Summary

The author, Ruby Noir, discusses the importance of choosing Medium publications based on personal writing goals and compatibility rather than solely for their ability to boost articles, emphasizing the value of resonance with the publication's theme, editorial practices, and one's own writing style.

Abstract

Ruby Noir, a seasoned Medium writer, shares her perspective on selecting publications on the platform. She emphasizes that her choices are based on where her stories fit best and resonate, rather than the potential for earnings or boosts. Noir acknowledges the challenges publication editors face with the influx of writers seeking boosts and criticizes the sense of entitlement some writers exhibit. She advises writers to consider criteria such as editorial style, formatting guidelines, turnaround times, and the presence of prompts that align with their writing. Noir also stresses the importance of respect and mutual understanding between writers and editors, and encourages writers to focus on merit and their own unique voice rather than external validation like boost nominations.

Opinions

Writers should select publications based on where their writing naturally fits and aligns with their personal criteria, not just for the potential of being boosted.
The influx of writers to publications with boost nomination capabilities is understandable but can lead to closed doors and a misunderstanding of the editorial process.
Publication editors volunteer their time and may not be equipped to handle a sudden surge in submissions, which can lead to misconceptions about favoritism and bias in the boost nomination process.
Writers should not feel entitled to boosts or nominations; these should be earned through merit and adherence to publication guidelines.
Boost nominations are not the sole determinant of a publication's value; there are other pathways to being boosted, such as writing quality content that resonates with readers and editors.
Writers should join publications that match their writing style and genre, rather than chasing those with boost capabilities, to ensure a good fit and a positive writing experience.
Personal writing style, including voice and grammar usage, should not be compromised to fit a publication's overly stringent editing process.
Respect between writers and editors is paramount, and disrespect or rude behavior from editors is a valid reason for a writer to leave a publication.
Long turnaround times for publication can be a deterrent for writers who wish to see their work published and read in a timely manner.
Writing prompts can be a valuable reason to join a publication, but writers should not write solely for the sake of publication without considering the relevance and quality of their content.

Choosing Publications

Is it about your writing or your earnings?

I am in several publications on Medium. I write for some of them more than others because they’re where the stories that I want to tell resonate and belong. Almost every publication that I’m in — I’ve been in for a very long time.

When the boost nomination program was made public regarding which publications had this ability, so many writers flocked to them that many closed themselves to new writers.

They didn’t have a choice. People thought it was unfair and whined about it because that’s what people do. They also think that if you’re in a boost nomination publication, it’s the only thing you’re there for.

I can’t speak for every writer on this platform — only for myself — and I’ve never cared to try. I am not someone who feels entitled to things. I only want things if I earn them. Lately, that’s a lonely train of thought to ride.

If you attempted to join publications because they were boost nominators and couldn’t because they weren’t accepting new writers… before you went on your “this is unfair” rant of whining entitlement, did you stop to ask yourself why it happened?

Being a publication editor on Medium is not a paid job. Publication editors do what they do on their own time and receive no compensation. If a publication was chosen to be part of the boost program — it may or may not have had enough editors to handle the sudden influx of writers.

Not everything is a personal attack against you. Oddly, the world doesn’t actually revolve around you. And who gets boosted isn’t simply the nominator’s prerogative. Boost nominations can be declined. There is an entire guideline for what qualifies. Read it sometimes before you declare “favoritism” and “bias”.

It’s genuinely insane to me the things that people are willing to believe when they’ve decided that they’re entitled to something that they’ve yet to earn.

As I stated, nearly every publication that I’m in on this platform — I’ve been in for a long time. It’s rare that I join new ones and usually, if I wait to join one that I want to be part of — it’s because I find them intimidating. Then there are others that I forget that I’m in because I never write for them. And there are more still that I’ve chosen to leave because I didn’t like how they were run. Boost nominator or not — I choose where I submit my writing based on my own criteria.

I publish most of my narratives in one specific suite of publications. Yes, they are part of the boost nomination program. No, that’s not why I’m there. I was there long before the program came into existence. I’ve been there so long that the editors can remember my real name. I didn’t always write as Ruby Noir.

I publish all of my personal prompts in one specific publication because that’s the publication where my personal prompts were given a home. I am an editor there in title only. I do not share editorial decision-making or ownership of the pub. I was given the editor seat for one reason — I write my prompts ahead of time and schedule them to publish at a later date and time. I needed the ability to do that in order to keep it in line with my work schedule.

I publish all of my animal pieces in one particular publication. I was invited to that pub with the offer of my own column to write on. I am an editor in name only there to self-publish as well.

I am not an editor in any publication where I actually do any editing or share ownership. I was given these things out of graciousness and I don’t take them for granted.

But while I’m speaking about the specific places that I choose to publish specific things — many of my animal pieces have been boosted and the publication that houses them is not in the nomination program. So there are other ways to be boosted. Stop whining about favoritism, bias, and unfairness. Get boosted on merit.

If you’re choosing publications based on their ability to boost you — you will inevitably end up in places that you don’t want to write for. Publications have criteria. If you don’t meet that criteria — you’re going to have a rough time there. And I’m not talking about talent.

If you join a publication based on memoirs but you’re a fiction writer — why are you there unless you’re looking to write something new? There are publications on the boost program that I’d never join because I’d have nothing to say on the topics they highlight.

My advice? Join publications that suit your writing style and genre. Forget the boost nomination program because if you write something amazing — it doesn’t matter. Write based on who you are.

For example, here are some of my criteria for how I chose the publications that I write for…

I refuse to be over-edited. Every publication has rules. Some of them are very focused on specific formatting and they will rip your work apart like an English teacher grading an essay. I am someone who bends grammar to my will. I write the way that I speak. If that means fragments or run-on sentences or tangents or using an ellipsis in every other sentence… then it does. See what I did there? I won’t let editors step on my voice. Over-editing annoys me. If they don’t like how I write, I will write somewhere else. To be published in the off-screen world, I may have to swallow that stubbornness. On Medium — I don’t.
Too many guidelines and I’m out. Every publication has rules about pictures because copyright law is real and needs to be followed. But it’s one thing to require a fair share or rights-owned photo, it’s totally another to insist on a specific shape, size, and placement. If you prefer horizontal photos to verticle and don’t like big photos or photos with a lot of background — speak to the photographer but I won’t edit a photo I don’t own to suit you. I also won’t edit a photo I do own to suit you. Especially if it’s a photo of my pets. I will leave a pub if they want to alter my pictures of my furry children. I also don’t use kickers. I see zero point to them, I don’t like how they look, and if I’m being forced to use them — I’d rather publish elsewhere. It should be the writer’s prerogative. And it is. But it’s the publication’s prerogative to set their own rules. Just because I don’t like something doesn’t mean they should stop doing it. It means I shouldn’t write for them.
Huge turnaround times make me turn around. If I see that it will take a week for a publication to publish something I submit and they will only accept in draft format — I’m not interested. I don’t write to make money but I do make money on my writing. Having something I wrote sit idle and unread for a week is not something that interests me. I left Vocal because I felt their publication guidelines were annoying. This was one of them. Turnaround time was endlessly annoying and Medium allowed you to self-publish. Something I wrote could be read immediately and for the first few months that I was on this platform, I didn’t write for ANY publications. Once I started, if they had exceptionally long wait periods before publishing — I would take my pieces back. Most pubs only take drafts so that meant it was self-published. But while patience may be a virtue, it’s one I do not possess.
PROMPTS. I like a good writing prompt. I like to twist them and bend them to the story I want to tell. I will join certain publications because I like their prompts. For them — I will wait out the publishing time. But that doesn’t mean I join every prompt publication out there. If you’re willing to just write anything to have something to write and you wonder why you’re not being boosted — that’s your answer.
Respect. I will leave publications very quickly over disrespectful editors. I have my own style and my own voice and I won’t be spoken down to by anyone. Telling me something might work better if… is one thing. Being rude is another. I’ve been willing to work with editors before. They don’t stomp out my voice, they may just fine-tune a thing or two. I’m good with that. As long as they do it with kindness. It may not be a paid job but it’s not indentured servitude either. I couldn’t do it — I know for that sure, I don’t have the time or the desire. I think those who do are awesome… but that doesn’t give them the right to be nasty to writers.

Those are my main criteria. Figure out yours. Stop worrying about the nomination program and join publications that suit your writing.

That is my totally unsolicited advice for the day.