Aug 25, 2023·edited Aug 25, 2023Liked by Linda Caroll
That's pretty generous of you Linda - I wrote one a few weeks back about my experience of having elderly parents who live in a diff country and my concerns regarding their welfare and wellbeing - I think it reflects the difficult questions we have to face as our parents grow older and are unable to care for themselves (from a cultural perspective) - here's the link https://medium.com/p/d7c05b98df45 - pls let me know what you think & thanks!
Hey David! First of all, I just want to come clean that I'm a boost nominator, haha. (For Prism & Pen, so my niche is LGBTQ+). I promised James Finn, my co-editor, not to tell anyone (we started in June), because we didn't want our writers to feel the pressure to write "boostable" stories, or to think their writing is bad because they weren't boosted yet. Since Prism & Pen is a place for queer writers to express themselves freely. Amazing stories get rejected by the curators all the time, too. But a lot of people already guessed that Prism & Pen is part of the boost nomination program, lol. So James decided we can just come out in public now.
Secondly, I have some advice for fiction:
1) I would pick longer stories instead. Rarely does anything under 5 mins get chosen unless it's poetry. You have plenty of great longer stories. :) The Hunter and the Game got boosted, right?
2) Be careful with CTAs. I recommend no more than 2 CTAs max. (This includes links to your other stories and lists, membership referrals, newsletter signup links, etc.). The curators are quite fussy about having limited CTAs.
3) The curators favor stories that pack depth, complexity, and nuance, even for fiction. Your longer fiction stories sound like a great candidate for this. :) Again, The Hunter and the Game checked all the boxes here!
4) You can check out the Medium staff picks for the fiction weekend reads, for examples of what they like! On my Medium profile, I also created a reading list of Boosted, Distributed, or Featured Fiction and Poetry that I know of. https://medium.com/@sieranlane/list/7bbc4c9516d9 So that could give you a better idea of what they're looking for.
Yes, I'm sorry for keeping the secret from you these two months as well, haha. So when I spoke to you and May More about experiences from my nommer friends, well, that is partly true (because I am friends with some of them). But I was mostly talking about my own experiences as a nommer. 😂 Yet I couldn't say so out loud because I promised not to disclose this until now haha.
Aug 25, 2023·edited Aug 25, 2023Liked by Linda Caroll
Hello! I am a new writer ( since May 2023). Please, look at 2 of my stories - I would love any kind of feedback. Thank you so much for your time in advance!
Hi Alexandra -- I love meeting new writers so I'm glad you mentioned that. I will check out your work for sure. Added those 2 to my list, too. Plus a note that you're new so I can say welcome over there. :)
I do like history indeed, but I like any kind of writing as long as it's compelling and not how to fix your whole life and finances in 5 easy steps. lol. Those I do not like. I added your story to my list and will poke around, too. I have 2 history publications so I'll keep you in mind there, too. :)
I’m in love with fostering rescued dogs. I’m their first stop straight out of puppy mills until they are adopted out. Their trauma reminds me of the extra care I’ve also needed and still need in my own life.
I hope they end soon too, but they won't until I fix them. All 65 pages worth. Sigh. lol. I have added your link to my reading list and thanks, Kathy :)
That’s a really cool substack feature! I’ve yet to start my substack (trying to get used to Medium first before I start another platform) but will definitely try it out. Btw I submitted a personal essay to your publication (on reflection). Hope you like it! :)
I can relate -- I waited a bit to start here too. Thanks for the On Reflection submission -- gah, I am so far behind it's terrible. But we are getting some great stories too. Will catch up just as fast as I can!
Thanks, Ash. I love Inspired Writer. It's been a tough summer and haven't written much but I will be back. You should see my drafts. lol. And thanks, will add yours to my list too. You and Kelly have been so welcoming to me and thanks for that. :)
It's been that kind of week or so, it happens. That gift function would be cool if Substack worked for me. For some reason, it doesn't let me add pictures so I fell out of writing here. Support has not been any help on it, and it's gone on for over a year now on multiple accounts and multiple computers. 🤷♀️
I think buy me a coffee does that too, though. You can gift people subscriptions too, which is nice. I think being able to give things away is an important feature, whether in exchange for subscriptions or just for funsies.
Wish I had a story to share, but I haven't read much and my drafts are still being reviewed. But I see some in the comments that interest me, so maybe I'll come back with something after a rabbit hole of reading? Lol
If you find something, do feel welcome to come back with it. And I'll make the same offer again sometime next month. I really enjoy these, it helps me find new writers when I do a share thread. :)
Like i said to Alexandra above, I love meeting new writers and finding new voices. I will check it out for sure and added it to my reading list for the weekend. Thanks Adele!
That's pretty generous of you Linda - I wrote one a few weeks back about my experience of having elderly parents who live in a diff country and my concerns regarding their welfare and wellbeing - I think it reflects the difficult questions we have to face as our parents grow older and are unable to care for themselves (from a cultural perspective) - here's the link https://medium.com/p/d7c05b98df45 - pls let me know what you think & thanks!
Thanks, Yana -- I will do! :)
This story by Bob Merckel. He shares memories of his Grandma, the family matriarch. Emotional with a great life lesson:
https://medium.com/dead-or-alive/a-bloody-good-life-lesson-after-bloody-marys-with-grandma-2bf2aed46f3e
Based on this and all the comments behind it, it's at the top of the list for weekend reading and thank you so much. :)
Bob deserves to have about 300k more readers.
That speaks volumes. :)
Yes!!! He has some amazing stories 🤩
🥳 the boost works!!
Pardon me, Linda, but could you help out a fellow Canadian who's down on his luck?
I hope this qualifies for a boost: https://medium.com/@dkperlmutter/gabbin-with-the-girls-55498a1306e5
I should probably add that referral function here on Substack, even though I had zero luck with the similar thing on Medium.
I will sure go have a read. Thanks David. :)
Hey David! First of all, I just want to come clean that I'm a boost nominator, haha. (For Prism & Pen, so my niche is LGBTQ+). I promised James Finn, my co-editor, not to tell anyone (we started in June), because we didn't want our writers to feel the pressure to write "boostable" stories, or to think their writing is bad because they weren't boosted yet. Since Prism & Pen is a place for queer writers to express themselves freely. Amazing stories get rejected by the curators all the time, too. But a lot of people already guessed that Prism & Pen is part of the boost nomination program, lol. So James decided we can just come out in public now.
Secondly, I have some advice for fiction:
1) I would pick longer stories instead. Rarely does anything under 5 mins get chosen unless it's poetry. You have plenty of great longer stories. :) The Hunter and the Game got boosted, right?
2) Be careful with CTAs. I recommend no more than 2 CTAs max. (This includes links to your other stories and lists, membership referrals, newsletter signup links, etc.). The curators are quite fussy about having limited CTAs.
3) The curators favor stories that pack depth, complexity, and nuance, even for fiction. Your longer fiction stories sound like a great candidate for this. :) Again, The Hunter and the Game checked all the boxes here!
4) You can check out the Medium staff picks for the fiction weekend reads, for examples of what they like! On my Medium profile, I also created a reading list of Boosted, Distributed, or Featured Fiction and Poetry that I know of. https://medium.com/@sieranlane/list/7bbc4c9516d9 So that could give you a better idea of what they're looking for.
Hope that helps and keep up the awesome work! :)
Interesting 👌
Yes, I'm sorry for keeping the secret from you these two months as well, haha. So when I spoke to you and May More about experiences from my nommer friends, well, that is partly true (because I am friends with some of them). But I was mostly talking about my own experiences as a nommer. 😂 Yet I couldn't say so out loud because I promised not to disclose this until now haha.
😆😆
No problem!! Totally understand. And well done, I had no idea 😁
Hahahaha thanks for understanding! So when you said that you didn't know any nommers who weren't public, I thought: "You know me..." 😬 😂
Hahaha nice 😆
I'm reading this now, David. Hugs
Thank you, Jen.
Hello! I am a new writer ( since May 2023). Please, look at 2 of my stories - I would love any kind of feedback. Thank you so much for your time in advance!
https://medium.com/@glowing_ruber_mallard_780/phoenix-burns-to-ashes-bd9ce3cc3413
and
https://medium.com/@glowing_ruber_mallard_780/your-majesty-the-leo-child-of-the-sun-5afc703bc9b9
Hi Alexandra -- I love meeting new writers so I'm glad you mentioned that. I will check out your work for sure. Added those 2 to my list, too. Plus a note that you're new so I can say welcome over there. :)
O! Thank you so much!
Now I am nervous... Lol
I appreciate you letting me know and welcoming! :):):)
I offer one of my own: https://authormichelebardsley.medium.com/bank-of-oklahoma-wouldnt-let-me-take-my-name-off-the-checking-account-without-my-husband-s-bf7b2d744f44 Thank you for your consideration.
Thanks Michele, I added it to my list of weekend reading. :)
What a nice thing to do, dear Linda.
Can it be fiction? This piece by May More is captivating, very well written, and with a great ending. Highly recommend it:
https://medium.com/the-lark/secrets-and-lies-twins-forever-together-20d84bbebf31
It sure can, and I've added it to my weekend reading. Thanks!
I saw Sieran commented that u liked history.
- What about historical fiction with a supernatural element?
Entertaining and even has some references to back up the historic side :-)
https://redemptionmagazine.com/a-fishy-tale-true-love-and-an-ancient-egyptian-ring-bb856ec0295c
I do like history indeed, but I like any kind of writing as long as it's compelling and not how to fix your whole life and finances in 5 easy steps. lol. Those I do not like. I added your story to my list and will poke around, too. I have 2 history publications so I'll keep you in mind there, too. :)
Hope your tech problems end. No fun!
I’m in love with fostering rescued dogs. I’m their first stop straight out of puppy mills until they are adopted out. Their trauma reminds me of the extra care I’ve also needed and still need in my own life.
https://medium.com/@kathyayers/getting-past-the-fear-of-this-new-state-5de8b8fd9f51
I hope they end soon too, but they won't until I fix them. All 65 pages worth. Sigh. lol. I have added your link to my reading list and thanks, Kathy :)
That’s a really cool substack feature! I’ve yet to start my substack (trying to get used to Medium first before I start another platform) but will definitely try it out. Btw I submitted a personal essay to your publication (on reflection). Hope you like it! :)
I can relate -- I waited a bit to start here too. Thanks for the On Reflection submission -- gah, I am so far behind it's terrible. But we are getting some great stories too. Will catch up just as fast as I can!
Shooting my shot with one of my own stories that makes folks think twice about what's on their plate literally and emotionally - https://medium.com/writers-blokke/defending-5-hated-foods-on-dating-apps-90c5282be75f
Thanks, Brett -- added to my reading list! :)
https://medium.com/illumination/in-death-a-belief-in-god-e64ad7222f27
This story is about helping a friend deal with her euthanized pet as well as contemplating the theology about death.
Thanks Philip, loss of a pet is hard for sure. Been there. I will give it a read.
Probably too late for this. Gone all day. :'(
However, here it is: https://medium.com/koinonia/the-long-good-bye-faa3af718a8c
And another that the right people really liked:
https://medium.com/middle-pause/the-beautiful-love-after-your-husbands-prostate-removal-41e80495a626
Oh, it's not too late at all. I'm making a weekend reading list, so you're good. I've added them to my link list. :)
Wow! YAY! <3
Hey Linda- as an editor of Inspired Wrtier I love it when you submit to our small publication.
I'd also like to take up your generous offer and would love you to look at at this one
https://medium.com/publishous/hidden-gem-of-europe-why-i-fell-in-love-with-kosovo-and-its-people-ec20558cb992
Thanks, Ash. I love Inspired Writer. It's been a tough summer and haven't written much but I will be back. You should see my drafts. lol. And thanks, will add yours to my list too. You and Kelly have been so welcoming to me and thanks for that. :)
It's been that kind of week or so, it happens. That gift function would be cool if Substack worked for me. For some reason, it doesn't let me add pictures so I fell out of writing here. Support has not been any help on it, and it's gone on for over a year now on multiple accounts and multiple computers. 🤷♀️
I think buy me a coffee does that too, though. You can gift people subscriptions too, which is nice. I think being able to give things away is an important feature, whether in exchange for subscriptions or just for funsies.
Wish I had a story to share, but I haven't read much and my drafts are still being reviewed. But I see some in the comments that interest me, so maybe I'll come back with something after a rabbit hole of reading? Lol
If you find something, do feel welcome to come back with it. And I'll make the same offer again sometime next month. I really enjoy these, it helps me find new writers when I do a share thread. :)
What a wonderful idea, Linda!
You might be interested in one of my articles. It's about friendship and expectations.
I Know There Are Infinite Number of Places to Begin
https://medium.com/change-your-mind/i-know-there-are-infinite-number-of-places-to-begin-cd522ab6a1e1
Thanks, Henya! Happy to add it to my list of weekend reading. Hope your week was better than mine. lol
This so kind and generous of you Linda. I am a new writer and have never had a boost, and in my recent story I put a lot of heart and soul. I would appreciate even you just reading it: https://adelearbi.medium.com/the-story-they-dont-tell-you-about-the-seasons-of-a-woman-320765510810
Have a lovely weekend and wonderful strategy to spend it with Medium stories, I do that too! :))
Like i said to Alexandra above, I love meeting new writers and finding new voices. I will check it out for sure and added it to my reading list for the weekend. Thanks Adele!
Thank you Linda, much appreciated! Have a lovely weekend :))