Happy Friday Let me tell you a secret. Don’t flounce. Don’t ever flounce. Not much of a secret, I know. lol. Back in June, a writer with 57K followers on Medium flounced big time. Posted a long diatribe about how the site sucks, the algorithm sucks, the “engineers” f-ed up the site so bad it’s not fixable and it was way better a few years ago. Waste of time, etc.
The reason bosses "don't get it," as with Medium and at other institutions, is that the minute they attain power, their focus actually is not on serving readers or customers. Their lascivious concern is putting their icky hands on systems that fatten the bottom line. Writers/workers are considered replaceable peons. They are looked down upon as an annoying means to that end who must be controlled/cajoled. All those pennies bosses don't pay people really add up. And their penis rockets come in many forms.
I agree with your thoughts and what the other commenters are saying. Nothing new to add. Wait, that's not true. I do have one thing to add, even though Medium is not great for writers for all the reasons that have been mentioned, I still get more readers than back when I was just doing a personal blog for free. Remember those days?
lol, I sure do remember those days. And you're right -- I do still get more readers on Medium. But it makes me rethink how much time I put in over there. For example, I write fewer history posts. I don't mind spending several hours (or days) researching if I know it will do well. But doing all that for $20 seems stupid. Eventually I'm going to move my history writing to substack.
That makes perfect sense. I mostly use Medium now to drive people to my Substack. I think I need to narrow my content so people know what they are going to get. At least I can drive my own car in the Substack lane.
Right? That's where I'm headed, too. I plan to move History of Women here. I will always keep the xo Linda group because it's basically my friends and people I'm getting to know. But time to get strategic with the rest.
"He was sick of seeing “middle aged women” making money by complaining about patriarchy, privilege..."
I mean, I've been sick of that for a long time lol.
I'm a quiet quitter for sure. I made no announcement and nobody has really noticed so it's been ultra quiet 😂 I can't solely blame Medium because I just lost interest, however, if I'd been making the kind of money I used to make there I could have been persuaded to stay just for the money.
I wanted to post and ask him if he's jealous of Jessica. lol. I'm kind of in the same boat. The money has dropped to about 1/3 what I made this time last year. Makes me question the time I spend there.
I kinda feel bad when I read others saying they can't even earn $25/month writing every day because I still earn much more than that not writing at all. My back catalog still pulls in earnings each month.
I know, same Kristi. If I had to write every day to make $25 I'd have left long ago. I guess hope keeps people going a long time. Makes me mad because Medium sort of replies on that.
One day your newsletter appeared in my mailbox, unannounced. How it arrived I’ve no idea. I asked a few friends from Medium, where I no longer “work” and haven’t for ever so long, if they passed it on to me and no one had a clue. Still, I keep reading it because, even though nothing in it affects me directly, I like to gossip with these friends, and you keep me up to date now and again.
But note, you keep me up to date when they do not. They are “serious” writers, unconcerned about so many of the topics that concern you. Yes, they do complain about what you report upon. But then they move right along with their work.
Myself, I understand their position having lived through the era when not everyone considered themselves a “writer” merely by having access to a computer or, heavens, an iPhone; when “writing” and “marketing” were—believe it or not—genuinely two separate career paths. But I do, as they do not, fully, also understand that the world, today, is different, and that those paths, today, have now combined.
For some.
That many of these friends feel great frustration at times not being rewarded for their work, yet also feel they should be rewarded without making the maximum, individual effort to “market” themselves is something I also comprehend fully. I understand their frustration but also their confusion.
The world has changed. That work of marketing—call it self-promotion if you will—is now necessary. The change has come. But not, certainly, for the better.
The junk and pap produced out of self-promotion and the bevy of “influencers” and pathetic, minimal ability which receives rewards because of mass-market appeal these days will never last (assuming anything does!) because it survives purely upon marketing and not talent. Those who produce it may receive rewards of the moment. Good for them. They can give themselves pats on the back as well. And call themselves whatever they like.
The genuine writers on Medium, and elsewhere, who come and go, who frequently do not last long because they cannot find an audience, will struggle elsewhere, as genuine writers always have. And the pap writers will continue creating pap as pap writers always have. We have always had a market for schlock. The internet has broadened that market, unfortunately, while not creating enough room for quality.
Friend Tony has dollar signs in his eyes. Is anyone surprised?
That's really strange, Alan. Do you mean my substack newsletter or the one on Medium? You make a lot of good points. Many years ago (like, 20) I used to write for print magazines. It's entirely different than writing online, that's for sure. Pluses and minuses, of course. The biggest difference is that there's only one person to please. The editor. lol.
And to add to all the stuff you mentioned, when someone does succeed doing real art (or anything creative) a whole lot of people who scream about creatives not making money will suddenly crawl out of the woodwork to call them a sellout. We human are strange.
That strange world where editors were arbiters of “taste” was frustrating and at times horrifying. We still feel the nasty reverberations from it today (patriarchy, racism, etc.). The internet was supposed to free us from that. Instead, it created a different world where different arbiters exist for different reasons: money and power. Now the Zuckerbergs and Dorseys and Musks and Williams’ rake in the bucks and plan out our future lives for us while opening the floodgates to all comers without a single note of criticism—unless the government holds them to account.
Oh, and trust me, I’d be first on line to sell out. I work all day long trying my best to do so. I have to fight against the J.T. Geissingers and Colleen Hoovers of the world. Try banging your head on that wall.
And it’s the Substack newsletter. I don’t know that I could get the Medium one. I was kicked out of there (for doing something I hadn’t even done, of course) last winter.
Strange with the newsletter. Maybe someone forwarded it to you? I am as baffled as you. I guess we just never get away from arbiters in some capacity. I find much less of it online, but the preference for the male voice drives me up the wall a little. When I wrote for magazines I had a great editor that liked my work and that made it much more pleasant. That said, I'm not chomping to go back to that world. lol
I think you nailed it, Linda. I've put all my eggs in the Medium basket for a while now and, well, hell, what's the definition of insanity again?
Secret distribution? LOL, that's a great term that says exactly what it is. I was willing to give Tony a chance but turns out, he's as full of shit as the next CEO. Blah, blah, blah, I like what you do, blah, blah, blah, let me cuddle you while I stick another knife in your back, blahdy-blah-blah.
Honestly, focusing more on readers? What are they going to read, bozo? Your stuff? (and have you read the stuff he posts? 🥱) The stuff your faves write? LOL. That won't last long.
I'm getting no traction and I'm getting tired of it. I'm out, I just haven't shut the door yet.
Yup, it does feel pretty insane. The secret distribution one blew my mind. Actual adults came up with that one. Wtf? I'm earning less than half what I used to, more like a third and my traffic and followers have gone up, not down. Something smells off.
I feel like he wants to turn Medium into some bizarre blend of his publications (Better Humans and Better Marketing) as if self growth and marketing are the only topics that matter.
Same. I don't see it succeeding, either. The irony is that his publications don't even do that well. They have a crap ton of followers, but real low read rates. Sometimes I feel like writing about that on Medium. I mean -- if they're going to whack my earnings by 60%, maybe the best response is to talk louder. I dunno. Something I'm thinking about, anyway. :)
Hey Jessica! Good to see you and you're welcome. I have a link on my Medium profile, and that's about it. So what have you been up to besides your Substack? :)
And that's exactly how I'm starting to feel. All the extra time I've spent reading and writing on Medium is starting to feez (is that a word?) I'm now back to my novel. A priority. I have my favorite writers that I continue to read. But I'm selective.
I hear you, Robin. I'm very selective about email too because my inbox is insane. But just because I get too much email doesn't mean my readers all do. So I'll be planting the seed and see if it works. lol
I just wrote about this. It's disappointing. Another CEO telling us what he thinks is best for his company. Focusing on readers, my ass. I'm a reader and a writer. I should get more clout. Anyway, I just started here in January and was getting alot of reads. Now I have no idea, whether my work has been distributed. WTF.
As for quiet quitting - yeah. I have HAD to lessen my time writing/reading because I'm taking part time editing gigs and substitute teaching to supplement income. It would be fab if Medium did the supplementing for me, but let's get real. I'm a poet, and poetry rarely PAYS. So...there you have it. Reality.
There was definitely better days, Charlie. I hope they can find their way back to that, but I have my doubts. Tony seems to want to turn it into a big version of Better Humans and Better Marketing. So where else are you writing?
I am a humor writer and I have been a Medium member since 2017. I feel like there is so little space and interest in entertainment writing here. Seems the Sean Kerns and Tim Dennings who probably have a staff of writers churning out "how to make a million dollars on Medium" articles are the chosen ones. I am so frustrated at the lack of guidance and care from Tony and his buddies running the joint. Did he really say the readers are more important??! I might have to stop going to his restaurant.
The reason bosses "don't get it," as with Medium and at other institutions, is that the minute they attain power, their focus actually is not on serving readers or customers. Their lascivious concern is putting their icky hands on systems that fatten the bottom line. Writers/workers are considered replaceable peons. They are looked down upon as an annoying means to that end who must be controlled/cajoled. All those pennies bosses don't pay people really add up. And their penis rockets come in many forms.
It's a real shame. They need to realize that replacing someone who can write is not the same as replacing someone who can flip burgers. You know?
I agree with your thoughts and what the other commenters are saying. Nothing new to add. Wait, that's not true. I do have one thing to add, even though Medium is not great for writers for all the reasons that have been mentioned, I still get more readers than back when I was just doing a personal blog for free. Remember those days?
lol, I sure do remember those days. And you're right -- I do still get more readers on Medium. But it makes me rethink how much time I put in over there. For example, I write fewer history posts. I don't mind spending several hours (or days) researching if I know it will do well. But doing all that for $20 seems stupid. Eventually I'm going to move my history writing to substack.
That makes perfect sense. I mostly use Medium now to drive people to my Substack. I think I need to narrow my content so people know what they are going to get. At least I can drive my own car in the Substack lane.
Right? That's where I'm headed, too. I plan to move History of Women here. I will always keep the xo Linda group because it's basically my friends and people I'm getting to know. But time to get strategic with the rest.
I think History of Women will do great on Substack! I'd subscribe. Best of luck!
Yes. I sure do - and thanks for the reminder. Readers and friendships - huge.
"He was sick of seeing “middle aged women” making money by complaining about patriarchy, privilege..."
I mean, I've been sick of that for a long time lol.
I'm a quiet quitter for sure. I made no announcement and nobody has really noticed so it's been ultra quiet 😂 I can't solely blame Medium because I just lost interest, however, if I'd been making the kind of money I used to make there I could have been persuaded to stay just for the money.
I wanted to post and ask him if he's jealous of Jessica. lol. I'm kind of in the same boat. The money has dropped to about 1/3 what I made this time last year. Makes me question the time I spend there.
I kinda feel bad when I read others saying they can't even earn $25/month writing every day because I still earn much more than that not writing at all. My back catalog still pulls in earnings each month.
I know, same Kristi. If I had to write every day to make $25 I'd have left long ago. I guess hope keeps people going a long time. Makes me mad because Medium sort of replies on that.
🙋♀️
WTF am I doing?
I've discovered the only way to reliably know if/when a particular writer has posted something new on Medium is to sign up for the email notices.
Yup, agreed. Not all writers offer them, of course.
One day your newsletter appeared in my mailbox, unannounced. How it arrived I’ve no idea. I asked a few friends from Medium, where I no longer “work” and haven’t for ever so long, if they passed it on to me and no one had a clue. Still, I keep reading it because, even though nothing in it affects me directly, I like to gossip with these friends, and you keep me up to date now and again.
But note, you keep me up to date when they do not. They are “serious” writers, unconcerned about so many of the topics that concern you. Yes, they do complain about what you report upon. But then they move right along with their work.
Myself, I understand their position having lived through the era when not everyone considered themselves a “writer” merely by having access to a computer or, heavens, an iPhone; when “writing” and “marketing” were—believe it or not—genuinely two separate career paths. But I do, as they do not, fully, also understand that the world, today, is different, and that those paths, today, have now combined.
For some.
That many of these friends feel great frustration at times not being rewarded for their work, yet also feel they should be rewarded without making the maximum, individual effort to “market” themselves is something I also comprehend fully. I understand their frustration but also their confusion.
The world has changed. That work of marketing—call it self-promotion if you will—is now necessary. The change has come. But not, certainly, for the better.
The junk and pap produced out of self-promotion and the bevy of “influencers” and pathetic, minimal ability which receives rewards because of mass-market appeal these days will never last (assuming anything does!) because it survives purely upon marketing and not talent. Those who produce it may receive rewards of the moment. Good for them. They can give themselves pats on the back as well. And call themselves whatever they like.
The genuine writers on Medium, and elsewhere, who come and go, who frequently do not last long because they cannot find an audience, will struggle elsewhere, as genuine writers always have. And the pap writers will continue creating pap as pap writers always have. We have always had a market for schlock. The internet has broadened that market, unfortunately, while not creating enough room for quality.
Friend Tony has dollar signs in his eyes. Is anyone surprised?
That's really strange, Alan. Do you mean my substack newsletter or the one on Medium? You make a lot of good points. Many years ago (like, 20) I used to write for print magazines. It's entirely different than writing online, that's for sure. Pluses and minuses, of course. The biggest difference is that there's only one person to please. The editor. lol.
And to add to all the stuff you mentioned, when someone does succeed doing real art (or anything creative) a whole lot of people who scream about creatives not making money will suddenly crawl out of the woodwork to call them a sellout. We human are strange.
That strange world where editors were arbiters of “taste” was frustrating and at times horrifying. We still feel the nasty reverberations from it today (patriarchy, racism, etc.). The internet was supposed to free us from that. Instead, it created a different world where different arbiters exist for different reasons: money and power. Now the Zuckerbergs and Dorseys and Musks and Williams’ rake in the bucks and plan out our future lives for us while opening the floodgates to all comers without a single note of criticism—unless the government holds them to account.
Oh, and trust me, I’d be first on line to sell out. I work all day long trying my best to do so. I have to fight against the J.T. Geissingers and Colleen Hoovers of the world. Try banging your head on that wall.
And it’s the Substack newsletter. I don’t know that I could get the Medium one. I was kicked out of there (for doing something I hadn’t even done, of course) last winter.
Strange with the newsletter. Maybe someone forwarded it to you? I am as baffled as you. I guess we just never get away from arbiters in some capacity. I find much less of it online, but the preference for the male voice drives me up the wall a little. When I wrote for magazines I had a great editor that liked my work and that made it much more pleasant. That said, I'm not chomping to go back to that world. lol
I think you nailed it, Linda. I've put all my eggs in the Medium basket for a while now and, well, hell, what's the definition of insanity again?
Secret distribution? LOL, that's a great term that says exactly what it is. I was willing to give Tony a chance but turns out, he's as full of shit as the next CEO. Blah, blah, blah, I like what you do, blah, blah, blah, let me cuddle you while I stick another knife in your back, blahdy-blah-blah.
Honestly, focusing more on readers? What are they going to read, bozo? Your stuff? (and have you read the stuff he posts? 🥱) The stuff your faves write? LOL. That won't last long.
I'm getting no traction and I'm getting tired of it. I'm out, I just haven't shut the door yet.
Yup, it does feel pretty insane. The secret distribution one blew my mind. Actual adults came up with that one. Wtf? I'm earning less than half what I used to, more like a third and my traffic and followers have gone up, not down. Something smells off.
Yeah, I'm starting to think this Tony guy is a shyster. Oy.
I feel like he wants to turn Medium into some bizarre blend of his publications (Better Humans and Better Marketing) as if self growth and marketing are the only topics that matter.
I think you're right. I just don't see that succeeding.
Same. I don't see it succeeding, either. The irony is that his publications don't even do that well. They have a crap ton of followers, but real low read rates. Sometimes I feel like writing about that on Medium. I mean -- if they're going to whack my earnings by 60%, maybe the best response is to talk louder. I dunno. Something I'm thinking about, anyway. :)
HA. I thought he'd be back sooner, but I knew he would as I know the sun will rise tomorrow. Jessica Lynn here!
I'm still writing and haven't "quit" Medium. Just not on it as much.
Thanks for the mention. Writing on Substack at Playing in the Pocket.
Do you have a CTA on Medium for your Substack or just a big email list?
Hey Jessica! Good to see you and you're welcome. I have a link on my Medium profile, and that's about it. So what have you been up to besides your Substack? :)
I'm building two blogs to monetize. Learning SEO. Are you a web builder? Maybe that is someone else I read....
And that's exactly how I'm starting to feel. All the extra time I've spent reading and writing on Medium is starting to feez (is that a word?) I'm now back to my novel. A priority. I have my favorite writers that I continue to read. But I'm selective.
Yes, I've become far more selective too, Henya. I'm spending more time building products than writing.
I wish you much success with your endeavor. You have my email address should you have something to share. :)
Henya, that's just the nicest thing ever. Thank you. I will have something to share very soon and I'll share it here, too.
My feed has also changed to showing writers I don't follow. But in the "for you" feed I'm seeing some of the writers I follow.
The only thing about signing up for individual emails from writers is my inbox is already too full.
Last year I did sign up to one and received emails for awhile but then they just stopped, and I didn't remove myself. Who knows what's up with that.
Great analogy you made about the chef to writers! It's all about what's on the menu and execution/preparation of the dish!
I hear you, Robin. I'm very selective about email too because my inbox is insane. But just because I get too much email doesn't mean my readers all do. So I'll be planting the seed and see if it works. lol
I'm looking forward to seeing more of your writing here. You rarely show up in my feed, and it's harder to find you, especially with my ADHD.
I just wrote about this. It's disappointing. Another CEO telling us what he thinks is best for his company. Focusing on readers, my ass. I'm a reader and a writer. I should get more clout. Anyway, I just started here in January and was getting alot of reads. Now I have no idea, whether my work has been distributed. WTF.
Anyway, I've started substack, too.
Loved your "flounce" opening. Genius.
As for quiet quitting - yeah. I have HAD to lessen my time writing/reading because I'm taking part time editing gigs and substitute teaching to supplement income. It would be fab if Medium did the supplementing for me, but let's get real. I'm a poet, and poetry rarely PAYS. So...there you have it. Reality.
There was definitely better days, Charlie. I hope they can find their way back to that, but I have my doubts. Tony seems to want to turn it into a big version of Better Humans and Better Marketing. So where else are you writing?
I am a humor writer and I have been a Medium member since 2017. I feel like there is so little space and interest in entertainment writing here. Seems the Sean Kerns and Tim Dennings who probably have a staff of writers churning out "how to make a million dollars on Medium" articles are the chosen ones. I am so frustrated at the lack of guidance and care from Tony and his buddies running the joint. Did he really say the readers are more important??! I might have to stop going to his restaurant.
He sure did. I listened to the interviews with him and he said a few things that I don't agree with. Kind of thinking about writing about it.