Summary

The website content introduces the "Publication Squad," a collection of Medium publications with unique artwork and themes, aimed at providing readers with engaging content on various topics including finance, health, and aviation, while also inviting writers to contribute.

Abstract

The "Meet the Publication Squad" article on Medium discusses the creation and vision of a series of publications curated by the author. These publications, each with its own distinct identity and commissioned artwork, are designed to offer readers a respite from the monotony of typical business and money-related content. The squad includes "Overlords" for stories on power dynamics, "Money Clip" for accessible financial advice, "Health Tonic" for health-related topics including the impact of the pandemic, and "The Mile High Club" for aviation stories. The author emphasizes the importance of engaging, empowering, and well-formatted content, and provides submission guidelines for writers interested in contributing to these publications.

Opinions

The author expresses a strong distaste for generic and uninspired publication design, particularly those that resemble corporate materials, which prompted the commissioning of new, more engaging artwork.
There is a clear preference for content that is interesting and exciting, even when dealing with conventionally "dry" topics, to ensure that reading remains a pleasurable experience and not a continuation of work-related stress.
The author values the reader's experience and aims to create a welcoming and enjoyable environment through carefully selected and edited content that stands in contrast to the dry and unengaging material often found in the financial industry.
The submission guidelines reflect a commitment to quality and a desire to maintain the integrity and tone of each publication, with an emphasis on adhering to formatting and curation standards.
The author acknowledges the potential for delays in publishing submitted stories due to a deliberate pace intended to maximize exposure and engagement for each piece of content.
A satirical and empowering tone is encouraged, particularly in "Overlords" and "Money Clip," while "Health Tonic" is allowed a more serious tone to address significant health issues, including those experienced by the author during the pandemic.

Meet the Publication Squad

The squad is here to round out your experience on Medium

**Submission guidelines for writers are at the bottom of this article. Everything before that is my vision for the publications I run.**

About a month ago, I finally snapped.

I was taking one of my nightly tours around Medium, and by chance stumbled across a random publication.

Just like my publication Money Clip, this publication also focused on money and business-related stories. Money and business can be such dry topics, which is something I’m sensitive to when I write my stories.

I always try to ensure that no matter how dry the topic, I find a way to tell the story in a way that’s interesting and exciting.

Because I’m often interested in conventionally boring topics, sometimes I fail and accidentally write stories that are mind-numbingly dull. (I have an unpublished draft for a compelling story about tax law reform that will remain as a draft indefinitely).

But no matter what I write, I’m compelled to keep writing because Medium is a fun and exciting place I can return to after a hard day at work.

No More Work!

Work is a necessary and fulfilling part of every day, but it’s also stressful and taxing.

When I come home at the end of the day and whip open my laptop, it’s to read something funny by Roz Warren or discover something brand new. It’s not to recapture the feeling of being back inside a never-ending meeting at work.

My breaking point was when I stumbled onto a fellow financial publication, and the cover art was the same design as that used by a colleague at work.

The cover art had a generic stock image professional businesswoman to the right, and bullet points listing buzzwords to the left. It was a monstrosity; I couldn’t believe the horror that was staring back at me from the laptop screen.

Someone had intentionally created a publication that gave the reader a feeling of being back at work; I nearly hit the roof.

It Was a Sign

That same day I got in contact with an artist and commissioned brand new cover art for all my publications.

My goal was to create art that could never ever make a reader feel that they’re at work (except readers who work as manga artists. Sorry guys).

Topics may get serious here, and stories may delve deep, but there’s never ever a need for publication art that looks like an interoffice presentation.

The art isn’t the issue; it’s the feeling the art elicits. The posts published by the publication in question reflected the tone of the art, packed to the brim with content that belongs in a board room.

So in reaction to my over-the-top feelings regarding publications on Medium, I have commissioned new art for all my publications. I hope that seeing my new characters who have all been lovingly crafted will brighten your day and welcome you back to the site every-time you revisit.

Below is a tour of all the publications in the squad, and all the characters who represent them.

Overlords

Overlords features stories that address power and oversight. Stories about Medium belong at Overlords, along with stories that help people take power into their own hands. This can mean entrepreneurial stories or stories that inspire. Reports of companies taking unusual or unprecedented action are also going to feature on Overlords. The aim of this publication is to empower readers and inform them of changing trends where power is being used, gained, or exploited.

Money Clip

Money Clip is all about better financial management and fostering a stronger understanding of money and how it’s used by people around the world. Some stories provide practical information about good financial practices, and others report financial news. This publication is for those who are interested in reading financial stories but aren’t interested in reading the complicated and boring financial reports written by industry giants. The financial industry profits off billing you for what you don’t know, so the more we talk about money, the better we can beat them at their game.

Health Tonic

Health Tonic was started as an avenue for the many food stories I enjoy writing. But over time it evolved into a publication that hosts all manner of stories about health of all kinds, including mental health. The stories were originally general in nature, but as the viral pandemic spread across Asia; Health Tonic began to focus on updates coming out of the crisis. This is because I live in China and am directly affected by the pandemic. I’ve had my own health issues since the pandemic started, and my journey fits best on Health Tonic. As health trends continue to change and develop into the future, my goal is that Health Tonic will be there to address them.

The Mile High Club

The Mile High Club was my first publication and was created to fill the gap of aviation-focused stories on Medium. I couldn’t believe how few flight stories were featured on this site, especially when compared to other similar sites. Reading about the flying experience is a big interest of mine, so I had to start a publication that would feature the work of writers who share my passion.

Writers

If you’re a writer and would like to contribute to any of the above publications, just drop me a comment below. Mention in the comment which publication you’d like to be a part of, and what you’d like to contribute.

All writers will be given a chance at publication, I won’t reject any writer that wants to be added to a publication.

But because these publications are my livelihood, I will turn down stories that don’t adhere to the guidelines. I hope you can understand.

Guidelines for Publication

Please only submit drafts, not published stories. This guideline helps you and me. It helps you because the algorithm is going to push you towards publication readers most heavily during the first few hours of its life. It helps me because I can time the story’s appearance for a time that best suits when readers are awake, and makes sure everyone gets their time in the sun.
Please be patient, I don’t like more than two stories to appear in one publication in a day. I feel this way because adding stories too fast causes them to become buried and lost before readers even have a chance to see them. Some stories you submit will be posted very fast, but some may take a couple of days. If that’s the case, it’s only because it’s joined a queue and has done so for your benefit.
Please format your stories to suit curation guidelines and the look of the publication. All my stories have Titles that Capitalise all the Important Words in the Sentence. I have short subtitles, a nice high quality image, short paragraphs, and about 3 more images per article. It just makes stories easier to read, and curation more likely.
Speaking of images, please credit every image you include in an article. This includes photos you take yourself, and art you create yourself. I’m a huge fan of unsplash for copyright-free images. Uncredited images of any kind will result in a private note from me asking “aaah credit?”
Please stick to the tone of the publication. (Read above for a hint at the tone). Casual, fun stories that make readers feel empowered, happy, and well informed. Health Tonic can be more sombre, Overlords can be more satirical. Money Clip is by far the largest publication, so I’ll be a little more picky about that one. Please no articles titled “Wow, I made a million dollars today!” Because nothing about that is empowering to anyone except yourself. At Money Clip we discuss money in such a way that someone could step away from the article and make a decision that positively impacts their future.