Agree June. I don't tell writers when I'm nominating them anymore. Then if they get boosted it's a lovely surprise. And if they don't, there's no disappointment.
It never ceases to astonish me how eager some people are to shoot themselves in the foot. Insulting an editor who can nominate posts for Boosting? Even if every word that writer said was true -- and not one word of it was -- that would still be a breathtakingly dumb thing to do.
I've said it before: if they paid all the writers a living wage as a fixed salary, regardless of how productive or popular they are, there would be a lot less of this bitching.
Yes, but define writers. Because typing isn't writing. If someone uses ChatGPT to churn out crap, do they get paid? If someone posts their diary online, do they get paid? It's not a feasible solution.
You would need to weed out the artificial intelligence and "typing" writers first. Make it clear that you would not accept these things at the outset. Then figure out who the people creating valuable information and fiction are and put them on salary so they can write their best stuff without needing to worry about making money beyond that.
I would love to get boosted but I think I must be on a no-fly list because I have been ultra critical of some of the stuff Medium management has done. I stopped doing that but it doesn’t seem there’s a get out of jail free card available. The curation system worked great for me. For three years I earned between $1,000 and $4,000 on the platform. Last year, I earned $124. Granted, I am not writing or publishing as much as I used to, but the majority of my earnings in good years were from only a couple of stories. One of them brought in over $1,600 all by its lonesome. I keep acquiring followers, though. I’ve stopped trying to figure it out.
Hi Linda, thanks for another informative post - so sorry you got hate mail -I guess it goes with the territory because even as editors, many get the same...I have been boosted several times and am grateful for it - I write about relationships (not just romantic) and all of them have been on that topic - I heard the criteria have changed again - not sure what the new ones are - I like working with editors who have a lot of experience so the feedback for some of mine are that they are good and pack a strong emotional punch so not sure what is happening 🤷♀️ with regard to boosts - on the other hand I am grateful for the engagement
I'd add that nominating friends is useful if they can write. There are example of nominators nominating articles written by their spouse, or regularly nominating stories from their co-editors. I wish Medium didn't let that happen. It would help make the boosting program better and more accepted in my opinion.
In the long run, the plan is for any publications to be able to nominate if they want to. So when it grows to that point, it will encourage publication owners to nominate the best stories in their publication no matter who it is. I think that will be a good thing, overall, and elevate the quality of publications and Medium in general.
I've pretty much given up on the idea of being boosted. Your story gave me heart. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'll keep rolling. I loved your Flowers for Algernon story. I haven't thought about that book in years.
Don't give up on the idea. Go into your stats and sort your stories by most views. Take a good look at those stories. They hold clues. At least, doing that was eye opening for me.
That's 4 really good tips- and an unfortunate truth many seem to struggle with accepting. I prefer to focus on the tips. Maybe in time, that will make the difference. 😉
The title has to explain the story. The picture has to be good. No swearing No whining. About people, a problem. And what happened. It’s harder than you think. My 3 boosts have been about my relatives from 3 different publications. I did what the editors asked
There are so many opportunities for writers to make money online. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. Will getting boosted make someone richer?
Being a nominator is like having a target on your back. I wouldn't want that while working for free. Sorry to hear you have to go through that.
Hey Linda, I love these tips! About poetry, though, I've been nominating almost exclusively poetry these days. I've had almost all of them boosted! I've made a list of all boosted poetry and fiction I know of here, including ones I've nominated: https://medium.com/@sieranlane/list/7bbc4c9516d9
What I've seen working for poetry: Skilful use of metaphors, similes, imagery, and word sounds (including rhythm). I would avoid going overboard to the point where it feels overdramatic, though where that line is may be subjective. I would also avoid writing a poem that is made up of all abstract terms; concrete images are your friend!
While poems are short, it might be a bit too short if it's only one stanza long. XD Also, if you write a love poem, I would try hard not to make it sound cliche, to find some way to make it more unique and interesting.
Plus, remember the sensitivity criteria that Medium released lately, so content involving explicit violence, sex, profanity may be rejected. It's not completely impossible, and I did manage to get a poem with several F bombs boosted, lol. But you would have to be very tasteful about it, so it's better to avoid them if possible.
Thanks, Linda! That's very flattering to hear, coming from you! :D It's pretty amazing how much a boosted poem can make, too. For my boosted 1-min poem, I've made $104.45 so far (400+ views and about 50% read ratio... I guess it's also harder to stay on the page for 30 secs if it's a 1 min poem, haha, but still I'm encouraged!)
I don't think poetry has ever been able to earn $100+, let alone for a 1-min poem. So despite all the problems with the boost, there are times when it's really wonderful and helpful!
That's awesome Sieran. Which publication was that in? I'm sure there are poetry publications but I'm not familiar with them of if that's where you nominate.
Agree June. I don't tell writers when I'm nominating them anymore. Then if they get boosted it's a lovely surprise. And if they don't, there's no disappointment.
It never ceases to astonish me how eager some people are to shoot themselves in the foot. Insulting an editor who can nominate posts for Boosting? Even if every word that writer said was true -- and not one word of it was -- that would still be a breathtakingly dumb thing to do.
I am laughing, Jan. You're right. It was breathtakingly dumb. Lesson one of the internet. When you write hate mail, walk away for an hour. Then edit.
Better yet, don't write it at all. Or write it on paper, and then eat it.
lol. The paper part I nodded. Then eat it made me laugh
I've said it before: if they paid all the writers a living wage as a fixed salary, regardless of how productive or popular they are, there would be a lot less of this bitching.
Yes, but define writers. Because typing isn't writing. If someone uses ChatGPT to churn out crap, do they get paid? If someone posts their diary online, do they get paid? It's not a feasible solution.
But not all writers have earned that. Some people are good writers and some are not. I don't know how the system should work, but I wish I understood why, for instance, a piece that definitely grabbed people -- 2.1K reads, 444 clappers, 108 responders, 6.8K claps -- was declined. (https://medium.com/ellemeno/am-i-the-only-one-making-low-key-plans-for-surviving-world-war-iii-and-the-apocalypse-bd532bdd006f)
Me neither, Michelle. That's one of those that falls under whacked. They missed the boat on that one.
Except that's not their business model.
I got a stentorian lecture the other day about how much time/effort was put into a story. It was literally 1 paragraph and then dozens of YT clips).
Well it probably took so long because of getting sidetracked at youtube. lol
lol.
You would need to weed out the artificial intelligence and "typing" writers first. Make it clear that you would not accept these things at the outset. Then figure out who the people creating valuable information and fiction are and put them on salary so they can write their best stuff without needing to worry about making money beyond that.
I would love to get boosted but I think I must be on a no-fly list because I have been ultra critical of some of the stuff Medium management has done. I stopped doing that but it doesn’t seem there’s a get out of jail free card available. The curation system worked great for me. For three years I earned between $1,000 and $4,000 on the platform. Last year, I earned $124. Granted, I am not writing or publishing as much as I used to, but the majority of my earnings in good years were from only a couple of stories. One of them brought in over $1,600 all by its lonesome. I keep acquiring followers, though. I’ve stopped trying to figure it out.
Hi Linda, thanks for another informative post - so sorry you got hate mail -I guess it goes with the territory because even as editors, many get the same...I have been boosted several times and am grateful for it - I write about relationships (not just romantic) and all of them have been on that topic - I heard the criteria have changed again - not sure what the new ones are - I like working with editors who have a lot of experience so the feedback for some of mine are that they are good and pack a strong emotional punch so not sure what is happening 🤷♀️ with regard to boosts - on the other hand I am grateful for the engagement
I'd add that nominating friends is useful if they can write. There are example of nominators nominating articles written by their spouse, or regularly nominating stories from their co-editors. I wish Medium didn't let that happen. It would help make the boosting program better and more accepted in my opinion.
In the long run, the plan is for any publications to be able to nominate if they want to. So when it grows to that point, it will encourage publication owners to nominate the best stories in their publication no matter who it is. I think that will be a good thing, overall, and elevate the quality of publications and Medium in general.
That’s good to know. I essentially abandoned my pub bcz there’s no point if you can’t boost. Nobody wants to be published by a non-boosting pub!
Looking forward to it 😁
I've pretty much given up on the idea of being boosted. Your story gave me heart. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'll keep rolling. I loved your Flowers for Algernon story. I haven't thought about that book in years.
Don't give up on the idea. Go into your stats and sort your stories by most views. Take a good look at those stories. They hold clues. At least, doing that was eye opening for me.
gooooood tip! I was doing this the other day - it's a great tip for any platform. Double down on what does well.
I have the same attitude about being boosted. I don't even think about it much anymore. Just writing away, and maybe it will happen :-).
Somedays I wish I hadn't told anyone I was in the boost nomination program. The spam I get is awful.
So are the egos.
Truth
Wow, that sucks. I get a lot of really crappy submissions. Like, self help posts to a reflection publication. It's a bit nuts.
That's 4 really good tips- and an unfortunate truth many seem to struggle with accepting. I prefer to focus on the tips. Maybe in time, that will make the difference. 😉
Linda they should take your advice. We’ve talked before and your tips are invaluable. Some folks are jerks and lead with emotions instead of sense.
lol Charles. It's true. Some folks behave like jerks. Usually they just need to take a step back and cool off.
The title has to explain the story. The picture has to be good. No swearing No whining. About people, a problem. And what happened. It’s harder than you think. My 3 boosts have been about my relatives from 3 different publications. I did what the editors asked
You said that really well, Margie. The pieces have to come together. Title, photo, topic. It is harder than a lot of people think. :)
There are so many opportunities for writers to make money online. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. Will getting boosted make someone richer?
Being a nominator is like having a target on your back. I wouldn't want that while working for free. Sorry to hear you have to go through that.
If a writer gets boosted with any frequency, it can help them earn more, for sure.
Of course not. We'd have to buy shares in the company for that.
Hey Linda, I love these tips! About poetry, though, I've been nominating almost exclusively poetry these days. I've had almost all of them boosted! I've made a list of all boosted poetry and fiction I know of here, including ones I've nominated: https://medium.com/@sieranlane/list/7bbc4c9516d9
What I've seen working for poetry: Skilful use of metaphors, similes, imagery, and word sounds (including rhythm). I would avoid going overboard to the point where it feels overdramatic, though where that line is may be subjective. I would also avoid writing a poem that is made up of all abstract terms; concrete images are your friend!
While poems are short, it might be a bit too short if it's only one stanza long. XD Also, if you write a love poem, I would try hard not to make it sound cliche, to find some way to make it more unique and interesting.
Plus, remember the sensitivity criteria that Medium released lately, so content involving explicit violence, sex, profanity may be rejected. It's not completely impossible, and I did manage to get a poem with several F bombs boosted, lol. But you would have to be very tasteful about it, so it's better to avoid them if possible.
Better you than me, Sieran. I am no judge of poetry at all.
Thanks, Linda! That's very flattering to hear, coming from you! :D It's pretty amazing how much a boosted poem can make, too. For my boosted 1-min poem, I've made $104.45 so far (400+ views and about 50% read ratio... I guess it's also harder to stay on the page for 30 secs if it's a 1 min poem, haha, but still I'm encouraged!)
I don't think poetry has ever been able to earn $100+, let alone for a 1-min poem. So despite all the problems with the boost, there are times when it's really wonderful and helpful!
That's awesome Sieran. Which publication was that in? I'm sure there are poetry publications but I'm not familiar with them of if that's where you nominate.
Imogene's Notebook! We take both fiction and poetry, but most of our submissions are poems. This is my boosted poem I was talking about, if you're curious! https://medium.com/imogenes-notebook/where-im-from-58bcbf3e0fda?sk=d0dfd9a7a1522850625238013ab146ce