Writing | Relationships | Conversation

Editorial Tips Bulletin October 13, 2020

Join the Conversation

Well hello there.

In case we’ve never met, I’m Tree Langdon, an editor on Medium. I’m continuously inspired by the talented writers I’ve met here. I’d really like to get to know you too.

We are proud to support different levels of writers — aspiring, experienced, accomplished, and influential. You each play an important role here.

We listen to our writers.

Small Yet Powerful Bites By Tree

Have you ever tried to go to sleep in a room with a single mosquito in it?

You lie there, clutching a sheet around your head as a protective covering, listening to the shrill whine as it searches for a way in.

You almost fall asleep and feel a delicate tickle on your cheek so you whack yourself in the face trying to kill it.

Tiny things can make huge a difference.

Here’s a small idea that can make a huge difference to your readers.

Let’s face it. Most people scan an article, looking for the take aways.

Different people read for different reasons. Some are looking for entertainment. Others hope to gain information. Your formatting should be tailored to the type of reader you are targeting.

• If someone reads to gain information, they want to find it quickly and in a concise format. Scannable content in small bites works best.
• Use Titles, subtitles, quotes, and short text blocks.
• Give them some white spaces.
• Readers who want entertainment are more likely to enjoy some dialogue, although it should be properly formatted with spaces between speakers.

First impressions count but keeping your reader happy is key.

Focus on one small improvement at a time. When you look back in a few months you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see how much your work improved.

Nurturing growth and success is up to every one of us.

To keep it interesting, I’ll shine a light on solutions to some of your difficulties and answer any questions that come to me each day.

I’ll also share one of the many ways I have discovered to connect with fellow writers and readers.

Writers Can Make Meaningful Change!

Our hardworking editorial team has been fine-tuning Illumination’s Submission Guidelines. I’m happy to present them to you here.

Have a look. There are changes that may affect the articles that you submit.

This concept of collaboration is huge and has resulted in some interesting synergies. It’s unusual to find a situation where editors of one publication encourage their writers to support another publication, but that is what they do.

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” — Booker T. Washington

We maintain that diversity is enhanced by sharing information within the writing community and we will all benefit in the long run.

I agree.

Today’s Challenge- Join the Conversation:

Here are the stories the Words In Motion writers wanted to bring to your attention.

Let’s read them and give them the love they deserve.

Susannah MacKinnie

Danell teNyenhuis Black

Kate Lynch

Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D.

Lokajit Tikayatray

Glad Doggett

Sharon Hurley Hall

Introducing the writers at Words In Motion.

Eli Snow, Lokajit Tikayatray, Emmanuel Addo Anderson, Geetika Sethi, Kate Lynch, Susannah MacKinnie, Sharon Hurley Hall, Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D., Cristo Lopez, PhD, QuadConjures, Kiran Yasmin, Aamna I. Rizvi, Bridget Cougar, Shivangini Patel, Shannon Hugman, Maria, Glad Doggett, Anthony M. Davis, Dew Langrial, Karen Madej, Ajay Gupta, B. A., Paroma Sen, Ashwin, Danell teNyenhuis Black, Audrey Dixon

Our team of editors and writers are ready and willing to assist you with any questions or problems you may be experiencing.

Keep reading to see how you can have that conversation, but first, let’s explore your questions about writing.

Answers to your Burning Questions

Do you have a burning question?

This is your opportunity. Add your question as a comment here and I’ll be happy to answer it.

Let’s share our experiences and learn from each other.

Here’s one thing I learned along the way.

How Do I Use Tags?

Tags are a useful tool for a writer on Medium and they can be used in several ways.

Medium allows you to add up to five tags to your story.

The Medium algorithm uses them to connect readers to your stories.

Tags are sometimes confused with Topics, which are broad categories used by Medium to allow you to choose subjects you are interested in reading about. When you tell Medium what your interests are, you’re talking about Topics.

To see the available Topics Medium uses, click on your profile image and select Customize Your Interests.

Sometimes Tags and Topics are the same.

Stories about Humor — the Topic, will often have Humor — the Tag added by a writer who is savvy about these things.

Choose Tags that are relevant to your story. The Medium algorithm looks at your Title, your Text, and your Tags when deciding which readers to put your article in front of. If you choose a Tag that has nothing to do with your Title and your Text, you may confuse the algorithm and disappoint the reader.

Never disappoint the reader.

Let’s assume you’ve selected Humor as your first Tag. (Note, spell it using the Medium convention. The Tag Humour will come up but it’s not an official Topic, which defeats the purpose.)

The selection of the next four should also be relevant to your Title and Text as well and this is the moment you have a chance to expand your readership horizons.

You could go for another Tag that is also a Topic, such as Travel if you’ve written a funny story about your recent trip.

If you choose Comic or Satire as your second Tag, you will likely be covering some of the same readers as Humor. The choices are endless.

Political Satire, Parenting, Workplace are all Tags that might relate to your story and connect you with a wider audience.

Tags and Publications.

I didn’t know this until I created my own publication. It’s Words In Motion if you are interested in finding out how you can become a writer.

When you design your publication, you’re able to create pages that sort writer stories into categories, that you define. They appear along the lower border of your header. As you can see for Illumination, the categories are Business, Poetry, Fiction, Philosophy, Science, Technology, and Self Improvement.

If your Title and Topic relates to any of the above, select it as a Tag.

Custom Tags

I know several writers on Medium that always use their name or a specific unique word as a Tag for their stories. They use it as a custom search tool and swear by it. Publications will sometimes use the name of their publication as a Tag to increase visibility and to allow readers to more easily find their stories.

Tags demystified. — Voila!

Writers Connect to Build Engagement!

As a lifelong learner, I gather new ideas by observing how other writers engage with their readers.

When you’re shooting for the Moon, don’t forget to notice the Trees.

A good conversation is a two-way street. We sometimes get caught up in telling our story from our point of view. It’s good to step back and listen once in a while.

If you test these ideas for yourself, tag me, and let me know how it worked for you.

Curious About How to Join Slack?

We collaborate with published authors, bloggers, and other service providers to extend our network. Join us on our Slack channel to participate.

Slack is our main communication tool. You can send a request via this link to join. Mention “slack request” in the message.

We’re here to support you and want you to be successful.

All we ask in return, is that you do the same.

Catch up on previous bulletins.

Triaging your writing

Say hello to Frugal Friday, a publication dedicated to saving time and saving money.

Creating a Passion Project allows you to research and write about a topic that you love. Discover The First Solution Publication and some helpful tips.

Introducing the counter-intuitive concept of cross-pollination between publications.

From the basics to the complicated, here is a summary of tips I’ve discovered to improve your images and use them to connect with a wider audience of readers.

An insider’s view as we create the Urban Food Project and how to increase profile views.

The steps to create your own Project to make a meaningful difference.

Greetings to a few of our newer writers and some who have been here for a bit longer. I hope you found something interesting in this article. Jump in and start a conversation.

It’s the best way to connect and the connection is how you increase engagement.

Dr. John Rose, Alison Tennent, Earnest Painter, B. A. Cumberlidge., Timothy Key, Desiree Driesenaar, Claire Michaeljohn, QuadConjures, Infiniti, Eli Snow, Daniel G. Clark, Eashan Reddy Kotha, Paroma Sen, Keno Ogbo, James G Brennan Uchechi Obasi, Timothy Key, Holly Jahangiri, Joe Luca, Charlotte Zobeir Ali, Kathryn A. LeRoy, Ph.D. Earnest Painter, Eeva Metssalu, Geetika Sethi, Liam Ireland, CR Mandler MAT, Agnes Laurens

Welcome new writers: Abhay Bansal, David L.E, Paul Hobbs, Joshua Bolstad, Elena Emma, Sau-Wai Wong, Anysha Layne, Fayyaz Baig, anniewood, Rachid Bekhechi, Jacqueline Rich, Amanda Daniels, Suresh Kumar, Ed Adityawarman, Samantha Oosterling, Sofia Isabel Kavlin, Adam Mordecai, Adam Mordecai, Pelin(e) Kaya, Zen Michael, S. J. Wynn, Chandra Shekhar Sahoo, Mynah Marie, Seth Walters, Cecily Lawless, Sherry S, René Phongam, DPT, Terry Trueman, Paul Lombardo, Mark Todman, emily gwynne, Brainy Queen, Dr. Deborah M. Vereen-Family Engagement Influencer, Jax Hudur,

If you know someone who might want to join our growing, joyful, and supportive publication as a writer, please leave a message via this link.

Collaboration is a two way street. Join the conversation and be a part of this meaningful change.

Tag me @treelangdon or add a message to this post if you’d like to connect. I’m a ‘Top Writer’ in Poetry on Medium.