Does Quantity Really Trump Quality?

Summary

The author joined Medium to connect with others, hone writing skills, and access unlimited articles, and while initially uninterested in the financial aspect, has since become intrigued by the earning potential, yet remains focused on the quality of writing over quantity.

Abstract

The author's primary reason for joining Medium was to foster connections and share thoughts with a broader audience, including friends and strangers. They sought to improve their writing skills, drawing on a lifelong passion for reading that began in early childhood. The decision to become a member was also influenced by the desire for unrestricted access to writers they admired. After five months on the platform, the author has observed the significance of Medium's algorithm in determining a writer's status and the community's apparent preoccupation with monetization. Despite the potential to earn money through writing, the author's main emphasis is on crafting and engaging with high-quality content. They express a preference for evocative, well-written, and informative pieces over the high-volume output that seems to be encouraged by the platform's metrics. The author is selective about the writers they follow and is more interested in emotional resonance, humor, and grammatical excellence than in the mundane details of everyday life. While the author does not expect to make a living from writing on Medium, they are pleased with the modest earnings that suggest a possible supplement to their income. Ultimately, the author values meaningful connections and creative expression on the platform, advocating for a community that prioritizes quality writing, constructive feedback, and kindness over financial gain.

Opinions

The author perceives Medium's algorithm as influential in shaping a writer's status but holds a dim view of its presence, as do many other writers.
There is a noticeable concern among writers and readers on Medium regarding making money, which was not the author's initial interest but has become a point of curiosity.
The author believes that writers on Medium are encouraged to prioritize quantity over quality, emphasizing the importance of churning out content to boost stats.
The author prefers to follow writers who produce evocative, brilliant, rich, and interesting writing, and is not interested in trivial personal anecdotes.
Grammatical correctness and a good working knowledge of English are important to the author, who identifies as a "grammar police."
The author does not anticipate earning a living from Medium but is encouraged by the possibility of supplementing their income, such as their coffee allowance.
The author's primary motivation for being on Medium is to connect with others, as echoed by E.M. Forster's quote "Only connect," which they frequently cite.
The author values creativity, vulnerability, and constructive criticism within the Medium community and advocates for less negativity and more kindness.

. . . or, what’s the objective for most writers on Medium?

photo by Windows on Unsplash

I joined Medium so that people I know, some of them my friends, as well as some people I don’t know, might know me better, perhaps resonate with what I might have to say, and connect. Also to hone skills as a writer having been an avid reader since before I could read (the story was told in my family about how I would sit on the couch with my older sister who was learning to read from one of the “See Spot Run,” or “Dick and Jane See Spot Run” books, listen to what she read, then repeat word-for-word everything she’d read turning the pages at appropriate times amazing everyone by how precocious I was at 2! Little did they know that it was a good ear and memory they were witnessing, not precociousness.)

But. Back to why I joined Medium. I also wanted unlimited access to some of the writers I’d read when I was availing myself of my three free reads a month as a non-member.

I’ve now been a member for 5 months, and my impressions have been many and varied. One of my overwhelming impressions is that there’s this thing called an “algorithm” that, apparently, Medium uses to decide who should be something called a “top writer” and various other things which I know nothing about. Most of those who’ve expressed an opinion about the “algorithm” seem to take a dim view of its presence. Another impression I’m developing is that it appears that the majority of writers and readers are concerned with making money. Truth be told, this was not something I was considering when I joined Medium, but seeing as I seem to have managed to earn almost $15 by now, it has piqued my curiosity. However, my main interest has been in the quality of the writing (mine and others’) rather than quantity. And yet . . . it appears that writers are encouraged to write write write regardless of content, proofreading, fact-checking or common sense. Just churn those pieces out and watch your stats skyrocket!

I’m in the process of culling the writers I wish to “follow,” although I haven’t figured out what the difference is between “following” and “follower.” I am interested in writing that is evocative, brilliant, rich and interesting, not reading what someone’s dog ate this morning (although I’ll be happy to let everyone know that I go to the supermarket once-a-week specifically to buy my dog a rotisserie chicken which I then shred and add to her veterinarian-prescribed food which she, being a princess, will not eat without something more exotic added to it.). I want to be moved emotionally, or at the very least informed of something I knew nothing about before. I want to laugh. I tend to be a grammar police so I appreciate pieces that are written with a good working knowledge of English, including punctuation, knowing the difference between their, there, and they’re as well as to, too and two and aw and awe (I like the latter).

I don’t expect to make a living writing. Getting my almost-$15 is encouraging me to think that possibly I can supplement my coffee allowance occasionally.

So this is why I’m here. I love to quote E.M. Forster frequently because when he says “Only connect,” this expresses probably my primary motivation for being here, writing what I’m writing, reading what I’m reading. Already I’ve met some I consider “friends”on this platform and am grateful to Medium for having brought us together. There are several reasons I’m not really in it for the money. Here are a couple: I’m still working and lucky enough to be making enough (although, to be sure, I am far from wealthy - although I might be considered so in many parts of the world) to live in one of the most expensive areas of the world (also one of the most beautiful and one that doesn’t have mosquitoes); I’m old, already have a career that is satisfying and gives me, occasionally, some material about which to write (I’d rather say: “some material to write about” but I know I’m not the only grammar Nazi on board here).

So here’s to more connecting, more creativity, more vulnerability and less bitter, back-stabbing negatively critical comments. Creative criticism yes. Kindness yes. And for those who aspire to it, money yes. Good luck to everyone in 2022. Let’s create a Medium we want.

If you are new to Medium, you may join by clicking on this link: https://medium.com/@patriciaross_63026/membership. A small part of your membership fee will not only support my writing but your reading times can support many great writers on this platform. You will have unlimited access to all the stories on Medium and you may even be inspired to write yourself and join the community of writers here.