Happy Friday, 22 years ago, two psychologists did an experiment in a California grocery store. You might know it as the jam study. They set up a demo table for shoppers to sample jam flavors. Shoppers could taste as many as they wanted, and got a $1 off coupon.
I like all your stuff, but mostly the articles about writing. The last one about advice from successful writers was great. My favorite of all time, however, didn't have to do with writing or medium. It was the one about the injured butterfly. We now have milkweed in our backyard, thanks to your story.
Please just keep the stories flowing. It helps make my day.
Linda, when I see your name in my inbox I light up. I will read anything you write, whether about history, women, writing, random thoughts, or Medium. While I haven't pulled the publish lever on Medium for a few months, it's still my home. It's where I met you and a dozen other great writers who keep my neurons firing. My fantasy is to win the lottery so I can fly all of you to a private dining room where we can all BS till the roosters drown out our hoarse and fading voices. Until then, your Substack and Medium will have to do. Write whatever most presses on your heart and don't stop critiquing (I was going to say bitching but I'm becoming more sensitive to gender related expletives) Medium. It's just as much belongs to us as writers as it does to the deep pocketed. - more so. BTW, I too would have investigated all the jams and likely purchased more than I could afford.
Me, bitch and complain? Gah, perish the thought. lol. Lambasting might fit, though. And thank you Jeff, what a nice thing to say about reading whatever I write. :)
If I could ask you anything, what would I ask? Gosh, I have no idea.
I enjoy your stories about writer creativity. While I agree with you everything you've ever said about Medium, I think there is less potential for discussion there beyond the commiserating together. I'd love to hear more about writers, websites and marketing, though!
One interesting insight about what does or doesn’t stifle creativity comes from the late, great jazz artist, Don Cherry, who opined that “style” puts a damper on creativity. That if you lean too much on a particular style, depend too much upon it from the outset as you begin your work, you may “produce” but your product will suffer. I’d say stop writing about Medium because the topic is a dead end. That “style” is a lost cause and will ultimately bring your productivity down. Perhaps in much the same way that Medium has brought itself down.
That's an interesting take on style. I tend to watch response rates to guide me on what to write about but might be interesting to throw some new topics on the table and see how they do.
"Ask me anything!?" What a brilliant example of the paradox of choice. Nicely played. :)
I enjoy your mix of topics. A bit of Medium is helpful in a "we're all in this together" kind of way. Plus, I respect your perspective since I appreciate your skills and know you have been on Medium for quite a while.
Unless Elon buys in, fires everybody and makes things worse, Medium isn't going to change much because of your insights and criticisms. It seems to me that when more and more writers decide to leave and tell them why, Medium will have to improve its policies. So maybe putting stories about Medium on hold for a while, unless they do something egregious, might be a good idea. One flavor of jam could get boring.
You're absolutely right -- they sure aren't. Even if all their top writers leave, they still won't improve their policies because they see writers as disposable. Like McDonald's workers. Anyone can flip a burger, right? In the same way, they think there will always be more writers. I don't write what I do because I think they'll change. I write to connect with frustrated writers. In that vein, it does accomplish what I set out to. I have over 20K claps and thousands of reads on the post about the changes they're making. But you're not wrong, because Medium isn't the only thing writers are frustrated with. This actually got me really thinking on topic matter and I have some interesting ideas to chase down, so thank you for that. :)
Your bit about the "Jam Study" was interesting and at least in my case, relevant. If I go to market for, say, laundry soap or perhaps mouthwash the array of choices is overwhelming. Too much time required to decide. All too often a brand you have used in the past has been replaced or dropped so a new choice must be made. My alternative is to make my own products at home. Easy, consistent, effective and immensely less expensive, plus no wasteful packaging. My writing efforts also have more success when I have a specific idea in mind. The result does not always turn out to be where I thought I was going but I have another essay or poem in my kit. Your articles on medium are interesting, informative, and always read. Consider that with the fact that I am not someone that posts work to Medium.
As a software developer making apps for iPhones and iPads, I'm one of many millions. Apps are like raindrops in a monsoon. To make any meaningful money, an app must either have a huge company behind it, or be very narrowly focused. The apps I build are mostly for women, and only about 7% of them. I have no meaningful competition. Am I getting rich? Not even close! But I make enough to live in comfortable retirement, even though a substantial portion of the income goes back to Apple for new toys. Now to your question: When you write about Medium you're not writing for readers. You're writing for other writers. The majority of those writers are also suffering under the new regime, and also writing about it. So you're targeting a smallish audience with intense competition. Worse, those readers who are there to be entertained or enlightened don't care about what's happening to writer income, so they don't read those pieces. I read what you write because you're a damned good writer who makes me think, and because you write about women. That's a subject that so interests me that I've been married to one for 53 years. It's really hard to appeal to everyone, and that's really the point you made with the jam study. Narrowing your focus narrows your audience, but it also brings you the people who are really interested in what you have to say. They are your true fans, who are willing to pay to see what you have to say. Writing for writers who are all struggling to make rent is not a viable audience for paying customers. That's just my opinion, and I'm on old white Boomer, so take it for what it's worth!
I hear you, Jim. My day job is marketing. My clients are multi million dollar corporations, but there's a chunk of my heart that's owned by writers and creatives so I'm working on creating resources for that specific group. That's why I write geared towards writers as opposed to readers. Except for my History of Women pub. That one is an entirely different flavor. :)
Hey Linda! I like reading your stories about Medium because I trust you know what you are talking about. I don't like to go to far down the Medium rabbit hole but it's nice to get a little insight as to why my stats might seem wonky--so I know it's not just me lol. I enjoy all of your articles and as far as I'm concerned you are not overdoing Medium!
I like all your stuff, but mostly the articles about writing. The last one about advice from successful writers was great. My favorite of all time, however, didn't have to do with writing or medium. It was the one about the injured butterfly. We now have milkweed in our backyard, thanks to your story.
Please just keep the stories flowing. It helps make my day.
Omg Tom, that made my day. I'm glad you grow milkweed. Thank you for that. :)
Linda, when I see your name in my inbox I light up. I will read anything you write, whether about history, women, writing, random thoughts, or Medium. While I haven't pulled the publish lever on Medium for a few months, it's still my home. It's where I met you and a dozen other great writers who keep my neurons firing. My fantasy is to win the lottery so I can fly all of you to a private dining room where we can all BS till the roosters drown out our hoarse and fading voices. Until then, your Substack and Medium will have to do. Write whatever most presses on your heart and don't stop critiquing (I was going to say bitching but I'm becoming more sensitive to gender related expletives) Medium. It's just as much belongs to us as writers as it does to the deep pocketed. - more so. BTW, I too would have investigated all the jams and likely purchased more than I could afford.
Me, bitch and complain? Gah, perish the thought. lol. Lambasting might fit, though. And thank you Jeff, what a nice thing to say about reading whatever I write. :)
If I could ask you anything, what would I ask? Gosh, I have no idea.
I enjoy your stories about writer creativity. While I agree with you everything you've ever said about Medium, I think there is less potential for discussion there beyond the commiserating together. I'd love to hear more about writers, websites and marketing, though!
Yes, I agree Carolyn. It's most commiserating at this point. That and venting frustration. Time to expand outwards for sure. :)
One interesting insight about what does or doesn’t stifle creativity comes from the late, great jazz artist, Don Cherry, who opined that “style” puts a damper on creativity. That if you lean too much on a particular style, depend too much upon it from the outset as you begin your work, you may “produce” but your product will suffer. I’d say stop writing about Medium because the topic is a dead end. That “style” is a lost cause and will ultimately bring your productivity down. Perhaps in much the same way that Medium has brought itself down.
That's an interesting take on style. I tend to watch response rates to guide me on what to write about but might be interesting to throw some new topics on the table and see how they do.
Wing it. That's what the jazz greats did. Served them well.
"Ask me anything!?" What a brilliant example of the paradox of choice. Nicely played. :)
I enjoy your mix of topics. A bit of Medium is helpful in a "we're all in this together" kind of way. Plus, I respect your perspective since I appreciate your skills and know you have been on Medium for quite a while.
Thanks, Dakota. I think I'm going to expand a little into some of the other struggles writers have. Guess we'll see how that does. lol
Unless Elon buys in, fires everybody and makes things worse, Medium isn't going to change much because of your insights and criticisms. It seems to me that when more and more writers decide to leave and tell them why, Medium will have to improve its policies. So maybe putting stories about Medium on hold for a while, unless they do something egregious, might be a good idea. One flavor of jam could get boring.
You're absolutely right -- they sure aren't. Even if all their top writers leave, they still won't improve their policies because they see writers as disposable. Like McDonald's workers. Anyone can flip a burger, right? In the same way, they think there will always be more writers. I don't write what I do because I think they'll change. I write to connect with frustrated writers. In that vein, it does accomplish what I set out to. I have over 20K claps and thousands of reads on the post about the changes they're making. But you're not wrong, because Medium isn't the only thing writers are frustrated with. This actually got me really thinking on topic matter and I have some interesting ideas to chase down, so thank you for that. :)
I enjoy, and learn from, your writing style as much or maybe more than the content. Not sure if that helps. :-)
Thanks Michael. It lets me know I'm not boring you to death, that's for sure. lol
Glad I didn't offend anyone this time...
lol. Are you used to offending people? lol. That made me laugh. That's usually my job.
Your bit about the "Jam Study" was interesting and at least in my case, relevant. If I go to market for, say, laundry soap or perhaps mouthwash the array of choices is overwhelming. Too much time required to decide. All too often a brand you have used in the past has been replaced or dropped so a new choice must be made. My alternative is to make my own products at home. Easy, consistent, effective and immensely less expensive, plus no wasteful packaging. My writing efforts also have more success when I have a specific idea in mind. The result does not always turn out to be where I thought I was going but I have another essay or poem in my kit. Your articles on medium are interesting, informative, and always read. Consider that with the fact that I am not someone that posts work to Medium.
Hah - I also make my own soap. And jam, come to think of it. Your profile description cracks me up, incidentally.
Hurray! Now I can read your history of women stories again! Thanks!
Doing a happy dance!
Love you!
Linda
That made me smile. I have SO many planned. Hope you enjoy. :)
I'd like your take on things Medium about once very week or two. Your other topics are too good to get overwhelmed in Medium developments.
Thanks, Andria, what a nice thing to say. Much appreciated. :)
This may be my favorite topic you write about. Please don't stop writing about writing (and editing). I love your work Linda!
Thanks, Roy. If I could make Substack pay me a living wage, I'd have a different newsletter every day of the week. lol
Only the man who piled the turkey breast he sliced in a huge lump instead of neatly stacking slices like every other deli worker....
lol. Okay, I didn't see that one coming. lol
That sounds like a good way to go! I'll be watching - in a totally not creepy, non-stalkery way.
lol. I don't think you could be creepy if you tried. lol.
As a software developer making apps for iPhones and iPads, I'm one of many millions. Apps are like raindrops in a monsoon. To make any meaningful money, an app must either have a huge company behind it, or be very narrowly focused. The apps I build are mostly for women, and only about 7% of them. I have no meaningful competition. Am I getting rich? Not even close! But I make enough to live in comfortable retirement, even though a substantial portion of the income goes back to Apple for new toys. Now to your question: When you write about Medium you're not writing for readers. You're writing for other writers. The majority of those writers are also suffering under the new regime, and also writing about it. So you're targeting a smallish audience with intense competition. Worse, those readers who are there to be entertained or enlightened don't care about what's happening to writer income, so they don't read those pieces. I read what you write because you're a damned good writer who makes me think, and because you write about women. That's a subject that so interests me that I've been married to one for 53 years. It's really hard to appeal to everyone, and that's really the point you made with the jam study. Narrowing your focus narrows your audience, but it also brings you the people who are really interested in what you have to say. They are your true fans, who are willing to pay to see what you have to say. Writing for writers who are all struggling to make rent is not a viable audience for paying customers. That's just my opinion, and I'm on old white Boomer, so take it for what it's worth!
I hear you, Jim. My day job is marketing. My clients are multi million dollar corporations, but there's a chunk of my heart that's owned by writers and creatives so I'm working on creating resources for that specific group. That's why I write geared towards writers as opposed to readers. Except for my History of Women pub. That one is an entirely different flavor. :)
Hey Linda! I like reading your stories about Medium because I trust you know what you are talking about. I don't like to go to far down the Medium rabbit hole but it's nice to get a little insight as to why my stats might seem wonky--so I know it's not just me lol. I enjoy all of your articles and as far as I'm concerned you are not overdoing Medium!