POLISHING THE KNOB TO A MEDIUM SHEEN
Bringing Large Joy Into the Medium World
All the ways to surprise and delight others mucking around on the platform
PLEASE 🙏 spend a minimum of 30 seconds in this story. If you do not, I get PENALIZED in a variety of odious ways. I wish I was kidding about that, but I’m not. Thank you 😃
There are so many great ways to spread ̷m̷a̷n̷u̷r̷e̷ joy in the wonderful world of writing.
Here are my faves, all tested and tried personally. I can vouch for their ability to elevate the mood of even the most dour.
Beats even an atomic ECT jolt, during a ketamine infusion, while on Elavil.
Tag bomb
When another writer — who doesn’t know you, or your interests, from a glory hole with hair — includes you in a long list of similarly-situated others, you may be having the best day of the month.
And turn about is fair play.
Or, as the porcine ex-Prez’s playbook of good deeds states, “Do unto others …” or is it, “If you go after me, I’m coming after you!”? I can never remember. Those bible quotes always confuse me.
In case you fail to grasp the concept, here’s an example:
Naleen Mitchell, Max Green, Edwin J. Gasque, Tovah Rainsong, Wes Spindler, Zoe, but you can call me Zoieyx, Philip White (not that one, the other one), Aine Hunt, Daniel Williams, Kendrah Martinez, Emerson Dameron, A.J. Cralle (she, her), Doro Volkova, Lilith Helstrom, Alex Praytor, Jim Marcotte, Tom the pissed off cat 🇺🇦, Deborah Volz, Ashllyn T., Pandapia, Rene Volpi Jr., Kristina Pulford, Jo An Fox-Wright Maddox, Stephanie, Steve Rosenfield, Karen L. Sullivan, GB Dare, Bruce Coulter, John Sorstokke, Indiegirl822, Danielle Martinetti, Hollie Harris, Matthew Clapham, Kassy Economou, Jean Campbell, Deb Palmer, Jan M Flynn, Bob Merckel, Nolcha Fox, Aurelia Bliss, Christine Stevens, David Conte, Jill Bennett, Melissa Gray, Linda Kowalchek, Kandis Lake, Rachel A Fefer, Manali Jarząbkiewicz, Claire Franky, Cooper Thornton, A Strong Woman Weak, Michelle Spencer, Maggie Harris | Freelance Writer, Chris Eno McMahon, Rosalie Berg, Bicho, Tim McCauley, Kristin Rowan, Colin the Crypto Ocelot, Anthony Robert, Grandma Smillew, Joe Dudak, Robin Banks, Michael Wolf, Kyle Mann, Jonah Angeles, Massagist Julia, Lee Serpa Azevado, Lee Serpa Azevado, Loudt Darrow, Toni Crowe, Dave Logan, Marianne Curan, Karen E Brewer, Randyduke, Mary Collins, Caleb Coy, MiKe KoRnRicH-Stories,Crazy Phrasies,Poems,Songs, Zoë Kuehn, Ben Ulansey, Daniel Burg, Miles-Erik Bell, Mike Riley, Donatas Remeika, Lora Covrett, Suzanne Pisano, Victor Cardenas, Steve Biersdorf, Janice Harayda, Mark Suroviec, M.Ed., CJ Sterling, Ellie Salvaje, John Werth, Cam Martin, Shirley Laffa, Oscar Rhea, Smillew Rahcuef, Freeman Scott, Ann James, Nichola Scurry, Michael Cappelli, Paul Lander, Adam Robinson, Kristen Stark, Speaking Fiction To Power, Patrick Eades, Mike Hickman, Michael Shlain, Michael J Corey, Uvebruce, Gunner Barrett, Patrick Metzger, Philip Ogley, Ginger Cook, Christopher Robin, Rajaneeshwar, Melissa Marietta, Edward John, Philip S. Naudus, Warren Turner, Malky McEwan, BichoDoMato, Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturist, Steve Vernon, Raine Lore, Will Hull, Clif Haley, Matija Zagoranski, Ben Human, Lon Shapiro, Lysergic World Design, Tommy Paley, Srini, K. B. Cottrill, Preeti Ramachandran, The Sturg, Gregg Siegel, P. L. Goaway, Bryn Del Mano, Torrey Kurtzner, justmyluck, Kylie Craft, Gregory Cody, Adelia Ritchie, Tom Navratil, Laurel B. Miller, Ginger Bangs, Ginger Bangs, Sally Prag, Rick Post, John Peck, Kristi Walter, Sheri Jacobs, Krystal, Carlo Zeno, Sharon Johnson, Carol Lennox, Ugur Akinci, Michael Centrone, Sean Cordes, Mark Eric Cohen, Craig Tyson Adams, Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她), Verity Simmons, Darren Richardson, Mike Butler, Randy Fredlund, Nancy Daley, Jay C Wells, Janet Meisel, Roz Warren, Writing Coach, Debra G. Harman, MEd., Kristine Laco, Adam Robinson, Jennifer McDougall, Philip Ogley
If, by some minor miracle, you’re reading this story and weren’t named in the thrilling example above, I apologize and will attempt to redeem myself shortly.
Highlight
But only highlight lines that have already been highlighted by others.
That way another Medium maven will be notified that you have the same excellent taste in well-written lines.
I get all tingly down below just thinking about it. You probably do too.
Correct another’s spelling
But ONLY in the public comments.
The private message function is for other purposes … to be discussed shortly.
Leave bizarre inexplicable comments
“Inexplicable” rules!
A recent fave: A reader/commenter/distracted nitwit added a comment to a story of mine essentially stating that I should include another category of material.
Only one little problema … that category of material was already in the story, and featured prominently.
Oh well, yet another day I didn’t need a full tab of acid, and a fall down a flight of stairs, to make my head spin.
Drop a private message
This is where the incoherent and illogically-formatted poop goes.
Also a place for links to your stories that are semi-related to the story you’ve just read.
Nota bene: ONLY include links to stories that are far better than the story you’ve just read. Remember, it’s about spreading joy. And, what spreads joy more than new knowledge, with an in-your-fucking-face example, of how to be a better writer. It’s what it’s really all about.
Play clap and dash
Or poke and tickle, or whatever the fuck you call it when you serially clap for a bunch of stories then run off without doing anything else, like *Rump leaving the scene of a riot he just caused.
That’s all I could think of.
You, being the crafty asshole you are, probably have some tricks of your own to share.
Put ’em in the comments and the world will be a better place for it.