Like A Blank Canvas
A path to creativity
My first story was published on Medium about a month ago.
As I evaluate my progress with writing on this platform, I find it to be a substantial learning opportunity. While I joined Medium in February, I took time to learn the navigational aspects of the mobile app and the web-based portal.
“Find your niche” was the phrase I most frequently encountered as I read through the many articles giving guidance for success as a new member of the Medium community.
In reality, my niche has been in place for many years. Still today, photography remains the foundation for my creativity. Many images created over the years have been tucked away, with the stories behind them untold. Connecting words to those images is the next step in the advancement of the creative mission I am on.
I have learned that Medium can serve as this beautiful blank canvas that will facilitate the release of the stories locked into so many of those images.
In light of the broad viewing membership in Medium, I am undertaking two initiatives to support my writing.
Good grammar is necessary for effective writing, so I enrolled in an online grammar refresher course at a local college. Well worth the investment.
The second investment made for ensuring good grammar is Grammarly. A little intimidated, I found myself saying, “How dare you to change those words? Those are my words!” However, I have grown comfortable using Grammarly and find it quite instructive in pursuing good writing. It again is well worth the money.
Competitive is the word I might use to describe becoming and remaining visible on Medium. Initially, your post is at the top of the publication, only to see it rapidly drop as new posts are accepted.
I now understand the advice to post regularly. Take a break, and you lose visibility. As good as your story might be, keeping you as a writer visible can be challenging when it gets lost in the mix of all the other good stories. New material is a must to be remembered.
Commitment to the platform appears to be the key to achieving success. As a new member, I am far from successful, but I am beginning to understand the dedication it may take to get there.
Medium is just the blank canvas I’ve been seeking. It is user-friendly, straightforward, and looks like the perfect vehicle to take down the creative highway I am traveling.
I have a lot of photographic resources that have been idle for a long time.
That’s where it started, back in the middle ’70s.
That said, it’s time to start connecting more words to images!
Thanks to all who have supported me as I start on this adventure!
I am grateful to In Living Color for accepting my first submittals to a publication on Medium.
Equal gratitude goes to SNAPSHOTS for accepting additional first submittals.
More articles on Medium from this writer here.