Jill. I think I'm going to write a post about writing personal posts. Funny thing I notice is that every good story is good in it's own way, but we all make the same mistakes. I recognize them because I made them too. For sooo long I have everyone beat. lol
Love it. Also sounds a little Tolstoy-like...
Congratulations that On Reflections is doing so well already and even got a boost! 🥳
You've also motivated me to watch Tony's video now, lol. I read a writer's summary of his video, which was encouraging, but it sounds like he covered a lot of stuff!
Yes, I agree that while we criticize, it's only fair to also acknowledge when they have owned up to things and made amends. And to not just focus on what they haven't done, but to validate what they have done, too. I was impressed that they're actually highlighting fiction this weekend!! Some fiction writer friends were super thrilled to be chosen, even boosted, since they had felt invisible and neglected all this time. (They also have relatively small followings.). I'm very pleasantly surprised that they even featured serial fiction and choose your own adventure fiction!
I was sorry to miss Medium Day (but also not sorry because I was on a long-planned trip to Kenya that turned out to be even better than I'd dare dream). I'll have to give Mr. S's talk a listen, once my brain catches up with my body.
Linda Caroll's essays are always worth reading and I am looking forward to any criticisms you will have about the article I submitted. You are very successful and I want to learn from those who are doing things that make money. Facts are facts, and success speaks for its self.
Wow. Yeah, I watched that video, and you're absolutely right. I can get on board with what he's saying, even if it hasn't- or doesn't ever- directly benefit me as a writer. Thanks for prodding me/us to watch it. Was worth the time (though I watched it at x1.75 speed). 😉
Off and running!! Congratulations. I also shared it last week. I liked Tony's presentation, too. Honesty is admired & appreciated.