Advice for New Medium Writers
Don’t just “crap it out,” baby.
Daily, Medium is awash with new writers. Eager, hopeful scribes itching to get their “truths” out there. Clamoring for claps. Frantic for fans. Monetizing their every move on this platform.
Pardon the alliteration, but sometimes, I just can’t help myself. If you read me, you already know this. So, you should also know I don’t pull any punches, because life is too short for bullshit.
Medium writers, new or otherwise: Many of you are truly talented. I’ve read and enjoyed (and clapped for) so many beautiful, heartfelt stories since joining in February, 2018.
It’s a pleasure to read you, and “you” know who you are, or should.
True writers understand that great writing is like a melody you can’t forget, be it Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” or Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” Great writing must resonate with the “listener.” Leave an indelible mark. This is something I’ve told junior writers throughout my career and I believe it still.
Now, on to the rest of you, beginning with this quote from Beat Generation author, William Burroughs:
“Cheat your landlord if you can and must, but do not try to shortchange the Muse. It cannot be done. You can’t fake quality any more than you can fake a good meal.” — William S. Burroughs
Note the word, “fake.” This is exactly what some of you less seasoned writers here are doing. You may not realize it, but “faking,” you are.
Naively, you squirt out your every banal thought, believing that someone will care. That, someone will “get it.” Much in the way that people post pics of their every meal on Facebook. “Oh, look! I ate here and you didn’t!” “I had chili cheese fries and you didn’t!”
No, I didn’t. So, fuck me.
Look — I’m not trying to make you feel bad. But, if you’re truly serious about writing, you need to face facts:
I’m sorry, and you can argue with me until Trump voluntarily hauls ass from the White House, but you simply cannot publish a draft every ten minutes and call it quality work.
Four clunky lines that just popped into your head does not a poem make. A sloppily written story about a fly that landed on your morning Pop Tart does not a story make. Unless — you’re exceptionally creative and tell that story from the fly’s POV. Now, that’s a story I’d read!
If I’m able to write two stories in a day, I’m thrilled. Which leads me to ask: Do those of you who crap out a piece every five minutes have lives? Jobs? Laundry to do? Errands to run?
I’m currently unemployed and am still struggling with time management. I know that Leslie Wibberley gets this as we’ve discussed our separate struggles: She writes books. I write screenplays and we find keeping up with those projects as well as our Medium commitments challenging, at best.
Because, there are a ton of helpful articles on Medium, filled with hacks “guaranteed” to make you a better writer, I won’t regurgitate them here. Rather, I’ll leave you with a handful of tips that hopefully, you’ll take to heart…and head.
From The Write Practice:
Have an opinion. Most important: Be able to back up that opinion. Don’t put down five paragraphs that say nothing. Do your best to say what you mean, clearly and succinctly.
Edit and re-edit. Take the extra time to really look at your sentences and ask yourself: “Does something sound weird here? Is it too long, too clunky? Is there a rhythm to it, or does it “sound” flat and empty?”
Don’t overdo the tech speak. Okay. I get it. You’re passionate about bitcoin and blockchain, and all that shit. If you want to write about this, make sure you do it in such a way that you don’t alienate those readers who don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. Readers like myself.
Don’t hit “publish” before your story is ready. This is not to say you should obsess over every word, every line, but writers — think about what you’re putting out in the world, the impression you’re trying to make, the message you want to get across. Isn’t this worth an extra five or ten minutes?
Good grammar rules. I can’t stress this enough. Know the difference between “there and they’re.” “Who’s and whose.” “Lose and loose.” (Yes!) I’m not a grammatical expert, but we should all know the basics.
Check for typos. This needs no explanation. Just do it.
Alright. I’m done. I hope I’ve helped you in some way. And, I look forward to clapping my ass off for you. But, I just can’t clap for crap. Not anymore.
I wish you nothing but success on this journey. Cheers.
Sherry McGuinn is a longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.
Hope you enjoyed. For more like this: