Summary

The article discusses the popularity of sex-related content among Medium readers, suggesting that stories with sexual themes often outperform other types of content.

Abstract

The author of the article reflects on the trend observed across various publications on Medium, noting that stories featuring themes of sex, death, or addiction tend to attract more reader attention. Despite the quality of non-sexual content, the author humorously points out that readers seem to have a penchant for "smut," as evidenced by the high performance of such stories in publication stats. The article also mentions specific writers, such as Michelle A. Cmarik and Laurel B. Miller, who have successfully leveraged this trend with their own work, and it suggests that even a touching story about a family event can gain more traction if it includes sexual elements. The author encourages readers to appreciate and read stories for their quality, not just for their sexual content.

Opinions

The author believes that Medium readers have a particular interest in reading about sex, as indicated by the popularity of related stories.
There is a humorous critique of readers' preferences, labeling them as "depraved, horny bastards" for their interest in sex-themed content.
The author acknowledges that sex-themed stories can be of high quality and written by excellent writers, but their success is partly attributed to the sensational nature of their content.
The article implies that the success of sex-related stories can be frustrating for writers who produce a wide range of content, as it overshadows other meaningful work.
The author suggests that including sexual content or themes in a story's title can be a strategy to attract more readers, likening it to the success of "Fifty Shades" despite its literary shortcomings.
The author, while poking fun at the readers' preferences, also admits to being part of the audience that is drawn to such content.
There is an appeal to readers to diversify their reading choices and appreciate stories for their merit beyond just sexual appeal.

Medium Readers: You Are a Bunch of Depraved, Horny Bastards

Sex cults, massage parlors, Z-list models

image hastilly created by author using AI

Here’s what AI thinks is a beautiful girl. Do I have your attention?

After editing for several publications over the last few years, many trends have appeared before my very average eyes. News Flash: The stories that do well are the ones that talk about sex or death or addiction or some other seductive topic.

Outside of the humor pubs I frequent, the places I generally call home aren’t traditionally made for that kind of smut, but you fucks seek it out. In fact, Medium promotes it.

Pub stats will show you the truth. Generally, it’s the sexy pieces that do the best.

Screenshot by author of The Memoirist Stats page this morning.

You naughty, naughty people. We see you.

That’s not to say that these stories aren’t good or the writers aren’t good. In fact, these are excellent stories by excellent writers. But those sexy stories are swimming in the same pool as everyone else’s, and one explanation for their rise to the top is that you people are a bunch of sickos that want to read smut all day.

Maybe it’s like “fifty shades” syndrome: a poorly written story edited for shit and pumped out to the masses but people loved it because it was about sex.

You all really are a bunch of depraved fucks.

Oh, I’m kidding. Don’t get your panties inside of a twist. You know I’ll use any excuse I can to hurl invectives as far as humanly possible. And we’re all depraved. I’m as likely to click on those stories as you are.

But seriously, I can’t get over the amount of wonderful work being done out there, and you fools wanna read about stats and sex.

My friend and editor Michelle A. Cmarik writes some of the best stories on Medium — both sexy and not. We joke that people are drawn to saucy titles like moths to a flame. They can’t help themselves.

We think if you put sex in the title it will get you some attention. In fact, she’s working on an inspiring piece of literature now she calls, “SEX, SEX, SEX, We bought our first house and had SEX, SEX, SEX, EVERYWHERE and I banged my limo driver!” (Michelle, I may have taken liberties with your title.)

But seriously. Can’t get any reads on your touching piece about Aunt Mildred’s funeral? Write about banging your third cousin in the coat closet at the wake. That should help.

Write about your sexcapades. Your open marriage. Your affair. Your brief modeling career. Your trip to Bangkok. Your cocaine bender in Daytona behind the dumpster at Applebee's.

My other good friend kasey sparks has written extensively about her failed marriage and affair, and those pieces are her best performers. It can be disheartening because that is only one aspect of who we are. We can pour our hearts into a memoir about our first car or a wild family vacation and nobody cares.

Another one of my favorite writers, Laurel B. Miller of the Sweary Mommy publication and former Z-list model, knows how well pieces can do when handled the right way. I edited her first “Z-List Model” piece and was thrilled that it went viral. I wasn’t thrilled because it was sexy, which it was, but I was thrilled because it was a funny, relatable, entertaining piece of writing. (Laurel, I barely edited it because you are awesome.)

To be clear, I have no problem with these stories skyrocketing to fame. But it does make me laugh to know that our true colors are shown by what kinds of stories we’re attracted to. Fellow editor Suzanne Pisano pointed out that a story about our first car is far less compelling than a story about the first car we had sex in.

I don’t know what I’m trying to say here. Maybe it’s that I see you, readers. We know who you are.

But come up for air once in a while and read something because it’s a great story, not because it’s sexy.

That is all.