I wish I could "like" this more, Linda. You are 100% correct to be sceptical.
I've posted on a couple of those posts about payments for publications and it feels like I'm the Grinch for mentioning these points about how the money HAS to come from the writer payment pot. Where else do people think the money is coming from??
I predict we will now see a huge surge in new publications (when there are actually plenty already) all fighting for the same posts like sharks around chum. Meanwhile, the big publications (the CEO actually owns THREE of the Top 10, by the way) hoover up most of the money, and ordinary writers see less earnings than they do now.
Yup. I agree with your prediction Paul. I haven't commented on any of those posts for the exact same reason. It feels like being the grinch, but where do people THINK the money is going to come from? Back a couple of years ago, Ev had done an interview with verge. He spilled all the wrong things Medium had done and where their traffic actually came from. It was hugely enlightening. Not that anyone is paying attention.
A month or so ago - I now wished I'd saved it- a post on issue of Medium changes, declared that going ahead, emphasis would be on "good writers" and better pay to writers. I did a hmmmmm on that one. That would seem to go with more publications and curating, wouldn't it?
Tis wise, to spread out to other platforms perhaps?
I'm not sure good writing is necessarily tied to publications. Lots of great writers don't care about publications. Either way, I agree, time to diversify.
I closed my publication, Indelible Ink, a year or so ago, with no regrets. I loved editing that pub, seeking out only quality work, and I appreciated every single writer who chose to post there, but as publication numbers grew my numbers dwindled. I recognized that unless I was one of the big ones there was no advantage for writers to post under my banner. They were better off on their own.
I can't imagine the chaos that would ensue from promising to pay every pub owner. It makes no real sense as a marketing tool and will only make earnings harder for individual writers. I hope he thinks it through and takes the advice you and others are giving him.
I should add that I rarely post on Medium anymore, mainly because the changes are dizzying and almost never to my advantage. I'm at Substack now and loving it.
I just checked out your publication. So great to know you're here too, Ramona. I've read that with most Substack pubs offering both paid and free, usually around 10% go paid. Do you find the same? I've considered offering a paid option, but I sometimes wonder if I should get more specific about what I write first. Seems to me the paid pubs on Substack that do well tend to be really niche focused and not as rambly as mine.
I'm constantly surprised whenever I get a paid subscription, since all I offer them is my undying gratitude. My paids aren't anywhere near 10% yet, but I consider all of them perks. There are fewer monthlies than I would have thought. Most are annual, and I have one Founder! I have two Substacks, both with around 200 subscribers and with a handful of paids.
My posts on Constant Commoner are all over the place, so don't have a niche, either, but I want it that way. I try to stick to writing and creativity on Writer Everlasting, and, for the most part, I get more comments there than on the other. But they're usually from the same few loyal followers, so I know my reach doesn't go far.
Right? I've seen a lot of people make comments about Medium flattening the curve. As in, they are paying out more, but it's spread across more writers. I have no idea if that's true, but it would make some bizarre sort of sense. But it's like I said in a previous piece -- it's a totally different story to make $100 if you've only ever made $20 before, and to make $100 when you used to make $1000. Maybe they just want fresh blood. I have no idea.
it's been a while since I "appeared" in the online writing space. Wow so much has happened and still happening. LOL.
About Medium changes and paying publications, yes I agree, you pretty much nailed the crux of the entire situation so succinctly.
If Medium new CEO and team does not realize what made Medium wildly successful during the haydays, then all these tricks they are rolling out are just wasting time, resources and more hope-crushing on writers, like myself. Unless it's writers who are writing about finance and how-to-make-more-money-on-XYZ.
I am so glad you kept substack, nothing beats having your personal list.
You are so right about the hope crushing. I cringe to think how bad the pay will get once more of it is going to editors. Time for a lot of writers to find a new direction, I think. And it's sad.
lol, Katharine that first sentence was priceless. Thank you. You know, I tell people I work in design and marketing, but the key to that is seeing what's happening under the surface. Always feels good to be able to help others see. And you're so right. Some will be happy, others not so much.
You are 100% correct when you point out that the money is going to come out of writer’s money pool (however THAT is decided, since the rules are fluid on Medium platform).
Perhaps they’ll be introducing advertising with tiers of membership with or w/o it. You would pay more If you don’t want to see advertisements? Just a wild guess on my part.
I’m not excited to read this news, even though I am one of two editors on a very small pub: Dog Tales. Money doesn’t motivate me as it did even 20 years ago.
I know I am blessed and in a good place, financially. I also know that many are not (as I live in a major city with THE highest poverty rate @26 percent).
They've always said they aren't going to do advertising, and of course they could change their minds but to me it just seems like the obvious place for editor pay to come from is writer pay. I'm glad you're in a good financial place, but at the same time I know that half of America isn't. Maybe they'll eventually learn that good writers leave when they don't get paid well. More likely it will become a place for people to shill their businesses even more because that's the only way to make a decent income from the place. That would be sad, but probably inevitable.
If I had to guess, editor pay will be in the form of a “cut” from a story’s earnings. I can’t imagine how else to make it equitable- or even manageable.
That’s all well and good, but I’m curious what some of the 2nd order effects will be. Will everyone just form their own pub? Will this mean the (re) rise of gatekeepers at some of the old guard pubs? Will the “well lit” pub flood the zone with even more sh*t? Who knows?
Right? Good question. Also makes me wonder if it will backfire and have people just publish in the wild more. Because when the details come out, if they say editors get a cut of the stories they publish, I will go back to my own publications entirely.
This is interesting, but the question is: will all the editors be paid the same wage?
I run a one-man operation on Medium. Is my worth as an editor equal to the battalion of editors at ILLUMINATION, or not?
It would be nice to earn extra money, but, as you say, we have to think about where it may come from.
In any event, I'm going to paraphrase The Staple Singers: when will we (all of us writers and editors at Medium) be paid (justly and fairly) for the work we have done?
Right? Same, David. My little pubs sure aren't going to earn what the big ones do. As for the last paragraph, I guess we'll finally get paid when we build something that lets us earn what we're worth. I'm beginning to think no corporation is going to do that for us.
I also felt very suspicious when I read about editors will now be paid. Which editors? Those of the top 10-20 publications that Medium itself sponsors in some way? Been there, done that, haven't we? As you point out, the money has to come from somewhere, and I can barely even imagine a way that an editor of any publication that doesn't have a huge readership is going to get paid by Medium. I wish that was my lack of imagination, but fear that is not the case.
Right? There's no way all editors will get paid the same and it makes most sense to favor the big ones. So yeah, been there, done that. And the money has to come from somewhere. The only question will be how they dole out the pay. By followers? Or by reads?
Exactly my thoughts about Editors of Publications being paid. What if your publication has only your own stories? Are you the "Editor" of those stories?
Not enough facts yet to understand this "hopeful" announcement.
Right? Exactly. Seems to me that volume has to factor in. Because if an "editor" with a small number of writers or just their own stories got paid the same as the editor of a big publication, there would be even more bitching. So it seems to me volume is going to be the win, and that doesn't favor quality like Tony seems to think it will.
wow, did these words strike me: Might be time for writers to start seeing Medium as just one more place to build our own audience instead of seeing Medium as our audience. Because my followers there aren’t even my followers. They’re Medium’s. Same applies to you.
Right, Jen? The distinction is a smack upside the head. At least it was for me. Doesn't matter how many people went to my profile and click follow if Medium chooses not to show them my writing.
I’m not optimistic at all. Recently, Content VP Scott Lamb posted a telling remark: “We’d love to know your thoughts — we’ve invited the Medium community to share their thinking over on our company blog. Would be curious to hear from members as well, so leave a comment there or reply to this email, and help us shape our path forward.”
As a member and contributor on Medium, I foolishly assumed I was a member of the Medium community, but Scott considers me an afterthought. In his mind, members aren’t all that important. If your not on the payroll, you’re just another sucker playing at being a writer to them.
Tony’s thoughts on publications and editors indicate to me that he has no idea how Medium should work. If he doesn’t know a good story when he sees it, what the hell is he doing heading up a publishing platform?
I'm not optimistic either. Not one bit. I just got an email from Lamb asking for our feedback on whether people should be allowed to post AI written posts on Medium. Except he point out they already are. That makes me so mad, given that AI scrapes the internet for content and then rephrases it to pass plagiarism checkers. It seems to me they don't even know what Medium is. Is it a place for writers? Or not? You know?
And apparently they now allow AI, too. On a writing site. Wtf? I am curious which competitors you think have seized the day. Is there somewhere I don't know about? lol
You've nailed it. It's always 'follow the money'. I agree with Suzanne's comment below. It's exhausting. The big publications will take the money. The owners of the big, brightly lit publications (yes, I get it) are unlikely to pay their volunteer editors a share of what they get either.
From a management point of view, this is a bad idea, that will be complicated to implement and won't benefit writers. It won't even improve the quality of published articles as volume will likely influence how much an editor is paid.
Ah, well, I'm on Medium for the people, the community, not the money. But I'm shifting over here.
The lack of white noise over here can be disconcerting at first. Not having to wade through waves of muck to get to what you actually want to read? Worth every bit of it.
I began reading this in my email, then thought "oh crap, this is good. I should read it on medium so she gets credit" then realized it was on substack. 😁
As a writer, I tend to be more conscientious about "where" I read an article. Is the writer going to get paid in some way?
Publications that churn out articles have become printing mills. Many of them have low standards. It makes sense. Most of the time the publication is in tiny print at the top that many people probably don't see. The publication still gets credit for the reads and follows (which is another part of the algorithm I don't understand. Quantity over quality.
The unending articles of "How to make $500 a day on medium" are pennies per dozen while well thought out articles and stories get covered in the muck and mire.
I wish I could "like" this more, Linda. You are 100% correct to be sceptical.
I've posted on a couple of those posts about payments for publications and it feels like I'm the Grinch for mentioning these points about how the money HAS to come from the writer payment pot. Where else do people think the money is coming from??
I predict we will now see a huge surge in new publications (when there are actually plenty already) all fighting for the same posts like sharks around chum. Meanwhile, the big publications (the CEO actually owns THREE of the Top 10, by the way) hoover up most of the money, and ordinary writers see less earnings than they do now.
It's actually pretty tragic to see...
Yup. I agree with your prediction Paul. I haven't commented on any of those posts for the exact same reason. It feels like being the grinch, but where do people THINK the money is going to come from? Back a couple of years ago, Ev had done an interview with verge. He spilled all the wrong things Medium had done and where their traffic actually came from. It was hugely enlightening. Not that anyone is paying attention.
A month or so ago - I now wished I'd saved it- a post on issue of Medium changes, declared that going ahead, emphasis would be on "good writers" and better pay to writers. I did a hmmmmm on that one. That would seem to go with more publications and curating, wouldn't it?
Tis wise, to spread out to other platforms perhaps?
I'm not sure good writing is necessarily tied to publications. Lots of great writers don't care about publications. Either way, I agree, time to diversify.
I closed my publication, Indelible Ink, a year or so ago, with no regrets. I loved editing that pub, seeking out only quality work, and I appreciated every single writer who chose to post there, but as publication numbers grew my numbers dwindled. I recognized that unless I was one of the big ones there was no advantage for writers to post under my banner. They were better off on their own.
I can't imagine the chaos that would ensue from promising to pay every pub owner. It makes no real sense as a marketing tool and will only make earnings harder for individual writers. I hope he thinks it through and takes the advice you and others are giving him.
I should add that I rarely post on Medium anymore, mainly because the changes are dizzying and almost never to my advantage. I'm at Substack now and loving it.
I just checked out your publication. So great to know you're here too, Ramona. I've read that with most Substack pubs offering both paid and free, usually around 10% go paid. Do you find the same? I've considered offering a paid option, but I sometimes wonder if I should get more specific about what I write first. Seems to me the paid pubs on Substack that do well tend to be really niche focused and not as rambly as mine.
I'm constantly surprised whenever I get a paid subscription, since all I offer them is my undying gratitude. My paids aren't anywhere near 10% yet, but I consider all of them perks. There are fewer monthlies than I would have thought. Most are annual, and I have one Founder! I have two Substacks, both with around 200 subscribers and with a handful of paids.
My posts on Constant Commoner are all over the place, so don't have a niche, either, but I want it that way. I try to stick to writing and creativity on Writer Everlasting, and, for the most part, I get more comments there than on the other. But they're usually from the same few loyal followers, so I know my reach doesn't go far.
lol. You got that one. So funny.
Lol. “Lighted pubs.” Perfect. 😂
Right? lol
What struck me the most from his article is, "Medium revenue is up."
I highlighted it and asked him if revenue is so up, why is writers pay SO down? Is revenue up BECAUSE our pay is down??
Right? I've seen a lot of people make comments about Medium flattening the curve. As in, they are paying out more, but it's spread across more writers. I have no idea if that's true, but it would make some bizarre sort of sense. But it's like I said in a previous piece -- it's a totally different story to make $100 if you've only ever made $20 before, and to make $100 when you used to make $1000. Maybe they just want fresh blood. I have no idea.
Hi Linda,
it's been a while since I "appeared" in the online writing space. Wow so much has happened and still happening. LOL.
About Medium changes and paying publications, yes I agree, you pretty much nailed the crux of the entire situation so succinctly.
If Medium new CEO and team does not realize what made Medium wildly successful during the haydays, then all these tricks they are rolling out are just wasting time, resources and more hope-crushing on writers, like myself. Unless it's writers who are writing about finance and how-to-make-more-money-on-XYZ.
I am so glad you kept substack, nothing beats having your personal list.
You are so right about the hope crushing. I cringe to think how bad the pay will get once more of it is going to editors. Time for a lot of writers to find a new direction, I think. And it's sad.
I keep discovering you are the writer, when I read something good. ha!
Happy-sad news. Someone, somewhere, is always glad. Same for the other.
Thanks for delineating all the hidden things. <3
I'm so bad at all the politics; you've opened my eyes. :)
lol, Katharine that first sentence was priceless. Thank you. You know, I tell people I work in design and marketing, but the key to that is seeing what's happening under the surface. Always feels good to be able to help others see. And you're so right. Some will be happy, others not so much.
You are 100% correct when you point out that the money is going to come out of writer’s money pool (however THAT is decided, since the rules are fluid on Medium platform).
Perhaps they’ll be introducing advertising with tiers of membership with or w/o it. You would pay more If you don’t want to see advertisements? Just a wild guess on my part.
I’m not excited to read this news, even though I am one of two editors on a very small pub: Dog Tales. Money doesn’t motivate me as it did even 20 years ago.
I know I am blessed and in a good place, financially. I also know that many are not (as I live in a major city with THE highest poverty rate @26 percent).
They've always said they aren't going to do advertising, and of course they could change their minds but to me it just seems like the obvious place for editor pay to come from is writer pay. I'm glad you're in a good financial place, but at the same time I know that half of America isn't. Maybe they'll eventually learn that good writers leave when they don't get paid well. More likely it will become a place for people to shill their businesses even more because that's the only way to make a decent income from the place. That would be sad, but probably inevitable.
If I had to guess, editor pay will be in the form of a “cut” from a story’s earnings. I can’t imagine how else to make it equitable- or even manageable.
That’s all well and good, but I’m curious what some of the 2nd order effects will be. Will everyone just form their own pub? Will this mean the (re) rise of gatekeepers at some of the old guard pubs? Will the “well lit” pub flood the zone with even more sh*t? Who knows?
Right? Good question. Also makes me wonder if it will backfire and have people just publish in the wild more. Because when the details come out, if they say editors get a cut of the stories they publish, I will go back to my own publications entirely.
This is interesting, but the question is: will all the editors be paid the same wage?
I run a one-man operation on Medium. Is my worth as an editor equal to the battalion of editors at ILLUMINATION, or not?
It would be nice to earn extra money, but, as you say, we have to think about where it may come from.
In any event, I'm going to paraphrase The Staple Singers: when will we (all of us writers and editors at Medium) be paid (justly and fairly) for the work we have done?
Right? Same, David. My little pubs sure aren't going to earn what the big ones do. As for the last paragraph, I guess we'll finally get paid when we build something that lets us earn what we're worth. I'm beginning to think no corporation is going to do that for us.
I guess writers and content creators are entirely different things. Is AI okay? No. It's cheating and an elaborate form of theft.
Right? I was so mad when I read that email I think I'm going to write about it over the weekend, post it next week.
I also felt very suspicious when I read about editors will now be paid. Which editors? Those of the top 10-20 publications that Medium itself sponsors in some way? Been there, done that, haven't we? As you point out, the money has to come from somewhere, and I can barely even imagine a way that an editor of any publication that doesn't have a huge readership is going to get paid by Medium. I wish that was my lack of imagination, but fear that is not the case.
Right? There's no way all editors will get paid the same and it makes most sense to favor the big ones. So yeah, been there, done that. And the money has to come from somewhere. The only question will be how they dole out the pay. By followers? Or by reads?
Exactly my thoughts about Editors of Publications being paid. What if your publication has only your own stories? Are you the "Editor" of those stories?
Not enough facts yet to understand this "hopeful" announcement.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Hugs
Linda
Right? Exactly. Seems to me that volume has to factor in. Because if an "editor" with a small number of writers or just their own stories got paid the same as the editor of a big publication, there would be even more bitching. So it seems to me volume is going to be the win, and that doesn't favor quality like Tony seems to think it will.
Bottom line? It sounds too good to be true, so that's whait it is.
wow, did these words strike me: Might be time for writers to start seeing Medium as just one more place to build our own audience instead of seeing Medium as our audience. Because my followers there aren’t even my followers. They’re Medium’s. Same applies to you.
Right, Jen? The distinction is a smack upside the head. At least it was for me. Doesn't matter how many people went to my profile and click follow if Medium chooses not to show them my writing.
I’m not optimistic at all. Recently, Content VP Scott Lamb posted a telling remark: “We’d love to know your thoughts — we’ve invited the Medium community to share their thinking over on our company blog. Would be curious to hear from members as well, so leave a comment there or reply to this email, and help us shape our path forward.”
As a member and contributor on Medium, I foolishly assumed I was a member of the Medium community, but Scott considers me an afterthought. In his mind, members aren’t all that important. If your not on the payroll, you’re just another sucker playing at being a writer to them.
Tony’s thoughts on publications and editors indicate to me that he has no idea how Medium should work. If he doesn’t know a good story when he sees it, what the hell is he doing heading up a publishing platform?
I'm not optimistic either. Not one bit. I just got an email from Lamb asking for our feedback on whether people should be allowed to post AI written posts on Medium. Except he point out they already are. That makes me so mad, given that AI scrapes the internet for content and then rephrases it to pass plagiarism checkers. It seems to me they don't even know what Medium is. Is it a place for writers? Or not? You know?
And apparently they now allow AI, too. On a writing site. Wtf? I am curious which competitors you think have seized the day. Is there somewhere I don't know about? lol
Will be really interesting to see what happens with the copilot lawsuit. Your last paragraph about team Human -- wow. Painful, but probably true.
You've nailed it. It's always 'follow the money'. I agree with Suzanne's comment below. It's exhausting. The big publications will take the money. The owners of the big, brightly lit publications (yes, I get it) are unlikely to pay their volunteer editors a share of what they get either.
From a management point of view, this is a bad idea, that will be complicated to implement and won't benefit writers. It won't even improve the quality of published articles as volume will likely influence how much an editor is paid.
Ah, well, I'm on Medium for the people, the community, not the money. But I'm shifting over here.
The lack of white noise over here can be disconcerting at first. Not having to wade through waves of muck to get to what you actually want to read? Worth every bit of it.
I began reading this in my email, then thought "oh crap, this is good. I should read it on medium so she gets credit" then realized it was on substack. 😁
As a writer, I tend to be more conscientious about "where" I read an article. Is the writer going to get paid in some way?
Publications that churn out articles have become printing mills. Many of them have low standards. It makes sense. Most of the time the publication is in tiny print at the top that many people probably don't see. The publication still gets credit for the reads and follows (which is another part of the algorithm I don't understand. Quantity over quality.
The unending articles of "How to make $500 a day on medium" are pennies per dozen while well thought out articles and stories get covered in the muck and mire.