Nobody likes rejection and waiting makes it even harder. I stopped trying to get accepted into publications because I’d sometimes wait weeks just to be told no. Of course, self-publishing severely limits my ability to reach a wider audience, so attempting to avoid pain ends up causing more.
I’m currently going through an ego battering due to my acceptance of an understudy role in a play where, during the nine-show run, I get to play the principal role once. In the other performances, I have a bit part. Once that’s over, I’ll feel stronger about putting myself out there with my writing. In the meantime, there are a couple of pubs where I’m welcome whatever I submit. I’ll stick to them for now. Call it self-care.
I hear you on self care. And how exciting with the role, I hope you have a blast. Incidentally, watch for some notes from me on your History of Women submission. Notifications have been broken and work has been insane, but you've got a real solid start there. Just want to add some suggestions based on what I see working for the readers there. Just wanted you to know so you don't wonder :)
I find that whether a story gets Boosted or not, if you write with the hope of getting a Boost, the work ends up being better. If I submit something with the thought, "Gosh... that feels Boostworthy" then the story tends to perform well even without a Boost. It's also very fun to write for specific editors, even if I don't always hit exactly what they're looking for. I enjoy trying to figure out ways to come at their preferred themes from a different angle. It's all part of the gentle direction that helps the creative process... a "necessity is the mother of invention" type of thing. Writing is often a weird juxtaposition of playing it safe and taking risks. Many writers I talk to just aren't listening to the advice about submitting to the right publication, but a few more seem to understand every day. Thanks for writing!
A few good point there. For sure we should always write striving for boost quality. It's not so much about boost as it is about quality, you know? And so agree with the juggle of taking risks as a writer. And you're so right that many writers don't stop to ask which is the best publication for any given piece. They publish where they are comfortable. Funny thing about that is most growth happens outside our comfort zone. :)
Publications used to be a place to explore a collection of stories organized around a theme with a bit of editorial oversight. I think it's unfortunate that Medium publications/editors have become the 'judge and jury" and intermediaries between writers and a wider readership (boost). After a career that involved submitting articles to peer reviewed journals and their exacting editors, I am enjoying the freedom of publishing what and how I want on Medium and Substack. Good thing I'm not looking for a wider readership than the loyal fans I've managed to attract along the way!
Publications still are a place to explore a collection of stories organized around a theme. I am an editor on 4 different publications and I promise you I don't feel like a judge and jury at all nor do I look at my writers that way. But. It does make me look to see which writers stand out because of the effort they put in, and do my best to be sure that's recognized. Overall, I think it improves the quality of writing in the publication, too.
I read the numbers and draw a different conclusion
1.4 million stories published
— 55% in the Pubs, 45% in the wild
— 72% of Boosts came from Pub editors
Here's what that says to me. Just over half of submissions (55%) were in publications. But 72% of boosted posts are in publications. Tells me there's more reads happening in publications than pieces published in the wild (ie no pub)
I am new to all this online writing world and genuinely curious about the statement "I think it's unfortunate that Medium publications/editors have become the 'judge and jury" and intermediaries between writers and a wider readership (boost)".
Are you suggesting that without publications and editors writers would be read more widely?
I got boosted for a story, but I outdid myself. Most of my writing simply doesn't fit the bill, sounding more like lectures than something from the heart. What I love about your writing is how it's dragged from inside your core. Thanks for this piece, and I'm looking forward to your lessons.
You made me laugh Tom. I feel things to the bone, guess that shows. I think you could get boosted more often, but depends if you care about that or not. :)
It was a nice ego stroke, and we all need those once in a while. I would like to improve my writing to the point where boosters think it is worthy. I'm currently working toward that goal, but I still sound like a teacher.
None of my boosted stories are in publications. Most of my pieces are self-published, so that makes sense. But there were a few cases in which I used pubs and tried extra hard with the stories, hoping for a boost, but I wasn't successful. Perhaps the stories were lacking, or maybe the odds were against me.
That actually makes me happy to hear Alan. It's good to know they are indeed finding stories outside of publications. I don't know what topic(s) you write on so I can't comment on why you didn't get boosted inside pubs. But if you're getting boosted outside them, you're obviously doing something right! lol
Thanks Linda! I appreciate your insider insights. I've been boosted 20 times. I think that's a good sign I'm not a shit writer. Getting boosted in recent months has seemed more challenging, or perhaps, my quality has decreased. A few editors who loved my writing moved on, and I'm batting zero now in those publications. It would probably be a good idea to try a few new publications. Thanks for emphasizing the importance of a good "fit" with a publication.
Sandra, that's awesome. 20 boosts is a good sign indeed. And yeah, if you're striking out on the pubs that used to work for you, might not hurt to poke around and see what else you can find.
I don't think many publications I write for participate in the boost program. How do I find the publications that participate in the Boost program?
That might be a start for me because I haven't written to have my articles boosted. Since I found out that independently published articles can get boosted, I usually independently publish articles and hope someone on Medium finds them.
Hey Don, it's linked in #1, but here you go. I think your odds go way up if you write for pubs that are in the program. Because otherwise you're a needle in a very big haystack. fyi, the link says 60 publications but the list is over 100 now.
Technically you can. All they need to do is edit the url and set up a 301 redirect from the old url to the new. Bet tech support could do that for you in 5 mins flat.
It can be a little intimidating, for sure. But I think the best way around that is to look at the /latest on the publication. Find the strong writers. They are a guide to what's doing well in that publication. I am an editor on 4 publications and when I find a writer who can write as strongly as my top writers, I can't say yes come on it fast enough. :)
lol. I know it wasn't. But I just got the notification that my story was published. TWO days ago. And heck, I know tech glitches happen. I work in tech. But wanted to make sure you saw and not wait 10-40 hours before you did. lmao
I’m curious, do you nominate to the same curator each time? Im wondering if the relationship built between a writer and publication/editor is reflected in how the nominator and curator work together. Seems like these are relationships of trust.
Oh wouldn't that be nice to build a relationship with a curator?! But alas, no. We use a form to send in nominations and have no idea which curator picks it up. And they don't sign their names, all responses are from "the curation team"
Great points all around, Linda. I once heard someone say that people are online for two reasons; to be educated and/or to be entertained, and that's become my north star. if a writer can answer "yes" to one of those, they're on the right path. Answer both? You've upped your odds of being Boosted significantly.
The other thing I tell writers is to imagine that Medium is a print magazine. Would your story make the cover? If you saw it on the stand, would you stop and read it? Would you buy it? Would you tell someone else about it? if a writer is looking to be Boosted, this is the mindset they should have. It's never about bending to the algorithm or currying favor with an editor; good work will always rise to the top.
I've been writing on Medium since 2015. It's never been about money. I guess I have it easy because I have enough money to live a modest lifestyle so I can write what I want to write when I want to write it.
Back when it was "curation." I used to get curated from time to time. It made a difference but not a huge one. The main delight about it was the recognition. What came later, "distribution," was pretty much useless. I was always being "distributed" but it made no perceptible difference in terms of readership or $.
Boosting seems very much different. One of my recent stories on MuddyUm, where I am also an editor, got boosted and I have to admit, it's the bomb.
But I won't to try to imitate other people's writing just to get boosted. Many of the boosted stories I've read leave me cold. When it was curation the stories I was happiest with tended to be the ones that got curated, so I'll continue as I have been.
Am I right that being boosted is a rarer beast than being curated? I was over the moon the first time a story of mine got curated. Then it was months until my next curation, then it gradually became more frequent. Maybe it was shaping my writing behavior.
Nice article and I have no idea if I have ever been boosted or not and I have had several articles that have done really well for me, thousands of views and decent (but not great) money.
It sounds like you are saying to get boosted you need to get an article into a publication, I did not now that, Thank ye on that :)
Cool, thank you Kevin, I did not know that which means I have not been boosted, though I have had several good articles with a lot of traction. Thank you kindly :)
Nobody likes rejection and waiting makes it even harder. I stopped trying to get accepted into publications because I’d sometimes wait weeks just to be told no. Of course, self-publishing severely limits my ability to reach a wider audience, so attempting to avoid pain ends up causing more.
I’m currently going through an ego battering due to my acceptance of an understudy role in a play where, during the nine-show run, I get to play the principal role once. In the other performances, I have a bit part. Once that’s over, I’ll feel stronger about putting myself out there with my writing. In the meantime, there are a couple of pubs where I’m welcome whatever I submit. I’ll stick to them for now. Call it self-care.
I hear you on self care. And how exciting with the role, I hope you have a blast. Incidentally, watch for some notes from me on your History of Women submission. Notifications have been broken and work has been insane, but you've got a real solid start there. Just want to add some suggestions based on what I see working for the readers there. Just wanted you to know so you don't wonder :)
I find that whether a story gets Boosted or not, if you write with the hope of getting a Boost, the work ends up being better. If I submit something with the thought, "Gosh... that feels Boostworthy" then the story tends to perform well even without a Boost. It's also very fun to write for specific editors, even if I don't always hit exactly what they're looking for. I enjoy trying to figure out ways to come at their preferred themes from a different angle. It's all part of the gentle direction that helps the creative process... a "necessity is the mother of invention" type of thing. Writing is often a weird juxtaposition of playing it safe and taking risks. Many writers I talk to just aren't listening to the advice about submitting to the right publication, but a few more seem to understand every day. Thanks for writing!
A few good point there. For sure we should always write striving for boost quality. It's not so much about boost as it is about quality, you know? And so agree with the juggle of taking risks as a writer. And you're so right that many writers don't stop to ask which is the best publication for any given piece. They publish where they are comfortable. Funny thing about that is most growth happens outside our comfort zone. :)
I agree with you, Walter. Writing for the boost will keep you focused on creating good, clean stories.
Publications used to be a place to explore a collection of stories organized around a theme with a bit of editorial oversight. I think it's unfortunate that Medium publications/editors have become the 'judge and jury" and intermediaries between writers and a wider readership (boost). After a career that involved submitting articles to peer reviewed journals and their exacting editors, I am enjoying the freedom of publishing what and how I want on Medium and Substack. Good thing I'm not looking for a wider readership than the loyal fans I've managed to attract along the way!
Publications still are a place to explore a collection of stories organized around a theme. I am an editor on 4 different publications and I promise you I don't feel like a judge and jury at all nor do I look at my writers that way. But. It does make me look to see which writers stand out because of the effort they put in, and do my best to be sure that's recognized. Overall, I think it improves the quality of writing in the publication, too.
Here’s an interesting thing though, from the Medium newsletter, only 32% of reads are in pubs.
Here a note I wrote: https://substack.com/@bethriunguwrites/note/c-57094685?r=2uockh&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action:
I read the numbers and draw a different conclusion
1.4 million stories published
— 55% in the Pubs, 45% in the wild
— 72% of Boosts came from Pub editors
Here's what that says to me. Just over half of submissions (55%) were in publications. But 72% of boosted posts are in publications. Tells me there's more reads happening in publications than pieces published in the wild (ie no pub)
I am new to all this online writing world and genuinely curious about the statement "I think it's unfortunate that Medium publications/editors have become the 'judge and jury" and intermediaries between writers and a wider readership (boost)".
Are you suggesting that without publications and editors writers would be read more widely?
I got boosted for a story, but I outdid myself. Most of my writing simply doesn't fit the bill, sounding more like lectures than something from the heart. What I love about your writing is how it's dragged from inside your core. Thanks for this piece, and I'm looking forward to your lessons.
You made me laugh Tom. I feel things to the bone, guess that shows. I think you could get boosted more often, but depends if you care about that or not. :)
It was a nice ego stroke, and we all need those once in a while. I would like to improve my writing to the point where boosters think it is worthy. I'm currently working toward that goal, but I still sound like a teacher.
None of my boosted stories are in publications. Most of my pieces are self-published, so that makes sense. But there were a few cases in which I used pubs and tried extra hard with the stories, hoping for a boost, but I wasn't successful. Perhaps the stories were lacking, or maybe the odds were against me.
That actually makes me happy to hear Alan. It's good to know they are indeed finding stories outside of publications. I don't know what topic(s) you write on so I can't comment on why you didn't get boosted inside pubs. But if you're getting boosted outside them, you're obviously doing something right! lol
Thanks Linda! I appreciate your insider insights. I've been boosted 20 times. I think that's a good sign I'm not a shit writer. Getting boosted in recent months has seemed more challenging, or perhaps, my quality has decreased. A few editors who loved my writing moved on, and I'm batting zero now in those publications. It would probably be a good idea to try a few new publications. Thanks for emphasizing the importance of a good "fit" with a publication.
Sandra, that's awesome. 20 boosts is a good sign indeed. And yeah, if you're striking out on the pubs that used to work for you, might not hurt to poke around and see what else you can find.
Thanks for your reply, Linda. I think you're right, it's time to poke around!
Sandra, Namaste Now!, owned by Vidya Sury, is a great new pub, and we are keeping an eye on high-quality essays there. You might give it a try!
Thanks, Debra!
I don't think many publications I write for participate in the boost program. How do I find the publications that participate in the Boost program?
That might be a start for me because I haven't written to have my articles boosted. Since I found out that independently published articles can get boosted, I usually independently publish articles and hope someone on Medium finds them.
Hey Don, it's linked in #1, but here you go. I think your odds go way up if you write for pubs that are in the program. Because otherwise you're a needle in a very big haystack. fyi, the link says 60 publications but the list is over 100 now.
https://blog.medium.com/meet-60-publishers-in-the-boost-nomination-pilot-bb4923442864
I wish I could change that URL!
Technically you can. All they need to do is edit the url and set up a 301 redirect from the old url to the new. Bet tech support could do that for you in 5 mins flat.
Oh look I learned something today: https://blog.medium.com/nominating-pubs-bb4923442864
God I adore you. Lmao. Good show. I'll use that one now when I share
Very good points to keep in mind! I think one of the first hurdles to overcome is getting accepted at a publication that is a good fit for your posts.
It can be a little intimidating, for sure. But I think the best way around that is to look at the /latest on the publication. Find the strong writers. They are a guide to what's doing well in that publication. I am an editor on 4 publications and when I find a writer who can write as strongly as my top writers, I can't say yes come on it fast enough. :)
I like it when you don't mince words. The message becomes clear and actionable. I'm looking forward to the next lesson. Thanks!
lol Kathryn. I loved that you said that. I figure if I don't mince words it leaves less room to misinterpret. :)
I'm a new subscriber. Glad to be here!
Hi Kirsten. Nice to meet you and glad to have you join us. I'm glad you popped in to say hi, too. We're a real friendly bunch here. :)
My comment wasn’t intended as a hint but I’m sure grateful for the heads up. Thanks 😊
lol. I know it wasn't. But I just got the notification that my story was published. TWO days ago. And heck, I know tech glitches happen. I work in tech. But wanted to make sure you saw and not wait 10-40 hours before you did. lmao
I appreciate it. I know how busy you are.
Can you please tell my clients that. They keep adding to the list. lmao
Such an interesting read—thanks as always!
I’m curious, do you nominate to the same curator each time? Im wondering if the relationship built between a writer and publication/editor is reflected in how the nominator and curator work together. Seems like these are relationships of trust.
Oh wouldn't that be nice to build a relationship with a curator?! But alas, no. We use a form to send in nominations and have no idea which curator picks it up. And they don't sign their names, all responses are from "the curation team"
Great points all around, Linda. I once heard someone say that people are online for two reasons; to be educated and/or to be entertained, and that's become my north star. if a writer can answer "yes" to one of those, they're on the right path. Answer both? You've upped your odds of being Boosted significantly.
The other thing I tell writers is to imagine that Medium is a print magazine. Would your story make the cover? If you saw it on the stand, would you stop and read it? Would you buy it? Would you tell someone else about it? if a writer is looking to be Boosted, this is the mindset they should have. It's never about bending to the algorithm or currying favor with an editor; good work will always rise to the top.
I've been writing on Medium since 2015. It's never been about money. I guess I have it easy because I have enough money to live a modest lifestyle so I can write what I want to write when I want to write it.
Back when it was "curation." I used to get curated from time to time. It made a difference but not a huge one. The main delight about it was the recognition. What came later, "distribution," was pretty much useless. I was always being "distributed" but it made no perceptible difference in terms of readership or $.
Boosting seems very much different. One of my recent stories on MuddyUm, where I am also an editor, got boosted and I have to admit, it's the bomb.
But I won't to try to imitate other people's writing just to get boosted. Many of the boosted stories I've read leave me cold. When it was curation the stories I was happiest with tended to be the ones that got curated, so I'll continue as I have been.
Am I right that being boosted is a rarer beast than being curated? I was over the moon the first time a story of mine got curated. Then it was months until my next curation, then it gradually became more frequent. Maybe it was shaping my writing behavior.
Nice article and I have no idea if I have ever been boosted or not and I have had several articles that have done really well for me, thousands of views and decent (but not great) money.
It sounds like you are saying to get boosted you need to get an article into a publication, I did not now that, Thank ye on that :)
If one of your articles has been selected for Boost, you should receive an email. Boosted stories also have a little arrow icon next to their stats.
Cool, thank you Kevin, I did not know that which means I have not been boosted, though I have had several good articles with a lot of traction. Thank you kindly :)
You can self publish and be boosted in my experience.
Your thoughts and coaching about Medium for writers is ALWAYS worthwhile -- never mince those hard-truth words, please, Linda!