Deep Dive Prompt: Writing on Medium
Thank you Subhi Najar For Including Me
- How did you hear about Medium? If there is an interesting story behind it, please share it.
Yes, it’s an interesting story! I was offered the opportunity to do a pilot program through my health insurance, working with a life coach and a behavioralist. This opportunity happened to coincide with a particularly traumatic shift in my career. I confided in my coach that I had always considered myself a writer but rarely had the opportunity to write. She suggested making use of this space. That was a year ago and it has been truly life-changing.
2. How long have you been writing on Medium?
In two days, I will have been here for a full year.
3. If you have to choose one of the articles you wrote on Medium, which one will it be and why? ( Please don’t forget to share the link.)
I have three favorite stories, but this is my first and, ironically, was written to my first.
4. How do you measure success on Medium?
I measure my success in the feedback I receive and the people I reach. There is an amazingly untapped community here and I love being a part of it.
5. How do you choose your publisher(s)? Any secret recipes?
I created my own publication and I usually post here. Feel free to join me!
6. What is your strategy: a big publisher leads to more visibility, or a small publisher leads to more focus and real interaction?
My strategy is no strategy. I write to write. Success is an added bonus.
7. If you can give one single piece of advice to a newcomer to Medium, what will it be?
Be yourself. Be true to yourself. If you have a niche, use it. If you don’t, don’t feel pressure to find or create one. Your story is valuable. Don’t put a price tag on it.
8. What is the most pleasant experience you have had on Medium?
Last month one of my stories was boosted. So, I earned $65.46 last month which is about $20 more than usual. Beyond the paycheck, lol, my work reached a much wider audience than I usually reach, and I feel I grew as a result of both the confidence “boost” and feedback of fellow readers and writers.
This is the boosted article!
9. What is the least pleasant experience you have had on Medium?
My goal when I started on Medium was to write for one hour every weekday. Sometimes I do this without a problem and sometimes I struggle. In the beginning, the issue was often finding a topic. From this issue, the Bacon and Beach Day Writing Challenges were born.
I began creating monthly challenges for myself and publishing them for others who may also be struggling. This has been a great experience and a small community of like-minded writers was born.
In December of this year, I found myself ill with COVID and took some time off from Medium. I honestly didn’t think anyone would notice a missing writing challenge. However, not only was it missed, one of these community members stepped in, created a challenge for the month, and took on the responsibility of alternating months in creating challenges. Thank you Linda Osipow ~ Crazy, Almost Old Farm Wife.
Here is a list of our challenges if you could use some writing prompts.
10. In one word, how do you describe the experience with Medium and why?
Liberating. Medium has set me free. Here I have found a platform to share all aspects of my life, who I am, and how I came to be. I have stepped into all of my stories and they are all something to be proud of — each in their own way.
Writing on Medium, for me, is like when you come home from a hard day and slip into comfy pajamas. It is truly freeing, a place to be yourself.
11. You write because writing provides you with something special. Could you share your experience?
Funny you should ask! I just wrote about this yesterday!