I Have 29 Drafts Awaiting Decision from Medium Pubs, and It’s Frustrating

Summary

A new Medium user is expressing frustration over the lengthy review process for their submitted articles to various Medium publications, despite initial quick responses, and is seeking clarity on the review time frames.

Abstract

The author, a recent joiner to the Medium community, has experienced a significant delay in the review of their 29 drafts by Medium publications, which contrasts with the quicker responses they received initially. They have been published by top publications like StartUp but are now facing extended waiting periods for feedback on newer submissions. The author is conflicted about withdrawing their submissions, fearing it may seem unprofessional or miss the chance of acceptance. They acknowledge the challenges of getting into editorial groups and the potential impact of the pandemic on response times. The author is seeking more transparency from Medium regarding the review process to better manage their expectations and motivation.

Opinions

The author values the opportunity to be published on Medium but finds the current review times, which extend up to three weeks, to be frustrating and demotivating, especially when compared to the initial quick response pattern.
They appreciate the difficulty of the editorial process and do not wish to criticize the publications or editors, understanding that Medium contributions are often side endeavors.
The author believes that some of their recent submissions are their best work and is concerned that these might be overlooked due to the prolonged review process.
There is a sense of uncertainty about whether to withdraw submissions that are taking an unusually long time to review, with concerns about how this action might be perceived by editors.
The author has heard of other writers being accepted into editorial groups after a long wait, leading to a belief that patience could be rewarded, but they are unsure if this is just luck or a general rule to follow.
They recognize the potential impact of global events, such as the pandemic, on the editorial review times and empathize with the challenges faced by the Medium community.
The author suggests that Medium could improve

I Have 29 Drafts Awaiting Decision from Medium Pubs, and It’s Frustrating

It takes time to review, I know. But almost a month?

I’m new to Medium. I only joined this community for about a month and a half ago, and I still need to learn quite a lot. While I was able to grasp the basics, some questions remain unanswered. One of them is: is there a reason publications take a long time to review articles right now when they usually reply quickly? And why some authors are waiting longer than others?

Having a Good Start

I was fortunate enough to gain interest from the top publication, StartUp. They published several of my articles, such as my rant about Elon Musk, my thoughts regarding the airline industry, and the Airbnb-related story. However, it seems to be taking a long time for them to review and accept or decline my newer articles. I noticed that some other publications operate the same way.

I Truly Appreciate Every Pub; It’s Just Upsetting

I don’t want to complain or talk negatively about pubs. I understand that Medium is a side hustle, secondary job, or merely a hobby for many members. But once you notice publication’s pattern to deciding within a reasonable time frame, it’s hard to accept a sudden change.

When the usual review time is around 2–3 days, waiting for three weeks is almost painful. I understand that my article may not be good enough, and I’m fine accepting a rejection. I also realize it makes sense to pull this submission from a pub if it’s taking them forever to review. But should I?

In all honesty, several articles I submitted recently were my best work, and they are much better compared to the ones a publication accepted and published earlier. I wouldn’t feel too good retracting a submission, knowing it could have been accepted. Not to mention, would it feel unprofessional? I don’t know if the editors are reviewing my article and deciding, so if I remove my submission — how would it look like?

Editorial Groups are Even More Frustrating

I sent a few articles to the editorial groups. I’m not naive, and I know it’s a challenge to get accepted to those. So, if I don’t get a response within two weeks — or whatever the time frame is — I simply submit my story to another publication. However, I heard a few writers mentioning a longer review time. I read about people being accepted into editorial groups simply because they chose to wait for a little bit. Was that pure luck, or should it be viewed as a general rule?

The Pandemic Made It More Difficult for Everyone

I’m also not sure if the current events around the world are affecting response times. Naturally, a lot of Medium members are Americans, and the United States is suffering more than most on the planet. On top of that, people are going through hardships, and I can understand why everything is slowing down.

I’m trying to be reasonable and understanding while attempting to figure out how editors approach this process. Are my articles being reviewed, but it’s taking more time? Are there too many submissions, because a lot of us have more free time to write? Or are my articles simply subpar, and I should work harder and be smarter? I would be OK with the last option, despite it being bad news for me. Learning and improving is my ultimate goal.

Clarity is the Key

It would be nice to have some clarity. I will probably go through all 29 drafts and submit them to different pubs soon. But, in my opinion, it would be easier for the authors to get a general understanding of the time frames. I hope the situation will change soon, but as a new author, I feel like I’m losing motivation. I’m also trying to succeed on Medium, and a three week wait time is making it a little bit more complicated.

Our personal lives and real jobs are a priority, which is why I have no intention of criticizing other media members. It would be a huge relief to get more transparency regarding the time frames. Maybe Medium can implement some general rules? I’m new here; I’m not sure how it works. Thank you for listening.