Here’s My Commitment To Being A Supportive Editor — Formatting Edition

Formatting can be confusing and I’m here to help!

Writing on Medium can be an adventure, especially as you’re navigating medium publications that have almost identical requirements for almost identical purposes, with a one-rule difference.

Being an editor can also be a lot of work, especially given that this work is entirely voluntary. The added pressure is often writers want their pieces published immediately because the more time it’s out there, the more potential income from eyeballs scanning.

It’s a constant balance between trying to not burn out myself (my boundary) and making sure that my comments are supportive and useful (supporting writers).

Formatting Matters, But I’m Here To Help

Though Medium’s writing user interface is pretty straightforward and analogous to writing on other word-processing software, not everyone has the same experience to writing.

You’re here as a writer, not as an Expert Formatter.

I mean, if you’re an expert formatter, I’m grateful. It saves me time.

I have specific formatting rules to keep a consistent interface for readers, but I try my best to scaffold developing those skills in comments when I notice that something is off.

1. I might leave a private message to note the formatting guideline. I do this as a first resort because in addition to being an editor on this platform, I write. There are so many publications out there and each “publication guidelines” page reads as long as a terms of conditions and incrementally differ from the previous. I still read it, but to expect my brain to keep track of 101 publications and be able to keep track of all the minute details fails to take into account how the human brain works. I leave this guideline as a gentle reminder that this is the way we do things around here, and honestly, this is where most writers politely and swiftly make their edits.
2. If someone is stuck, I try to find a guide on Medium for implementing that format. I like the concept of supporting someone to learn the skill, especially since part of their road to success will involve knowing how to implement something like captioning photos appropriately for other publications too. I might search to find a step-by-step guide to Medium formatting so that this writer will be able to use this skill for other publications as well, and be able to fix it for other things they submit.
3. Sometimes, you’re just super stuck, and I’m here to support that as well. If a guide doesn’t work, I might fix a formatting deviation myself so as to “model” what it looks like. Sometimes, when you just describe something or read something as instructions, it doesn’t translate until you see the example. I try to do this where I can, though sometimes for formatting it can be hard, especially for sourcing captions appropriately from a captionless photo. (Google reverse search has thankfully been a great support!)

If you’re a writer reading this, I hope this encourages you to ask those questions necessary because I’m happy to support that journey of finally getting these Medium / publication formatting “just right”.

If you’re an editor reading this, you’ll notice just how much extra time, effort and patience this might take. I understand that larger publications with higher volumes of submissions won’t be able to do this, and opt to reject outright on formatting. Or, as I’ve experienced, rude comments about quality (i.e., “your work is subpar” over one (1) single error). I get it. With volume, frustration really builds over needing to prompt the same things over and over again that seem so simple.

I think that’s why The Brain is a Noodle exists. We’re small. By “we”, I mean “me, myself and I”. In the Medium world, we are small business, whereas other publications might be akin to big corporations.

The weakness of this small publication vibe is that:

• I can’t turn around edits to you and have things published within the hour, but I commit to doing it within 72 hours. I also give writers more leeway in times for submission because you, as a writer, deserve rest too.
• We’ve had some golden hits with the Medium algorithm but we’re not a publication that automatically gets reviewed for curation.

The strength of the small publication vibe is that with each of these weaknesses, I try to provide an alternative advantage.

• Longer edit / publish times: I give more support surrounding edits and formatting, and champion rest and recuperation instead of fast, immediate deadlines. I’m sure people would love to hear about your cat poem, but whether it’s published today or tomorrow won’t matter as much. Cats are eternally loved. ♥
• Not spotlighted by Medium: I actively promote new and old pieces published with The Brain is a Noodle, and continually experiment with new ways to promote your articles. The difference between The Brain is a Noodle and a larger publication is that we have a small enough number of pieces that in addition to promoting new pieces, I can continually promote your old ones too. I designed it this way around the idea of rest because sometimes we feel pressured on this platform to create, create and create more. Let me promote some of your older, completed pieces because I’m sure there is value and comfort to be taken in words you wrote a year ago too.

Where I Draw the Line

• I will not leave a nasty comment over a formatting piece. And if I ever get to this point, call me out on it. Over this year and a half on Medium, I’ve received the nastiest comments from editors. Most importantly, I want to distinguish between the shitty feeling of receiving edits and feeling imposter syndrome (which is a me thing I have to handle) vs. actively receiving harassment over what was honestly a simple mistake. Having experienced this, I commit to editing pieces only when I’m in the headspace to be patient. Not everyone has the same writing experience.
• Wherever I can, I will suggest an edit and let you decide whether to publish with TBIN. This allows you as the writer to adopt this formatting or to go with a different publication that allows your existing piece to be published. Sometimes, that’s the right choice given the artistic outcome you want for your piece and I respect that. (Tag me or share it with me in some way and I’m still happy to share it on social media as part of my tweeting archives!)
• If I absolutely have to reject a piece, I usually a) give a reason and b) give alternate suggestions if I know of any. Sometimes, I receive pieces that just don’t fit with the publication goals (e.g., highly technical technology commentary with lots of jargon). In these instances, I try my best to give a reason and also to give alternate options if I know of any. I’ve found that it helps writers narrow down where their pieces should go instead of having someone try again with a different article on the same topic/ with the same errors. Instead of rejecting them and having them guess in the dark why their piece is being rejected, they get to know and get suggestions for a better place or how to fix the issue.

I don’t promise that I have all the answers to supporting your formatting needs, but I sure have guidelines and resources saved for anything that my publication requires.

At the end of the day, I hope to continue promoting and supporting writers because we’re in this together. I have just as much to learn from you. ♥

Hi I’m Lucy Dan 蛋小姐 (she/her/她) and I hope this sheds a light on different kind(s) of editors out there and the publications that are available on Medium. TBIN may not be the biggest publication out there, but that allows me the tailoring and connection where I can provide my writers as much support as I get from them deciding to house their piece with me. This connection is a living, breathing relationship where it’s not just about me getting your written labour and me providing “exposure”. I hope this encourages more people to consider small publications on Medium, whether it’s mine or others striving to provide this quality of excellence!

Most days, you can find me 🐤 tweeting or 📷 snapping photos of eggs , or humming IU songs while I work on 📚 promoting my first ever poetry book,🎤recording poetry podcast episodes, or✍ making hella cute poetry-themed journals. What’s next? Hop down this reading rabbit hole or support this piece by I. Trudie Palmer!!