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Abstract

and get a paltry handful of reads, and that’s not really satisfying either. So they start reading about data driven writing, and that’s pretty uncomfortable too.</p><p id="8742"><b>What do we sacrifice as writers by consistently making our narratives easy to consume?</b></p><p id="486a">I make a distinction between clarity, which I value in all writing, and the depth of the reading experience. I want to read something that surprises me, that makes my brain light up in new, unexpected ways.</p><p id="7d19">A lot of us have writing lives outside of Medium, and what we share here is one slice of what we do.</p><p id="1fc5"><b><i>This article isn’t meant to be a critique — but maybe more of a self-examination. A pause. A moment to ask: is Medium helping or compromising the writer you want to be?</i></b></p><p id="eef8">For me, Medium is a tool to connect with other writers and learn from their skills. It’s a sandbox to try new things and see what works. But Medium isn’t the end goal, and like everything else, I have to be intentional.</p><p id="6ebd">I don’t want to sound like static.</p><p id="f682">What kind of writer do you want be? For me, pursuing wonder is important.</p><p id="f6e0">What’s important to you?</p><p id="aec6"><i>Want to get an email from me every time I publish? Join my email list by clicking <a href="https://medium.com/subscribe/@mercedesoleary">here</a>.</i></p><p id="cf56"><i>Writing and reading on Medium is fun. It’s like being part of a worldwide writing community. If you want to give it a try, use my referral <a href="https://medium.com/@mercedesoleary/membership">link</a> and I’ll get a little kickback.</i></p><p id="2422"><i>Thanks for reading! Here are some links to some more of my stories:</i></p><div id="c675"

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Is Writing Online Diminishing the Writer You Hoped to Become?

Embracing wonder in a data-driven writing landscape

Last week I read a lot of articles on Medium. I didn’t keep track, but by the end of the week, my brain hurt a little.

I felt like I was drinking weak tea. You know the feeling?

Some days, all the voices sound the same on Medium: authoritative, self-determining, and unabashed.

I’m not distinguishing myself from the pack: I’ve been developing a parallel voice that feels unfamiliar to me.

This isn’t bad…it’s just sometimes we risk sounding like static.

As a reader, I want to be led through the wilds of the mind — sometimes to a place of discovery, but not necessarily.

I want to read about leaning into a great unknown and trying to make sense of the senseless.

I want commitment to wonder.

People show up on Medium with all kinds of expertise. They show up to share the map of what they know about life.

People show up and write crisp essays that deserve acknowledgment and publication in traditional journals — but they know that the slush piles are deep and they’re tired of spending months waiting to receive rejection.

Then they post their beautiful ideas on Medium and get a paltry handful of reads, and that’s not really satisfying either. So they start reading about data driven writing, and that’s pretty uncomfortable too.

What do we sacrifice as writers by consistently making our narratives easy to consume?

I make a distinction between clarity, which I value in all writing, and the depth of the reading experience. I want to read something that surprises me, that makes my brain light up in new, unexpected ways.

A lot of us have writing lives outside of Medium, and what we share here is one slice of what we do.

This article isn’t meant to be a critique — but maybe more of a self-examination. A pause. A moment to ask: is Medium helping or compromising the writer you want to be?

For me, Medium is a tool to connect with other writers and learn from their skills. It’s a sandbox to try new things and see what works. But Medium isn’t the end goal, and like everything else, I have to be intentional.

I don’t want to sound like static.

What kind of writer do you want be? For me, pursuing wonder is important.

What’s important to you?

Want to get an email from me every time I publish? Join my email list by clicking here.

Writing and reading on Medium is fun. It’s like being part of a worldwide writing community. If you want to give it a try, use my referral link and I’ll get a little kickback.