Medium Doesn’t Have To Be So Difficult

I have a vision I think you might enjoy

Getting started on Medium is hard.

I mean, the writing part may be simple, and that innocent-looking “Publish” button may mock the perfectionist inside on a regular basis with its relative ease. And yet…

Getting people to follow, clap, engage, read… these are things that go far beyond the writers’ scope.

Audience notwithstanding, self-promotion to even one person often gives an author pause. We are more often than not an introverted people, after all. The words can have the spotlight; we simply wish to craft them and benefit from the spoils.

The Follower Game

One of the best and sometimes most difficult aspects of Medium is its community. Being able to support each other with a simple follow, with no obligation for more, is a rare treat in the world. Even offline, there are very few opportunities to do so; it literally costs one click and it’s done.

This is why people choose follow-for-follow so readily; it helps get the ball rolling from the dead stop we all begin at. (I wrote about my own variation of f4f here.)

That’s also the idea behind Follower To Follower; that one simple click repeated by many can seriously uplift a writer’s spirits. From the brink of despair, a hundred tiny miracles can pour in and trigger another dopamine rush to keep trying.

Even those fully committed to the track understand how powerful a motivator this can be. The climb to a meaningful soap box is steep; even 1000 doesn’t get halfway there.

Starting out on Medium takes months. For some, it may take years.

A Searchable Directory

I have a vision. Maybe not a world-changing one, but one I truly believe will improve the lives of many people, and help uplift the Medium experience for all — The Evergreen Directory.

Right now it may be a short list of names, but take a moment to see what I see:

I see a searchable directory of people and publications, completely active and sorted by user-defined categories. Pages upon pages of links for people to find a more targeted audience (and more targeted information) by utilizing the function of followers in Medium’s algorithm.

A vision of people connecting with others, all inspired to improve their lives for the better — whether as career writers or not — and meeting invaluable friends, colleagues, and contacts along the way.

I see a future where starting on Medium means being pointed to this directory and an entire world of communities opens up to choose from.

A future where people can connect, in an evergreen space, with others they know are still there, still listening, and willing to provide a foundation of support.

The Evergreen Community

Does that sound like a future you would look forward to? Here’s a few ways you can be part of that vision, too:

Submit a request to be on The Evergreen Directory

(currently both on Medium and on its dedicated site)

Support the directory on Patreon

(there are options to vote, as well as various perks for your support as well!)

Join the Facebook group

(a real-time community to share and connect in a group setting)

Submit Your Request Today!

Until next time, follow each other, follow the dopamine, and follow yourself, always!

Hey, look: a newsletter. And also Twitter. And Facebook.

Support writers, read without limits, and be part of the community — all for $5.