How to Rock on Medium
Medium Success Isn’t Guaranteed, Even for Great Writers
You Have to Play the Game and Be a Great Friend
The longer I spend on Medium, the more I realize how important other factors besides my writing come into play. There is much to do daily in order to reach certain goals and targets that I have for myself. Sometimes it feels like a lot.
Once I fell in love with writing, I knew what I wanted. People will often ask you what your immediate goals are when you interview for a job. They will sometimes inquire as to where you see yourself in a year, or perhaps five years down the road.
Those questions used to drive me nuts when I was a young adult and barely starting out in life.
How am I supposed to know what 23-year-old Professor’s life is going to look like? I was 18 when I was first asked one of those standard-issue job interview questions. Even at 23, my brain wouldn’t be fully formed for a couple of more years. Those questions seemed ridiculous to me.
As we get older, we start realizing more about life. After working retail for ten years, I knew I wanted something more in life than sucking shit from some dumbass manager who I was smarter than. And a 20-year career in real estate isn’t nearly as appealing as it used to be.
Being a paid, professional writer is by far my favorite thing I’ve ever done. I’m either writing or editing and sometimes managing my publication from first thing in the morning until right before bedtime. Time flies when you’re having fun daily.
This is possible because I’m doing what I love. It’s fun and creative, and I’m good at it. I plan on this being my career until the end.
But will being a good writer be the only factor in whether I achieve success or not? Well, that depends on what you consider success to be. There are a number of aspects of success that I think of when I attempt to define it.
When somebody asks me what my end-game is for writing, and what I hope to accomplish at the pinnacle of my writing career, I always think of one thing:
It always goes back to Madonna on January 14th, 1984. After performing on Dick Clark’s show, American Bandstand, a tired, sweaty Madonna answered Dick’s question about what she wanted to accomplish as she was gaining popularity.
“To Rule the World.”
And rule she did. Madonna has had a long, successful career and become a worldwide celebrity. But was it only because she was one of the most talented singers during the 80s and beyond?
Hell no. You can only get so far on talent alone.
Many other factors come into play when you have big dreams. To even get a record deal at the beginning was defying the odds for her. Madonna wasn’t born to somebody with connections within the music industry. She didn’t have fame and wealth before becoming a singer.
She worked her ass off. She took chances. She made an image, a persona of someone who was powerful, confident, sexy, and ambitious. The singing, dancing, fashion choices, and the connections she sought out and made.
Our writing can be amazing. It can be inspirational, hilarious, intelligent, and witty. We can post cool pictures, use catchy titles, and write better than many people here on this platform.
But that’s not enough.
For the ambitious writers who I’ve chatted with, it’s not enough. You have to give people a reason to want to read your writing. Even if you’re offering some of the best articles and blogs to the masses, how do you stand out amongst the multitude of Medium readers and writers out there?
You care. You try. You support, and you interact. You have to be a good neighbor to the Medium community if you expect people to come to your house and visit, to read your writing.
I’ve found that being a friendly, accepting, and encouraging Medium member has helped my writing career. There is no way that I’d have made it as far as I have on Medium in two years if I’d only written and published articles every day.
If I hadn’t read and followed so many other Medium writers each and every day, I’d have never met so many new friends to support.
If I didn’t answer any of the comments left on my writing pieces, I’d never have built friendships and bonds with my loyal followers.
If wasn’t appreciative enough of the people supporting me and never clapped for anyone’s kind, encouraging words, I wouldn’t continue to be supported as much as I am.
If I hadn’t offered to coach people and be open to answering their questions, many wouldn’t give a damn about visiting my page daily.
If I didn’t make Bouncin’ and Behavin’ Blogs TWO open to most writers, regardless of their experience level, we wouldn’t have such a wonderful new pub.
If I relied only on publishing my writing and ignoring all of the above, I’d be much further behind on my Writer’s Journey and might never reach the personal goals I have for myself.
If you want to succeed as a writer and have your writing read and appreciated by a far larger audience than you have now, you have to do more than just be a good writer.
We have a ton of good writers here on Medium. I know this, I’m friends with quite a few of you. Your writing makes me laugh and think every day. Sometimes, it moves me to tears.
Give people a reason to give a damn about your success. It all starts with being a good human and a thoughtful neighbor. &:^)
© 2024 Jason Provencio. All rights reserved.
