I think a lot of writers forget they can write the same story over and over. Every time you take a new approach, it becomes a different story. If something doesn't work, write it again. That goes double for stuff that does work. I'm so behind on things I intend to write that I don't think I'll ever catch up :) Excellent post!
Thank you for highlighting the fact that writing is seriously competitive - tbh I am surprised people read advice from writers who came on like 2 days ago who promise doing this and that will make you a writing superstar or something - I am now in my third year and have seen some serious highs and lows - what keeps me chugging is I love to write on the topics that I do and I'm not selling anything - pipe dreams or otherwise - and I know the reality - it is serious and I mean serious hard work along with a bit of talent, willingness to learn from writers who know their stuff and I must admit, luck
Beautiful words, Linda. I think it is also important to remember that you might be in the wrong competition. All writing has the potential to find a home. If Medium or Substack isn't working, find another avenue. Competitive writers don't get stuck in rejection.
It’s a bit like watching customers at Starbucks get their coffee orders when my daughter was a barista. Everyone thinks their coffee order is the only one - the penultimate. And it is, to them.
I write because I sift and sort what life asks me to streeetch to take on the day. This past year I challenged myself to share some of what I write because I found myself sitting on an ostrich egg of unexplored talent. I got close to death with pneumonia in July of 2022. I wrote a promise on a back of a hospital menu to publish some of my stories on Medium. I didn’t want to die before I tried.
I joined Medium in December of 2022, and just read for six months. I gave a lot of one clap applause before I read some people felt insulted. My one clap meant I love you and your story, because I didn’t know a thing about the pay program and fifty claps. I just loved reading.
April 2023 I published my first story on Medium called “Why Write?” It did exactly that, told people who found it on my little digital bookshelf why I was going to publish more and fill it.
I haven’t said a word about money because I wasn’t thinking about it that way. It wasn’t until December of 2023 I decided to challenge myself more and join the Medium Partner program. I also became a Friend of Medium to give authors a Christmas gift.
I earned $20 tax free in December, but I learned so much more that is invaluable.
Every story I share different people read it and share their perspectives with me, just like I’m doing here.
People read or don’t read for their own reasons. When they do read and write back to me it’s something I could never experience unless I develop the talent and share with others. My power is choosing to do it. Their power is to read or not read.
Medium allows me to be remunerated by choosing to write. It’s the one thing that no one else can do for me.
I just need to be willing to grow and stay true to my own judgment that I am passionate about life, and loving- being loved and Beloved at the same time.
Ha! I don’t write because I have to, I write because I want to. If you don’t want it bad enough, you can’t write thousands of words a week on things you care about. And if you write about things you don’t care about and you’re not a journalist (as pros they often have to write about stuff they could care less about), you are emptying your soul for the wrong reasons. I hope those empty souls trying to build a list get your message!
Ha. I still think writers make better collaborators than we do competitors. It's true there's fierce competition in writing, but personally I think we'd all be better off cooperating. You do your part in cooperating by sharing your secrets here- but there are plenty out there that think if they reveal to the world how they write, they'll get toppled. And I disagree. No one can copy your unique voice in the ways you will take it. That's what we own beneath it all. And you're right that it has so much to do with attitude. But that doesn't mean everyone successful has a chipper disposition. Plenty of creators out there have crappy in-person attitudes.
Perhaps the real issue is that most people don't want to read about self-pity. It's just not compelling content. Or maybe it's writing about one's self in general- without a link to bring others along for the ride, the only people that will care are those that you already know.
Finding where the writing urge meets reader interest and usefulness is an underrated skill!
I think your publication stats are the most important info here Linda. They translate into a person's ODDS (%) of success. TBH, on-line success (money or popularity) as a writer is a sucker's bet. Putting a message in a bottle and chucking into the sea, or betting against the house in Vegas.
Frankly, I would encourage most people to look for a different game with better odds of success (money, popularity) than writing/publishing on the internet. The happiest writers I know are the ones who write because they enjoy it, have a day job that pays the bills, and any success (money, popularity) comes as a pleasant surprise!
Linda, this is what I love about your writing: you always put reality on the table, give us a chance to look, maybe taste, then we have a choice to accept the reality or get up from the table. As for me, I stayed and enjoyed the reality. I go forward reminded to set the bar and work toward it by reading great writing, learning craft, and accepting feedback. Thanks, again.
This is encouraging, Linda. I’ve had a rough two days in which I struggled with an article and finally gave up on it because it was just not any good. It was bouncing this way and that like a football instead of flowing across the grass like a golf ball and plopping into the hole. There were too many quotes because I was trying to write about a topic in a way that I was not equipped to do. Today, I will go back and write that article again with my unique voice from a personal point of view. I have learned that when I do that, with a large dollop of vulnerability added, I get boosted. Also, I get boosted when my article has one main idea that runs through it like a golden thread from beginning to end. It promises, informs, entertains, and delivers all the way to the end. One main idea.
I love the boost. I have been boosted two times this month and three times last month. I’m surprised to know I am one of the 2.6 percent. Amazed, in fact. I feel better. I know I can do this thing. I am 79 years old and am writing for two reasons: to supplement my social security check and because I love to write about aging and ageism. I know I can do this until I quit writing through natural causes. Your posts are valuable to me. I’m already a fan—today, I’ll become a subscriber. Thanks, Linda.
Disclaimer: this is for that small population who have to write and claim to want to be better.
Refreshing to read. Cognitively dissonant to suggest that you want to become better without being pushed. I think we need more of a football or soccer or athletic mindset in writing. We need to cultivate an atmosphere that demands growth and effort and study. Becoming better at anything requires intentionality. It requires consistency, study, and discipline. It also requires a degree of self-awareness. I have been in a lot of competitive environments. In the army, sport, business. I am continually awed (and this will hurt feelings) by how soft the writing community is. If you want to be better at your craft you remove feelings from the equation. You get laser focused on the feedback, the message, the craft. You accept criticism and swallow pride because that’s a necessary part of growth. In all things.
This snippet: (You just need to be so goddamn good that you’re the person other people need to compete with. You. Set the bar. Voila. No competing.)
reminded me of my daughter when she was in college studying for her RN.
She was taking "Anatomy" and of course it is a very hard class but she just absolutely loved it. She got straight As in it and other classmates would come up to her for tips to learn it better.
However sometimes she was be upset with herself for missing a question, or forgetting some small detail, she would stay after class and ask the professor what she could do to improve her points to make sure she would still get her A for the class.
She was hoping to be the top A of her class and voiced her concern to the teacher that she might not make it because so many other students were in her class.
The teacher smiled and told her: "Liz, you are so far above the other students in the course, it isn't possible for anyone to even get near you.' "In fact I wanted to ask you to stay on next semester as a tutor for other students and we will pay you for this position."
So Yes, your advice: just be so damn good, there won't BE any competition! really works.
Thank you, Linda, for this story. My first check from Medium (when, if I recall, you had to have 100 followers before you qualified to be paid) was $1.02. I was thrilled. For the first time since I retired from technical writing, I could call myself a paid writer, and a professional poet! I write on Medium because I love the quick turnaround from submission to publication by almost all the literary magazines I submit to. And I truly appreciate the other writers and editors I've been building relationships with. I'm doing everything wrong to make more and more money on Medium. But I'm still thrilled to be there. I'm doing what I love.
I think a lot of writers forget they can write the same story over and over. Every time you take a new approach, it becomes a different story. If something doesn't work, write it again. That goes double for stuff that does work. I'm so behind on things I intend to write that I don't think I'll ever catch up :) Excellent post!
Thank you for highlighting the fact that writing is seriously competitive - tbh I am surprised people read advice from writers who came on like 2 days ago who promise doing this and that will make you a writing superstar or something - I am now in my third year and have seen some serious highs and lows - what keeps me chugging is I love to write on the topics that I do and I'm not selling anything - pipe dreams or otherwise - and I know the reality - it is serious and I mean serious hard work along with a bit of talent, willingness to learn from writers who know their stuff and I must admit, luck
Beautiful words, Linda. I think it is also important to remember that you might be in the wrong competition. All writing has the potential to find a home. If Medium or Substack isn't working, find another avenue. Competitive writers don't get stuck in rejection.
"Here’s the thing. In a competitive environment, you don’t have to be competitive.
You just need to be so goddamn good that you’re the person other people need to compete with. You. Set the bar. Voila. No competing."
I might have to steal this and bake it into the submission guidelines for The Riff.
It’s a bit like watching customers at Starbucks get their coffee orders when my daughter was a barista. Everyone thinks their coffee order is the only one - the penultimate. And it is, to them.
I write because I sift and sort what life asks me to streeetch to take on the day. This past year I challenged myself to share some of what I write because I found myself sitting on an ostrich egg of unexplored talent. I got close to death with pneumonia in July of 2022. I wrote a promise on a back of a hospital menu to publish some of my stories on Medium. I didn’t want to die before I tried.
I joined Medium in December of 2022, and just read for six months. I gave a lot of one clap applause before I read some people felt insulted. My one clap meant I love you and your story, because I didn’t know a thing about the pay program and fifty claps. I just loved reading.
April 2023 I published my first story on Medium called “Why Write?” It did exactly that, told people who found it on my little digital bookshelf why I was going to publish more and fill it.
I haven’t said a word about money because I wasn’t thinking about it that way. It wasn’t until December of 2023 I decided to challenge myself more and join the Medium Partner program. I also became a Friend of Medium to give authors a Christmas gift.
I earned $20 tax free in December, but I learned so much more that is invaluable.
Every story I share different people read it and share their perspectives with me, just like I’m doing here.
People read or don’t read for their own reasons. When they do read and write back to me it’s something I could never experience unless I develop the talent and share with others. My power is choosing to do it. Their power is to read or not read.
Medium allows me to be remunerated by choosing to write. It’s the one thing that no one else can do for me.
I just need to be willing to grow and stay true to my own judgment that I am passionate about life, and loving- being loved and Beloved at the same time.
Ha! I don’t write because I have to, I write because I want to. If you don’t want it bad enough, you can’t write thousands of words a week on things you care about. And if you write about things you don’t care about and you’re not a journalist (as pros they often have to write about stuff they could care less about), you are emptying your soul for the wrong reasons. I hope those empty souls trying to build a list get your message!
Ha. I still think writers make better collaborators than we do competitors. It's true there's fierce competition in writing, but personally I think we'd all be better off cooperating. You do your part in cooperating by sharing your secrets here- but there are plenty out there that think if they reveal to the world how they write, they'll get toppled. And I disagree. No one can copy your unique voice in the ways you will take it. That's what we own beneath it all. And you're right that it has so much to do with attitude. But that doesn't mean everyone successful has a chipper disposition. Plenty of creators out there have crappy in-person attitudes.
Perhaps the real issue is that most people don't want to read about self-pity. It's just not compelling content. Or maybe it's writing about one's self in general- without a link to bring others along for the ride, the only people that will care are those that you already know.
Finding where the writing urge meets reader interest and usefulness is an underrated skill!
The ones who enjoy doing it keep doing it. The ones who don't just stop when it becomes difficult or tiresome for them.
I think your publication stats are the most important info here Linda. They translate into a person's ODDS (%) of success. TBH, on-line success (money or popularity) as a writer is a sucker's bet. Putting a message in a bottle and chucking into the sea, or betting against the house in Vegas.
Frankly, I would encourage most people to look for a different game with better odds of success (money, popularity) than writing/publishing on the internet. The happiest writers I know are the ones who write because they enjoy it, have a day job that pays the bills, and any success (money, popularity) comes as a pleasant surprise!
I know this will be an unpopular opinion. 😉
Linda, this is what I love about your writing: you always put reality on the table, give us a chance to look, maybe taste, then we have a choice to accept the reality or get up from the table. As for me, I stayed and enjoyed the reality. I go forward reminded to set the bar and work toward it by reading great writing, learning craft, and accepting feedback. Thanks, again.
This is encouraging, Linda. I’ve had a rough two days in which I struggled with an article and finally gave up on it because it was just not any good. It was bouncing this way and that like a football instead of flowing across the grass like a golf ball and plopping into the hole. There were too many quotes because I was trying to write about a topic in a way that I was not equipped to do. Today, I will go back and write that article again with my unique voice from a personal point of view. I have learned that when I do that, with a large dollop of vulnerability added, I get boosted. Also, I get boosted when my article has one main idea that runs through it like a golden thread from beginning to end. It promises, informs, entertains, and delivers all the way to the end. One main idea.
I love the boost. I have been boosted two times this month and three times last month. I’m surprised to know I am one of the 2.6 percent. Amazed, in fact. I feel better. I know I can do this thing. I am 79 years old and am writing for two reasons: to supplement my social security check and because I love to write about aging and ageism. I know I can do this until I quit writing through natural causes. Your posts are valuable to me. I’m already a fan—today, I’ll become a subscriber. Thanks, Linda.
Disclaimer: this is for that small population who have to write and claim to want to be better.
Refreshing to read. Cognitively dissonant to suggest that you want to become better without being pushed. I think we need more of a football or soccer or athletic mindset in writing. We need to cultivate an atmosphere that demands growth and effort and study. Becoming better at anything requires intentionality. It requires consistency, study, and discipline. It also requires a degree of self-awareness. I have been in a lot of competitive environments. In the army, sport, business. I am continually awed (and this will hurt feelings) by how soft the writing community is. If you want to be better at your craft you remove feelings from the equation. You get laser focused on the feedback, the message, the craft. You accept criticism and swallow pride because that’s a necessary part of growth. In all things.
Excellent write. Hard truth. Props.
I sooo enjoyed reading this one Linda.
This snippet: (You just need to be so goddamn good that you’re the person other people need to compete with. You. Set the bar. Voila. No competing.)
reminded me of my daughter when she was in college studying for her RN.
She was taking "Anatomy" and of course it is a very hard class but she just absolutely loved it. She got straight As in it and other classmates would come up to her for tips to learn it better.
However sometimes she was be upset with herself for missing a question, or forgetting some small detail, she would stay after class and ask the professor what she could do to improve her points to make sure she would still get her A for the class.
She was hoping to be the top A of her class and voiced her concern to the teacher that she might not make it because so many other students were in her class.
The teacher smiled and told her: "Liz, you are so far above the other students in the course, it isn't possible for anyone to even get near you.' "In fact I wanted to ask you to stay on next semester as a tutor for other students and we will pay you for this position."
So Yes, your advice: just be so damn good, there won't BE any competition! really works.
Hi Linda, thanks a lot for this post. It made me think a lot. Also, please tell me: how do I submit a story to History of Women?
Excellent! You've made so many great points.
Thank you, Linda, for this story. My first check from Medium (when, if I recall, you had to have 100 followers before you qualified to be paid) was $1.02. I was thrilled. For the first time since I retired from technical writing, I could call myself a paid writer, and a professional poet! I write on Medium because I love the quick turnaround from submission to publication by almost all the literary magazines I submit to. And I truly appreciate the other writers and editors I've been building relationships with. I'm doing everything wrong to make more and more money on Medium. But I'm still thrilled to be there. I'm doing what I love.