Summary

The author, Noah Nelson, advocates for the implementation of a chat feature on Medium to foster deeper connections and collaboration among writers.

Abstract

Noah Nelson, a journalism student and writer on Medium, expresses his desire for a direct messaging feature on the platform. He argues that while Medium's current commenting system allows for some interaction, it is limited and does not facilitate ongoing conversations. A chat feature, according to Nelson, would enhance the sense of community among writers by enabling them to engage in more personal and in-depth discussions about their work. He believes this would not only help writers to connect on a more meaningful level but also to share experiences, feedback, and support each other's growth, thus transforming Medium into a more tightly-knit writing community.

Opinions

Nelson values the feedback and interaction that Medium's commenting system provides but finds it insufficient for building lasting connections.
He sees a chat feature as a means to bridge the gap between writers, allowing for more direct and personal communication.
Nelson emphasizes the importance of knowing the person behind the writing, not just their work, to create a sense of belonging and camaraderie within the Medium community.
He compares Medium to other social platforms that have chat features, suggesting that Medium could benefit from adopting similar social networking tools.
Nelson is optimistic about the potential positive impact of a chat feature on Medium, despite acknowledging that such features can sometimes encounter issues.
He envisions the chat feature as a catalyst for making Medium the premier writing community, enhancing the overall experience for writers and readers alike.

Medium Should Let Writers Chat

Why do we not have this feature?

Medium is like anything in life.

It has its pros and cons.

That’s okay. It wouldn’t be the great platform it is today without some flaws.

There are so many things I wish Medium could do, and maybe they will in the future, but I’m only worried about things for now. Something that would help out all of us.

I wish Medium has a message feature.

Here’s why they should:

It Would Connect More Writers

One of the greatest features of Medium is that we can comment on one another’s stories.

It’s a way for us to gain feedback as a writer and give some too to fellow writers. It lets us know how we’re doing and how they are too.

But once we comment, that’s it.

Some folks reply and others just clap for the comment.

That’s it.

The conversation ends. And I just wish it wasn’t this way.

If Medium had a chat feature, like DM or PM, we would all be able to chat snd discuss anything about writing further. I know I would use it all the time.

It would connect us all in a way that would make us feel not part of an internet community but one big family.

Meeting other writers is a great skill to have as a writer. And the chat feature would allow us to make friends with fellow writers far beyond just a single comment.

It Would Bring Us Closer Together

I wish I knew more about other Medium writers.

Sure, the bios tell you a lot, and their blogs even more so. But I want to know the writer within.

What makes them tick?
Why do they write?
What’s their best writing moment?

These are the personal and important facts I want to know. Otherwise, it’ll just be like reading an author’s book from a bookstore.

We won’t ever know them on a personal level.

If Medium had a chat feature, we would then be able to find out more about each other. Thus, it would bring us closer together as a writing community and not just another writing platform.

These certainly help or try to, on other platforms like Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and more. Why not Medium?

It’s just as much of a social platform as all of the rest. Why not take advantage of it.

Anything that could help us become better writers.

Closing Thoughts

I love the Medium community.

I want to meet as many fellow writers as I can. So that’s what I try to do.

I want to know my:

Followers
Clappers
Subscribers
Referred members

I don’t want them to be just another person on the internet. I want us all to come together as the best writing community there is one chat at a time.

It may not be the best plan as some chat features do go haywire sometimes, but altogether, I think it would be beneficial for all of us.

Think about it: a chat feature could change the whole course of Medium.

Would You Use This Chat Feature?

Noah Nelson is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign majoring in journalism with minors in political science and history. He serves as a senior columnist for The Daily Illini, a writer on Medium, and the host of his blog called Nothing But Noah. “Life: A Collection of Short Stories” is his first book available now on Amazon. Like what you read? You can write for Medium too!