THE WORLD OF THE DIGITAL CREATOR

A Writer’s Recap and a Scribbler’s Strategy

Looking backwards to see forwards

2023 was the year that I “switched on” an active approach to writing on Medium, and I’m going to show you how to do the same.

I opened my Medium account in 2021 and put up several articles over a couple of months. Due to other writing commitments, I then let it slip out of my thoughts. I spent 2022 and most of 2023 concentrating on my ghostwriting and proofreading work. Then, a chance recommendation on YouTube, coupled with a dropoff in proofreading opportunities (about which more later), resulted in me giving it “another coat of looking at”, as we say around here.

Taking advice from several popular creatives, I became a paying member, joined the Partner Program, and started to submit content in earnest.

I’m Going to Help You

I’m off to a great start, thanks to you, lovely readers.

And I’ve also received several requests, both on- and offline, asking me what my approach is likely to be going forward with the platform. It’s no coincidence that I had a previous career as a database administrator. My answer was always going to be “Data, Data, Data!”

Given it’s the first of the month, let alone the first of the year, I’ve taken a look at last month’s stats.

Below, I share my findings and my plans for the next phase of my writing on Medium. Since starting to write full-time, I have always tried to “give back” to the community as much as I can, mentoring when requested. I give new starters (whether they be writers or my clients) a free boost to get them going. Particularly in light of the hard times that hit writers last year, it seems the fair thing to do.

We’re all in this together, after all.

The World of the Writer Has Changed

The use of AI technology to create media, whether it be written, images, or whatever, has certainly had an impact on those of us who use creation as a source of income.

There are a thousand seasoned pros out there who will tell you that all you need to do is:

• Accept the tech and incorporate it into your work method
• Rise to the top, because humans will always be able to offer a better service than a bot
• To use the video game term, “get good”

However…

There is one overarching reason why the increase in AI has caused issues for the writer, and, particularly, the proofreader.

Proofreading is an excellent job. It offers the satisfaction of making a client shine through perfect, faultless delivery, employing clarity and directness that gets the message across in the most elegant way.

Proofreading is also a frustrating job. No one realises how “bad” their writing is before you (The Hero) step in and correct it for them. What they’ve written is good enough for the majority of their audience, who will never spot the little mistakes, and good enough for the business owner, who will never appreciate the subtle twist of editing that could make them an extra sale.

And when they can run their work through a website and watch all the little red squiggles go away, completely free of charge, they are more than happy.

So yes: we’ve had a hard knock, you and I.

So What am I Going to Do about It?

I’m going to give you an insight into my stats from last month and share some thoughts on my approach for the new year.

I hope it’s useful.

My top three (earning) stories from December:

1. Quitting Alcohol After New Year?
2. What If COVID’s Good For Us?
3. The Balance Between Acquiring Knowledge and Applying It

The first two of those are Health topic articles, and that does seem to be something I’m making a mark in. The third came from a Quora prompt. I’m starting to find that using Quora, Reddit and my other regular online haunts as a source of inspiration is working out well.

Related, my most up-voted Quora answers were to these questions:

1. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever found in your yard?
2. Do you think things are getting better, getting worse, or that you are getting older?
3. What is the most unromantic thing someone has said or done for you, but it actually made your day?

And my most viewed on there were:

1. What is the strangest thing you’ve ever found in your yard?
2. What food do you cook for yourself that you would never serve to other people?
3. Can you name some rock and roll songs that were written by country artists?

Posting on X and LinkedIn doesn’t seem to achieve anything for me, although I haven’t given either a shot consistently yet. I haven’t got my head around Mastodon; I guess I’m still waiting to see if it’s about to replace X in the spaces I’m interested in.

My Reddit posts are well-received. I need to (re)join more subreddits I have personal knowledge and experience in, even if they are for topics that no longer interest me. Treat the online world as an infinite source of infinite income!

Opinions vary so much amongst creators. The debate about which websites and platforms are best rages on. The fact is, each creator will push two categories of platform:

• The ones that work for them
• The ones that pay for them to push

In the end, you’ve got to develop your feel for what works for you. This is a feedback loop which is of more value to you than any piece of external advice.

Speaking of “external advice”, that’s quite enough from me. I hope that some of the above is useful to new writers starting out, or fellow veterans who are looking for a refreshed approach. Let me know if any of my tips resonate with you, or whether you have a completely different take on the matter which is working for you.

And all the best for a creative year ahead.

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Hi, I’m Mark.

I’m a writer from the UK who loves exploring life in this marvellous universe and sharing what I find.

Thanks for spending your time with me today.

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