I've definitely noticed a difference in views. I don't publish nearly as often as I used to - only 3 so far this month. The first thing I noticed is that Medium stopped distribution on my posts whereas before, every single thing I published was distributed.
My reads fell below 200 a day since I'm writing less frequently.
God, that's so weird Kristi. I wonder if there's a sweet spot they want people to aim for. I find that 2-3 posts a week gets best results for me. I have no experience writing too much, lol, but if I write too little they drop, too. Would be nice if they'd tell us stuff like that. Not that they ever will.
Whoah! This is so weird. I have been writing on Medium for a few months now, averaging 3 posts per week and my reads and income have been rising steadily. On May 1st, I decided to up my game and set a goal to write every day. My reads continued to rise for the first 9 days, but then suddenly for two days in a row they were chopped to almost half; weirdly those two days had exactly the same number. And the next day was even less. I thought it was just a dip, but now you've made me wonder.
I will now slow down a bit and see if the numbers go up again.
Well, it sure takes the pressure off writing every day, which is a relief. Looking back over the last three months, my best results came when I wrote almost every other day, so I'm going to try that for a week or so. I'll keep you posted.
Hi Linda - I promised to come back to you with my new stats after I decided to down a little, from writing once a day, and going back to once every two to three days.
To be honest, the numbers aren't conclusive. Initially, my view numbers got worse for a few days, and then started going all over the place, with a couple of really bad days and then one mega-day where I got more views on a single story than I'd ever had before.
But now they are back down again and overall they are worse than they were a month ago.
So, the possibilities are, 1 - Medium has changed the algorithm yet again, or 2 - my titles aren't so great recently, or 3 - it's just impossible to figure out how to game the system.
I'm going with No 2, and trying to polish my title-writing since that's the only one I can change.
The one month, last February, that I wrote every day was my second to lowest earning month to that point. I’ve written very little since, so things haven’t improved, but they haven’t tanked as much as I thought they would. Commenting on other people’s stuff is still getting me readers and followers.
I slowed down quite a bit due to their app changes and various other issues. I wrote a throwaway post that is getting 1k views a week since doing nothing to write or promote my articles. 🤷🏻♂️
There's another issue to consider. Given that there's so much to read and so little time, I, for once, like to distribute my reading. Meaning...I don't want to read the same author every day. My time is limited, and I like to spread my comments and my clapping to different writers I follow. I will be turned off entirely if writers I follow write every day. And that might explain why readership or earnings plummet for those who post too frequently.
Do you keep a notebook for ideas so you can jot them down when you're not at the computer? Just curious. That's what I do. Course, reading my own handwriting is the tricky part of that.
When I was learning how to write, I had a magnificent ring binder with ideas, pictures, conversations, bits and pieces artfully arranged on the pages. It consumed writing time. I used a single idea from that collection and wrote my best novel from it.
Since then, I've used Stephen King's method of collecting ideas. The ones that rattle around in my mind long enough to spawn a plot I keep. The others weren't strong enough.
I resurrected my Medium account a week ago so I could write about some of my high school students. But I haven't even opened Medium. Exhaustion consumes me by 4v00 every day when my last class leaves. No solid ideas since I took over for the new mother on March 28. 9 and a half days left on this "long-term subbing." Then I'll sleep.
Still no request from the new publisher to read the test of my book.
Writing for Medium and Substack will get me started writing again, I hope. I crave time without pressure to deal with surly girls and boys who are determined to destroy my authority as a teacher. I should write about that.
I've never had more than 3 ideas for my novels. I guess I need only 2. The WIP and the next one.
Ah, that's a whole different animal. They're not trying to destroy your authority, though it feels like it. Just transitioning from children to young adults. It's a hard stage. In two years the world will expect them to vote and pay bills. There has to be some kind of transition. Many years ago, I taught art to 14 years olds. I still remember. lol.
I don't write enough to know that. My goat was to write 4 articles a month on medium to build a writing practice and develop an audience. I see the quality problem, but it's more to do with guidelines and English not being a writer's first language. The insight is there. I block writers whose style is to cuss. They aren't writing about what's really bothering them. I won't read padded articles--I prefer to see the links articles at the end. That is sharing of the best kind
You make an interesting point. When English isn't someone's first language, I don't see that as a quality issue, either. If they have a point to make or a story to tell, it comes through, at least I think. People who struggle with English know more languages that I do. Can't fault them that! But perhaps some do.
I honestly don't think it's wise to publish every day. I doubt it's medium that's putting the skids on readers, it's the readers themselves. I can't think of a single person whose work I'd want to read every single day, and if I were bombarded in that way I'd bow out.
Just no!
There are no journalists who publish every day. None. No reporters and no columnists that I know of. It just isn't done, for obvious reasons--it's overkill. So why would anyone think it's a good idea to send new stuff out every day? I don't know, but I do know it's something unique to Medium. At some point the word got out that that's how you make money here and suddenly hordes of writers were trying it.
It's a terrible idea and if it works for some, it won't work forever. For those who lament their lack of success even though they're publishing every day--please just stop. Do your best work. Take your time. Send it out when it's done and not a minute before. The world will wait for you.
Based on my experience as an editor, I'm not sure everyone even knows when it's done. lol. Sorry. But seriously, sometimes it still needs a lot of work and they don't realize what or why. I suspect the write every day thing came from people who target new writers and provide them with new tips daily. Maybe I'm just cynical. lol Well said, Ramona.
I doubt it. people read who they want to read. Even you, one of my favorite writers, I don't read all of your posts. If an author doesn't entertain me or tell me something new, I just change the channel.
I'm not a daily producer there- I only publish when I think I have something of good quality to share. People like you set the bar really high for me all the time.
If an author I like updates daily, I fall behind because I simply don't have the energy to keep up! I like your newsletters because they come at the right intervals. I recently signed up for a writing blog's newsletter and discovered they email me every single day, so I'm considering unsubscribing even though I haven't opened a single post yet.
An unrelated question: would posting a novel, chapter at a time, be too outside The Book Cafe? I realize there are other Medium publications, but I'd prefer this one. Too far afield?
Hey William. Sorry but yes, I think that would be pretty far outside the scope. I'd prefer to keep it for book reviews as opposed to publishing a book in the pub.
Honestly, you'd be best to create a publication of your own for it. Because when people click to read one chapter, they'll see all the others listed underneath instead of publication posts.
I try to pace how often I publish on Medium because I figure my readers are having the same problem I am - keeping up! I want to support my fellow writers/poets, but OMG I feel like Sisyphus! SO many words to read - what a climb!
I've definitely noticed a difference in views. I don't publish nearly as often as I used to - only 3 so far this month. The first thing I noticed is that Medium stopped distribution on my posts whereas before, every single thing I published was distributed.
My reads fell below 200 a day since I'm writing less frequently.
Do what you want with this data lol.
God, that's so weird Kristi. I wonder if there's a sweet spot they want people to aim for. I find that 2-3 posts a week gets best results for me. I have no experience writing too much, lol, but if I write too little they drop, too. Would be nice if they'd tell us stuff like that. Not that they ever will.
Whoah! This is so weird. I have been writing on Medium for a few months now, averaging 3 posts per week and my reads and income have been rising steadily. On May 1st, I decided to up my game and set a goal to write every day. My reads continued to rise for the first 9 days, but then suddenly for two days in a row they were chopped to almost half; weirdly those two days had exactly the same number. And the next day was even less. I thought it was just a dip, but now you've made me wonder.
I will now slow down a bit and see if the numbers go up again.
See, that's exactly what I've read other people saying. Let me know what happens when you slow down a little. Interesting, hey?
Well, it sure takes the pressure off writing every day, which is a relief. Looking back over the last three months, my best results came when I wrote almost every other day, so I'm going to try that for a week or so. I'll keep you posted.
lol, right? And yes, please do!
Hi Linda - I promised to come back to you with my new stats after I decided to down a little, from writing once a day, and going back to once every two to three days.
To be honest, the numbers aren't conclusive. Initially, my view numbers got worse for a few days, and then started going all over the place, with a couple of really bad days and then one mega-day where I got more views on a single story than I'd ever had before.
But now they are back down again and overall they are worse than they were a month ago.
So, the possibilities are, 1 - Medium has changed the algorithm yet again, or 2 - my titles aren't so great recently, or 3 - it's just impossible to figure out how to game the system.
I'm going with No 2, and trying to polish my title-writing since that's the only one I can change.
The one month, last February, that I wrote every day was my second to lowest earning month to that point. I’ve written very little since, so things haven’t improved, but they haven’t tanked as much as I thought they would. Commenting on other people’s stuff is still getting me readers and followers.
I find the same, Denise. If I truly do not have time to write, I make sure to read and comment a bit more. You're so right, it really does help.
I slowed down quite a bit due to their app changes and various other issues. I wrote a throwaway post that is getting 1k views a week since doing nothing to write or promote my articles. 🤷🏻♂️
Wow, Dylan. What the heck did you write that keeps getting 1K views every week? That's amazing.
There's another issue to consider. Given that there's so much to read and so little time, I, for once, like to distribute my reading. Meaning...I don't want to read the same author every day. My time is limited, and I like to spread my comments and my clapping to different writers I follow. I will be turned off entirely if writers I follow write every day. And that might explain why readership or earnings plummet for those who post too frequently.
That makes a lot of sense, Henya. There's only so much time for reading, for sure. Good point!
I'm glad it's best not to publish every day! 10 more school days then I'll have time to write again!
Do you keep a notebook for ideas so you can jot them down when you're not at the computer? Just curious. That's what I do. Course, reading my own handwriting is the tricky part of that.
When I was learning how to write, I had a magnificent ring binder with ideas, pictures, conversations, bits and pieces artfully arranged on the pages. It consumed writing time. I used a single idea from that collection and wrote my best novel from it.
Since then, I've used Stephen King's method of collecting ideas. The ones that rattle around in my mind long enough to spawn a plot I keep. The others weren't strong enough.
I resurrected my Medium account a week ago so I could write about some of my high school students. But I haven't even opened Medium. Exhaustion consumes me by 4v00 every day when my last class leaves. No solid ideas since I took over for the new mother on March 28. 9 and a half days left on this "long-term subbing." Then I'll sleep.
Still no request from the new publisher to read the test of my book.
Writing for Medium and Substack will get me started writing again, I hope. I crave time without pressure to deal with surly girls and boys who are determined to destroy my authority as a teacher. I should write about that.
I've never had more than 3 ideas for my novels. I guess I need only 2. The WIP and the next one.
Hugs,
Linda
What grade are you subbing?
Sophomores mostly. A few Juniors
Ah, that's a whole different animal. They're not trying to destroy your authority, though it feels like it. Just transitioning from children to young adults. It's a hard stage. In two years the world will expect them to vote and pay bills. There has to be some kind of transition. Many years ago, I taught art to 14 years olds. I still remember. lol.
100 students. 90 of them are wonderful.
I don't write enough to know that. My goat was to write 4 articles a month on medium to build a writing practice and develop an audience. I see the quality problem, but it's more to do with guidelines and English not being a writer's first language. The insight is there. I block writers whose style is to cuss. They aren't writing about what's really bothering them. I won't read padded articles--I prefer to see the links articles at the end. That is sharing of the best kind
You make an interesting point. When English isn't someone's first language, I don't see that as a quality issue, either. If they have a point to make or a story to tell, it comes through, at least I think. People who struggle with English know more languages that I do. Can't fault them that! But perhaps some do.
I honestly don't think it's wise to publish every day. I doubt it's medium that's putting the skids on readers, it's the readers themselves. I can't think of a single person whose work I'd want to read every single day, and if I were bombarded in that way I'd bow out.
Just no!
There are no journalists who publish every day. None. No reporters and no columnists that I know of. It just isn't done, for obvious reasons--it's overkill. So why would anyone think it's a good idea to send new stuff out every day? I don't know, but I do know it's something unique to Medium. At some point the word got out that that's how you make money here and suddenly hordes of writers were trying it.
It's a terrible idea and if it works for some, it won't work forever. For those who lament their lack of success even though they're publishing every day--please just stop. Do your best work. Take your time. Send it out when it's done and not a minute before. The world will wait for you.
Based on my experience as an editor, I'm not sure everyone even knows when it's done. lol. Sorry. But seriously, sometimes it still needs a lot of work and they don't realize what or why. I suspect the write every day thing came from people who target new writers and provide them with new tips daily. Maybe I'm just cynical. lol Well said, Ramona.
Maybe I should rephrase that to 'only write when you have something to say, but take the time to say it well.' 🤔
It's painful to see writers in such distress over quantity when the secret to success has always been quality.
I doubt it. people read who they want to read. Even you, one of my favorite writers, I don't read all of your posts. If an author doesn't entertain me or tell me something new, I just change the channel.
I suspect we all do that, I suspect. I know I do, too.
Interesting, Linda. It might be Medium. I'd not thought of that. 94% of my readers are not on Medium, so fro me it's just a place to have fun.
Oh that's great to hear! Where are most of your readers, if you don't mind me asking?
Oops, Thank you for the information, Linda.
I'm not a daily producer there- I only publish when I think I have something of good quality to share. People like you set the bar really high for me all the time.
Aww, David. Thank you. What a nice thing to say. :)
If an author I like updates daily, I fall behind because I simply don't have the energy to keep up! I like your newsletters because they come at the right intervals. I recently signed up for a writing blog's newsletter and discovered they email me every single day, so I'm considering unsubscribing even though I haven't opened a single post yet.
An unrelated question: would posting a novel, chapter at a time, be too outside The Book Cafe? I realize there are other Medium publications, but I'd prefer this one. Too far afield?
Hey William. Sorry but yes, I think that would be pretty far outside the scope. I'd prefer to keep it for book reviews as opposed to publishing a book in the pub.
Honestly, you'd be best to create a publication of your own for it. Because when people click to read one chapter, they'll see all the others listed underneath instead of publication posts.
Yeah, I know. For the record, I did read the rules... grumble, grumble.
The grumble made me laugh. Sorry. lol
I try to pace how often I publish on Medium because I figure my readers are having the same problem I am - keeping up! I want to support my fellow writers/poets, but OMG I feel like Sisyphus! SO many words to read - what a climb!