Oh man. Running a publication is HARD. I used to try edit, but I don't anymore because there's just not enough time in the day. If a post isn't well crafted or doesn't fit the publication, I just don't publish them. Here's what dawned on me. Some writers take the time to read the guidelines. They write on topic. They edit their own writing and submit well crafted posts. If they can, the others can too.
For me, the hardest publication is On Reflection. Because people submit beautiful personal stories, but they aren't reflections. Those are hard to reject, but I do because if I don't, the meaning of the publication will run away on me. And you're right. Boundaries are the only way to not throw in the towel and just give up.
I think the fact that they're not reading guidelines means they won't bother to read about the fee either. So that would just punish the few they were paying attention in the first place, and she'd still end up with the zombie hoard of "Can you add me?"
To be fair, they gave us the option. There are many editors and publications in the boost program that opted not to have their name or publication posted. And I totally understand the "do what it takes" when money is involved because I'm a single mom and I've been doing what it takes for years. What they don't realize is that "what it takes" is reading submission guides and writing the best damn post possible so that editors can't add them fast enough.
I've had a couple editors spend a huge amount of time helping me improve articles. When that happens, I see if they've written a book and I go and review it. The claps and comments suggestion is a good one too. "My reflections on how to make money online..." I don't know whether to laugh or cry!
What a great idea to review their book if they have one. You'd be stunned at how many people think adding "my reflections on..." makes any post a reflection. lol
I just wanted to say that I love reading everything you write and I appreciate all the love you give to words and the people who create and consume them. Happy Friday 13th. The world is a little less scary with you in it.
I know, right? Some days I can laugh it off. Other days I close email and go for a walk in the woods. Because trees are not so strange as some of us humans. lol
It reminds me of that quote by an old time movie star, maybe Mae West. The more I know about men - change it to humankind - the more I prefer dogs. And trees. :)
You would think, right? I think people who actually love reading and writing do read them. But there are people whose motivations come from a different place. I read that when vocal runs writing challenges, 1/3 of the submissions are off topic and it's clear they didn't read the submission guide. Print magazines get the same thing. lol. It's not just at Medium.
I hear you Linda - some of the pubs have stopped adding new writers because of the amount of writers trying to take advantage of the boost (I mean you can't really blame them) but it is the amount of low quality stuff as well as AI stuff that's making them make tough decisions - oh well - but yea - loved the twist in the title to suit your pub - I mean reflections on making money - lol props for creativity 😂👍
I wish I could explain to those people that the best way to get boosted is to write killer stuff and submit it to the publication that best fits what they wrote. One guy sent a submission and said in the comments that he's submitted it to 5 different publications, so if I want it, chop chop, it's going to the first acceptance. lol. Thanks, but no thanks.
How exhausting! It sounds like a real life horror story, excerpt you’re being haunted by the words, “can you add me?”
It’s crazy how quickly things change when a publication can nominate articles for a boost. I’ve been writing for a fiction publication and usually they post my stories straight away.
However, after becoming a boost nominater, they’ve been getting so many submissions. One of the editors told me that their spots have been filled. I almost thought my story wouldn’t publish this month but thankfully they enjoyed my story a lot that they scheduled it.
I hope the writers who have been writing for publications for a while don’t get knocked out by others.
I think good writers who understand what vibe a publication is going for probably won't have to worry. Because that's another thing. I have some people that submit truly great writing, but it's just not a fit for the publication. That happens a lot. But when a strong writer finds a publication where their work fits, I think the editors will recognize their name pretty quick. :)
I love your writing too, and I have never tried to invade your publications as I don't think my topics are an ideal fit ("A Visit to the Penis Museum"? "Walt Disney Slept Here"? "Rocking Edinburgh Castle"? "The Height of Tom Cruise"?) Nope. I don't think I write right for your pubs.
It’s hard not to come to the conclusion that Medium under Tony has little to no commitment to writers as they cut what we can make and rely on stupid stats like claps. Tony comes from the self-help world so it is unreasonable to expect Medium to cut back on that stuff and it appears they are not. Honestly, I love the platform but that love is not being returned. I really don’t think they have a plan or strategy.
Wow, I commend you for starting a pub and then sharing how hard it is to do what seems obvious, which is to accept good writers who follow the submission guidelines and whose topic fits your mission. I hope somewhere in there, you get to kick up your feet and read cartoons. I mean, everyone needs some downtime where you're not thinking or churning out more work, right?
I love personal essays and find it a breath of fresh air reading the stories on On reflection. There are so many talented submitting and being published there. I highly recommend readers visiting to support those who are there and who knows? They may pick up a writing tip or two.
You reminded me of why I started my publication, FOCUS!, on Medium. I wanted to connect with other writers who were as interested in animation as I was. I found some- enough to keep it going, but it wasn't like I was being buried in submissions every day.
I guess it pays to specialize there more than trying to appeal to the general interest.
I hate it when people tried to jump the queue to get advantages with publication editors like that. You do yourself and the editor no favors that way. Just try to give them what they want and be reasonable in your demands.
Thank God that on Substack it can be just me writing- unless I choose to have a guest writer. And sometimes I do...
Oh man. Running a publication is HARD. I used to try edit, but I don't anymore because there's just not enough time in the day. If a post isn't well crafted or doesn't fit the publication, I just don't publish them. Here's what dawned on me. Some writers take the time to read the guidelines. They write on topic. They edit their own writing and submit well crafted posts. If they can, the others can too.
For me, the hardest publication is On Reflection. Because people submit beautiful personal stories, but they aren't reflections. Those are hard to reject, but I do because if I don't, the meaning of the publication will run away on me. And you're right. Boundaries are the only way to not throw in the towel and just give up.
I think the fact that they're not reading guidelines means they won't bother to read about the fee either. So that would just punish the few they were paying attention in the first place, and she'd still end up with the zombie hoard of "Can you add me?"
To be fair, they gave us the option. There are many editors and publications in the boost program that opted not to have their name or publication posted. And I totally understand the "do what it takes" when money is involved because I'm a single mom and I've been doing what it takes for years. What they don't realize is that "what it takes" is reading submission guides and writing the best damn post possible so that editors can't add them fast enough.
I've had a couple editors spend a huge amount of time helping me improve articles. When that happens, I see if they've written a book and I go and review it. The claps and comments suggestion is a good one too. "My reflections on how to make money online..." I don't know whether to laugh or cry!
What a great idea to review their book if they have one. You'd be stunned at how many people think adding "my reflections on..." makes any post a reflection. lol
I just wanted to say that I love reading everything you write and I appreciate all the love you give to words and the people who create and consume them. Happy Friday 13th. The world is a little less scary with you in it.
What a really truly nice thing to say, Sean. Thank you. Happy Friday the 13th to you, too. :)
Sean, I second your emotions. Thank you.
What Sean said!! I feel every bit of that gratitude, and don't see how I could improve on that wording :-)
Thank you, Jan.
OMG! I feel for you!
People are strange... I work with them one-on-one. I know.
You may send them Rules, talk about rules. Nothing helps...
The only way: My way, or highway...
Kind of rude, I know.... But they can "eat you alive" sometimes.
Boy, did you hit the nail on the head. So true. And thank you.
"My reflections on making money on Medium." Laughing and sighing, sighing, sighing. The hutzpah! My GOD
I know, right? Some days I can laugh it off. Other days I close email and go for a walk in the woods. Because trees are not so strange as some of us humans. lol
It reminds me of that quote by an old time movie star, maybe Mae West. The more I know about men - change it to humankind - the more I prefer dogs. And trees. :)
lol. Me, too.
Trees. The source of paper. They laugh at what gets sacrificed to make pixels to make blogs possible.
Yeah, real deep stuff! Lol
I can’t imagine how exhausting that must be!! You would think that writers, of all people, would read!!
You would think, right? I think people who actually love reading and writing do read them. But there are people whose motivations come from a different place. I read that when vocal runs writing challenges, 1/3 of the submissions are off topic and it's clear they didn't read the submission guide. Print magazines get the same thing. lol. It's not just at Medium.
I hear you Linda - some of the pubs have stopped adding new writers because of the amount of writers trying to take advantage of the boost (I mean you can't really blame them) but it is the amount of low quality stuff as well as AI stuff that's making them make tough decisions - oh well - but yea - loved the twist in the title to suit your pub - I mean reflections on making money - lol props for creativity 😂👍
I wish I could explain to those people that the best way to get boosted is to write killer stuff and submit it to the publication that best fits what they wrote. One guy sent a submission and said in the comments that he's submitted it to 5 different publications, so if I want it, chop chop, it's going to the first acceptance. lol. Thanks, but no thanks.
Ha! Can’t say I’ve ever gotten one of those. Let’s hope it stays that way!
I actually laughed. Sometimes comic relief shows up in funny ways
How exhausting! It sounds like a real life horror story, excerpt you’re being haunted by the words, “can you add me?”
It’s crazy how quickly things change when a publication can nominate articles for a boost. I’ve been writing for a fiction publication and usually they post my stories straight away.
However, after becoming a boost nominater, they’ve been getting so many submissions. One of the editors told me that their spots have been filled. I almost thought my story wouldn’t publish this month but thankfully they enjoyed my story a lot that they scheduled it.
I hope the writers who have been writing for publications for a while don’t get knocked out by others.
I think good writers who understand what vibe a publication is going for probably won't have to worry. Because that's another thing. I have some people that submit truly great writing, but it's just not a fit for the publication. That happens a lot. But when a strong writer finds a publication where their work fits, I think the editors will recognize their name pretty quick. :)
I love everything you write, Linda. This was the perfect day to post this. People are strange, indeed. Trees and nature can be rejuvenating.
They are indeed, Joy. And thank you. :)
I love your writing too, and I have never tried to invade your publications as I don't think my topics are an ideal fit ("A Visit to the Penis Museum"? "Walt Disney Slept Here"? "Rocking Edinburgh Castle"? "The Height of Tom Cruise"?) Nope. I don't think I write right for your pubs.
It’s hard not to come to the conclusion that Medium under Tony has little to no commitment to writers as they cut what we can make and rely on stupid stats like claps. Tony comes from the self-help world so it is unreasonable to expect Medium to cut back on that stuff and it appears they are not. Honestly, I love the platform but that love is not being returned. I really don’t think they have a plan or strategy.
Wow, I commend you for starting a pub and then sharing how hard it is to do what seems obvious, which is to accept good writers who follow the submission guidelines and whose topic fits your mission. I hope somewhere in there, you get to kick up your feet and read cartoons. I mean, everyone needs some downtime where you're not thinking or churning out more work, right?
Can't even imagine how much work this new process is creating for all of you. Thank you for volunteering your time!
I love personal essays and find it a breath of fresh air reading the stories on On reflection. There are so many talented submitting and being published there. I highly recommend readers visiting to support those who are there and who knows? They may pick up a writing tip or two.
You reminded me of why I started my publication, FOCUS!, on Medium. I wanted to connect with other writers who were as interested in animation as I was. I found some- enough to keep it going, but it wasn't like I was being buried in submissions every day.
I guess it pays to specialize there more than trying to appeal to the general interest.
I hate it when people tried to jump the queue to get advantages with publication editors like that. You do yourself and the editor no favors that way. Just try to give them what they want and be reasonable in your demands.
Thank God that on Substack it can be just me writing- unless I choose to have a guest writer. And sometimes I do...