I had a nice time at the pub crawl. Tony Stubblebine stopped by my booth for a moment, and I inquired about adding "track changes" to Medium's editing features so we can do a better job. I often ask writers to submit to me on Google Docs because I can do a better job and leave longer (more polite) notes. I appreciate the opportunity to work with editors who challenge me. If I'm writing just to readers on a blog or newsletter, I don't feel I create the same quality work. Too many writers have the wrong impression of rejection. One of my top performing stories on Medium was something that was rejected for Huffpost. When you write with a certain audience in mind, you create better work. Then it's just a matter of putting that work in the best possible home. I think Medium is trending in the right direction, and yes, that's great for writers!
"A very small number of posts actually get boosted. Under 3% of the posts, on average."
Whether a gambler in Vegas or a mouse in a Skinner box or a writer on Medium, the actual ODDS of payoff matter little. It's the hope/perception that counts. So just hearing about BOOST is enough to create that dramatic increase in paid members. It's good to understand how companies manipulate consumer behavior with glittering lures and stingy reward algorithms before deciding whether to "play"!
I’m interested in sharing stories that would have been in Harper’s or Life magazine in the past. At the same time our world reminds me of the Renaissance period in that what was working for most people as a conceptual world view was suddenly turned on its head.
However people needing one another and the horrifying cost to simply annihilating cities in Gaza or Bucha in Ukraine will be deeper disconnection from humanity, our collective archetypes and hope.
Grandmothers weather a few losses to get to be grandmas. I want to share dialogues with other people about all of that. That’s what I crave the chance to build affinity for.
I’m one of those who reads what you write because I sense that same affinity in your words.
I can’t move forward at great speed anymore because the need for depth and gratitude for what life has taught must be reflected upon and then I listen and read trying to adapt to the changes coming.
Waxing a little philosophical here, but it’s where the light leads me - out of the shadows.
Thanks for your thoughts, Linda, on the PC. I didn’t make it either, like you said, but different “life-ing” things going on in my neck of the woods.
Sorry to hear you lost someone in your family. My condolences.
I really like that whole “affinity” concept, something I hadn’t really thought about re:Medium. Similar to you, I write in a bunch of areas so thinking about affinity from pubs is extra important.
Would you say that pubs accepting Shortform, but on a wide range of topics, build affinity with readers desiring only a quick and eclectic reading experience? I’m pondering that one. The answer would be easy if the pub wanted Shortform but only ( for example)on the yoga topic.
P.S. I still plan to send you my additional thoughts on the niche need for “Shortform” 🙄 editorial services, but as you see it is taking me a bit.
I wasn't able to attend the pub crawl either - I did not know that only a small % got boosted - one would have thought the number was far higher - I select my pubs carefully given that I write personal/relationship based stories - I usually go with pubs that publish those kinds of stories - all 10 of my boosted stories are personal stories - I think you mentioned somewhere that the competition in that niche (for boost nominations) is becoming fierce -
Thanks for the link to Tony's speech! I wasn't able to make the Pub crawl, but am glad to hear it went well. Great point about how few articles actually get Boosted. I see a lot of people using that as a way/reason to bemoan the program, but as a writer, I see it as a challenge.
From my observer's perch, I think anyone who is hoping to be boosted should be doing the same. Tony (and Medium) have repeatedly used the term "cover story" as a high-level description of what they are looking for, and in my experience as a Booster, articles that could very well be one are the ones consistently approved for boost.
Also: link dropping w/o any context is *the worst*. That's one of my biggest pet peeves, and is a surefire way to make me never read your work.
"On most sites, the algorithms exist to measure popularity. See which posts are getting engagement, show more of those. That’s not how the algorithm works at Medium. Not one bit. At Medium, the algorithm is driven by affinity."
I wrote an article two or three months ago. It was a random topic, and to be honest something I didn't think much about. People started reading and somehow, more and more people. It seems that this post was so popular that it got engagement and the more popular it was, the more it was shown and the more I was earning. It was an increasing line. So, my conclusion is that there is an algorithm that measures popularity of the article and show it more, even without a boost.
"they like the way I write and don’t care what I write about."
Yep, that's me. whatever you write, I enjoy reading it. I think because you have a way of making your stories interesting. Quite a knack you have for it.
I knew someone who spent two hours until midnight reading people's stories on Medium and she received lots of claps in return. It seems a bit of a game--maybe a good game, maybe, in some cases, not. I would like to write somewhere where people not on Medium can read my work too and I am financially rewarded for it. Perhaps following many suggestions here and doing more research about what Medium appreciates would help. I don't quite understand the affinity concept. If you or your other commenter are creating affinity with reader who like whatever you write I say Bravo! I'm also not a one stop pony show. But I guess it means you'll get more reads if you write on a publication with affinity for your topic. That sounds like a smart idea.
I had a nice time at the pub crawl. Tony Stubblebine stopped by my booth for a moment, and I inquired about adding "track changes" to Medium's editing features so we can do a better job. I often ask writers to submit to me on Google Docs because I can do a better job and leave longer (more polite) notes. I appreciate the opportunity to work with editors who challenge me. If I'm writing just to readers on a blog or newsletter, I don't feel I create the same quality work. Too many writers have the wrong impression of rejection. One of my top performing stories on Medium was something that was rejected for Huffpost. When you write with a certain audience in mind, you create better work. Then it's just a matter of putting that work in the best possible home. I think Medium is trending in the right direction, and yes, that's great for writers!
"A very small number of posts actually get boosted. Under 3% of the posts, on average."
Whether a gambler in Vegas or a mouse in a Skinner box or a writer on Medium, the actual ODDS of payoff matter little. It's the hope/perception that counts. So just hearing about BOOST is enough to create that dramatic increase in paid members. It's good to understand how companies manipulate consumer behavior with glittering lures and stingy reward algorithms before deciding whether to "play"!
I’m interested in sharing stories that would have been in Harper’s or Life magazine in the past. At the same time our world reminds me of the Renaissance period in that what was working for most people as a conceptual world view was suddenly turned on its head.
However people needing one another and the horrifying cost to simply annihilating cities in Gaza or Bucha in Ukraine will be deeper disconnection from humanity, our collective archetypes and hope.
Grandmothers weather a few losses to get to be grandmas. I want to share dialogues with other people about all of that. That’s what I crave the chance to build affinity for.
I’m one of those who reads what you write because I sense that same affinity in your words.
I can’t move forward at great speed anymore because the need for depth and gratitude for what life has taught must be reflected upon and then I listen and read trying to adapt to the changes coming.
Waxing a little philosophical here, but it’s where the light leads me - out of the shadows.
Thanks for your thoughts, Linda, on the PC. I didn’t make it either, like you said, but different “life-ing” things going on in my neck of the woods.
Sorry to hear you lost someone in your family. My condolences.
I really like that whole “affinity” concept, something I hadn’t really thought about re:Medium. Similar to you, I write in a bunch of areas so thinking about affinity from pubs is extra important.
Would you say that pubs accepting Shortform, but on a wide range of topics, build affinity with readers desiring only a quick and eclectic reading experience? I’m pondering that one. The answer would be easy if the pub wanted Shortform but only ( for example)on the yoga topic.
P.S. I still plan to send you my additional thoughts on the niche need for “Shortform” 🙄 editorial services, but as you see it is taking me a bit.
I wasn't able to attend the pub crawl either - I did not know that only a small % got boosted - one would have thought the number was far higher - I select my pubs carefully given that I write personal/relationship based stories - I usually go with pubs that publish those kinds of stories - all 10 of my boosted stories are personal stories - I think you mentioned somewhere that the competition in that niche (for boost nominations) is becoming fierce -
Linda, thanks so much for posting the link to Tony's talk. I was unable to make it to the event and am grateful I could listen to him tonight.
“Some for the personal essays and maybe some because they like the way I write and don’t care what I write about.” That would be me.
Thanks for the link to Tony's speech! I wasn't able to make the Pub crawl, but am glad to hear it went well. Great point about how few articles actually get Boosted. I see a lot of people using that as a way/reason to bemoan the program, but as a writer, I see it as a challenge.
From my observer's perch, I think anyone who is hoping to be boosted should be doing the same. Tony (and Medium) have repeatedly used the term "cover story" as a high-level description of what they are looking for, and in my experience as a Booster, articles that could very well be one are the ones consistently approved for boost.
Also: link dropping w/o any context is *the worst*. That's one of my biggest pet peeves, and is a surefire way to make me never read your work.
Linda, I'm not sure about that:
"On most sites, the algorithms exist to measure popularity. See which posts are getting engagement, show more of those. That’s not how the algorithm works at Medium. Not one bit. At Medium, the algorithm is driven by affinity."
I wrote an article two or three months ago. It was a random topic, and to be honest something I didn't think much about. People started reading and somehow, more and more people. It seems that this post was so popular that it got engagement and the more popular it was, the more it was shown and the more I was earning. It was an increasing line. So, my conclusion is that there is an algorithm that measures popularity of the article and show it more, even without a boost.
"they like the way I write and don’t care what I write about."
Yep, that's me. whatever you write, I enjoy reading it. I think because you have a way of making your stories interesting. Quite a knack you have for it.
I knew someone who spent two hours until midnight reading people's stories on Medium and she received lots of claps in return. It seems a bit of a game--maybe a good game, maybe, in some cases, not. I would like to write somewhere where people not on Medium can read my work too and I am financially rewarded for it. Perhaps following many suggestions here and doing more research about what Medium appreciates would help. I don't quite understand the affinity concept. If you or your other commenter are creating affinity with reader who like whatever you write I say Bravo! I'm also not a one stop pony show. But I guess it means you'll get more reads if you write on a publication with affinity for your topic. That sounds like a smart idea.