The Power Of Curation

A SONNET…a dedication to Medium curators….

This sonnet I wrote for two reasons, the first being that it’s the end of July and there will be many writers on Medium already checking their stats, and just maybe looking forward to a nice fat cheque.

And that is just great. I applaud success.

I, on the other hand, don’t need to check my stats. I already know that my payment will be less than $25, but more accurately, less than a dollar.

I’ve been with Medium for around two months. I’m a fledgling writer on this site, and so I have spent my time trying to work out exactly what makes some writers successful, understanding their raison d’etre, or even working out the format they use.

But try as I may, I cant.

I see lots of posts about how writers made huge amounts on one post. Again, this is lovely, but it’s never helpful for beginners.

I read a post by a highly-successful writer. It was extremely repetitive, without clear format, but hugely applauded. As she enjoys a huge following, I can only surmise that she will be a happy chappy today!

I read (and applauded) this cleverly-written story, about the task of the curator. It made me smile. The Dickensian tone really evoked from me, incredible sympathy for these poor sods who day after day, have to read the half-baked offerings of Medium writers.

There is a ton of meaning in this paragraph.

‘Wizened and wise, the Curator does not bother with the blackballed writers, of course. Malcontents banned from curation — for that is surely a thing — have their works bound in an entirely separate volume. He reads it not. Instead he stores a flask in its hollowed out pages. He takes a swill from it now, a little nightcap. For good measure, he retrieves his silver snuffbox and inhales deeply of its… curative powders.’

In that moment I wondered. Is it really the case that curators get to know the writers who haven’t cut it in past posts?

And are they thereafter, overlooked?

And tell me. Can they ever pass curation?

It’s a sobering thought.

Life on Medium is stressful, for a beginner.

We really don’t know what is going on in those hallowed halls of judgement.

Nor do we know how to improve.

For there is no feedback.

That’s disappointing.

So, drawing on Angela Volkov’s perspective, I wrote this sonnet. It’s something I haven’t done since high-schools days.

But I love the challenge.

My sonnet embraces the other side of curation.

And the dearth of feedback.

Dear curators…

Another day has come, and you must ply

Your judgement on some writing pieces writ.

You open up your laptop and you sigh… (for)

You’re sure that much you read will be pure shit.

And you find…

Some fledgling, who is writing in the hope

That just this once her post may have appeal.

You groan, because you know she is a dope.

You close her down, and you her pride do steal.

And so…

You closed her down, but you forgot to tell

Her why on earth she failed the test again.

You thumbed your nose. You sent her back to hell.

Where writing sucks. And your response? ‘Amen’.

Perhaps…but…

Curator though you be, you’ll not subdue.

This writer who will live and live anew.