Is it the End for Freelance Writers — Like Me — on Medium?

It’d be a shame for Medium to succumb to the bandwagon.

I’ve been reading about the changes to Medium’s algorithm, especially the part where they’re no longer showing “chosen for distribution” on our stats page.

It’s sad.

I started writing here in January and about 95% of my work was being distributed. I worked hard to ensure my article met the high standards required for the coveted title.

I was making good money, too, enough to pay a portion of my rent or buy groceries for my family. As a stay-at-home mom, I was elated. I was earning dough from the comfort of my home. My husband was happy for me too.

As a former journalist, I craved being among like-minded folks who love to read and write.

Medium was overwhelming at first. So I enrolled in a Medium course to help me understand the basics.

Online writing was different from traditional writing, which I was used to. I learned about tagging, settings, titles, SEO, top writer status, etc. I can kind of say I’m a Medium expert now.

Then the announcement about Medium’s new CEO, Tony Stubblebine, rocked my world mainly because he has repeatedly brought up subject matter experts as Medium's future.

We’re still waiting on what he means exactly. Because if he means what I think he means, I’m toast.

I’m no subject matter expert.

I’m a former journalist turned freelance writer. As a journalist, I interviewed models, fitness instructors, up-and-coming business entrepreneurs, women making a difference, environmental activists, fashion designers, doctors, restaurant owners, IT specialists, non-profits, and more.

As far as I know, most of the writers on Medium aren’t subject matter experts, either.

I guess you could say that Tim Denning and Sean Kernan, two popular Medium writers, are experts in online writing.

So is Jessica Wildfire, who is a tenured professor with a Ph.D. She writes a lot about the environment and politics, but as far as I know, she’s not a political expert or a teacher specializing in politics.

How about Katie Jgln? She’s a young woman writing about feminism, politics, and history. She’s no expert, but a damn good writer, like Jessica Wildfire.

In one of the interviews, he also said that his focus is on readers, not writers. That’s puzzling because if you don’t have good writers, you won’t have readers. Besides, we writers are the readers, too.

I took two courses on Personal Essay Writing from a writing teacher here. She’s an expert and has helped me write better essays.

Most people who write personal essays don’t have subject matter expertise, though. They write from experience and open their hearts to the readers. We get to take a peek into their lives and learn about ourselves.

I learned that there is beauty in exposing your hardship and struggles. It helps others. That’s the purpose of personal essays. You’ve got to focus on the big picture of why you’re writing that particular piece. It’s not a means for venting but more for reflecting.

Perhaps that’s what Tony means by subject matter expertise?

What’s troubling is that Tony is also the CEO of coach.me. It’s a place to find and train coaches. This may mean that Medium will seek writers who are coaches or experts in their niche subject.

For example, a trauma-informed coach could write about how to deal with trauma or a business coach could write about entrepreneurship.

They would be qualified to write about it because they are “subject matter experts.” This could also mean catering to those who are well-known and write on Medium, like Barack Obama, Patrick Stewart, and Katie Couric.

I guess Obama is an expert in politics, Stewart in acting, and Couric in broadcasting? Or can they write about things they’re exploring, and will that hold more weight because they’re famous?

I’d rather read from those directly affected than the experts, though.

I long to read about what it’s like to be autistic by Cassandra Peak; essays about healing after the loss of daughter to a rare cancer by Jacqueline Dooley; healing after narcissistic abuse by Chris Freyler; racism and its implications by Rebecca Stevens A.; how the war in Ukraine is affecting Canadians by Rayne Sanning; the witty humor of Captain Obvious; social issues affecting her in Japan by Yuko Tamura; and many more.

It’s the everyday people who show up to write — that’s what catches my soul. I’m not interested in coach-type, self-help writing about 3 Ways to Become Smarter or 5 Things You Should Do Now to Achieve Financial Freedom.

The market is already saturated with such writers. I came here to find ordinary people interested in learning the craft of writing—those who care about the craft more than the financial reward.

They’re real people going through real stuff. That’s why I joined Medium because it was unlike anything I’ve ever read. The diversity of the writers, the melting pot of cultures, the discussion and debate around a controversial topic, etc.

We’re writers but also avid readers of Medium. We’re both, Tony.

Now what?

Change is natural for any company, but will Medium be another site that caters to what “sells’’? The self-help hub with clickbaity titles? Promoting the popular writers and forgetting the potentials?

I hope not.

I have faith in Tony. He’s Coach Tony, after all. He has to be able to balance both sides without bias and choose the middle ground, right?

I’m crossing my fingers.