Summary

The author discusses their experience with Medium publications and their decision to publish in smaller publications where they have editorial control.

Abstract

The author has been publishing on Medium for over a year and has been accepted into several upper-tier publications. However, they have found that they prefer to publish in smaller publications where they have editorial control, such as Plan B Vibe and The Partnered Pen. The author acknowledges that there are different paths to earning readers and money on Medium, but they are content with their decision to write "candy" rather than more serious content.

Opinions

The author appreciates the relationships they have built with Medium publication editors, but prefers to have editorial control.
The author acknowledges that there are different paths to earning readers and money on Medium, but they are content with their decision to write "candy" rather than more serious content.
The author expresses gratitude towards the editors of Plan B Vibe and The Partnered Pen for their support and for allowing them to be an editor on their publications.
The author mentions that they have seen incremental increases in their earnings and exponential increases in their readership since implementing their current publishing plan.

My Journey with Medium Publications

Yes, you’re prestigious and get lots of eyes but I can’t wait for you

After about 16 months publishing fairly steadily here on Medium I’ve managed to be added as a writer to some of the Names. Not NAME Names, like Human Parts or anything, but scroll through some of the biggies and you’ll find that I’m on their list of writers.

Ah, the indelible thrill of having my first piece accepted and published by P.S.I Love You and then The Ascent. Wow!

And here’s a major shout-out to The Non-Conformist which has been a ready publisher of my fiction for nearly a year now. Not only does editor, F. R. Foksal, publish my fiction, he’s an amazing promoter as well. If I ever make it to 300 followers on Twitter, it’s entirely his doing. However, now that I’ve plumbed the depths of my hard-drive, I need to figure out how to get back on the fiction-writing horse and point him in the right direction again. When I do, rest assured F.R., I’ll be riding that horse straight to the Non-Conformist.

With stories published in these great publications, I had arrived

Mind you, after years of rejection, sorrow, and humiliation at the hands of busy literary editors, having relationships with the wonderful editors of Medium publications is refreshing and delightful. This is not intended as a slam job or even a rant.

But after over a year of having my work published in many of the upper-tier Medium publications, lately, I’ve found myself usually opting for the two publications which have named me as an editor. One is Plan B Vibe and early on Michael Stang, (an amazing writer himself) invited me to be an editor on that nifty little publication.

Plan-B Vibe

When Plan A is letting you down - A home for all passionate, exciting and well-written tales.

medium.com

When I had the mad notion at the end of December to write a new fictional obituary each day in January I knew I couldn’t wait for a busy publication editor to get back to me. I have a deep and humble appreciation for Plan B Vibe. I strongly recommend checking it out and considering contributing to it as well. It’s a strong, diverse little publication that deserves attention.

The other publication that has added me and everyone else who wants in, to be an editor is The Partnered Pen and may the founders of that publication be blessed with great prosperity and sound sleep every night. PP is my go-to with just about everything I write these days that isn’t aimed at Plan B Vibe.

There are several paths to earn readers and bucks on Medium. It helps if you come to Medium with your own army of followers (then Human Parts will return your calls). You’re the one pulling in the steady four-digit hauls here and kudos to you. You’ve clearly done the work to build your audience and it’s great that you’ve got this extra platform. Hell, I even like some of your work (Tim Kreider, I’m looking at you!).

If you’re an expert on a popular topic and are up for doing the legwork, the research, and are ready to put in the time to craft thoughtful, helpful, engaging content that you’re able to publish on a fairly regular basis you can confidently start to count your monthly earnings in the mid to high three-digit range. There are even some of you covert superstars pulling in solid four and five-digit hauls. I salute you.

Me, I write candy

It’s not nutritious and you’re not going to learn how-to anything reading what I write. Ok, you might learn what not to do on the subway.

I write candy and I write fast. When I hit something that tickles me, I’m pedal to the metal, baby. There are times and topics that demand research, digging, attention, care, and expertise. I’m not that writer. Not now anyway. And I accept that I’m not going viral with my bonbons. But I am determined to maintain (for now) the daily discipline of publishing a tasty bit of fiction as well as some non-fiction that’s looking in a direction that interests me.

I don’t have the luxury of waiting for an editor to get to my work. Major kudos and warm hugs to Nicole Bedford at Candour. The woman is working her backside off and still manages to publish my submissions within a day tops. Can you believe it? Damn!

Nothing stays the same so who knows what changes will dance across my path tomorrow or the day after.

But for now, I have a plan. I’m sticking to it and seeing incremental increases in my earnings and exponential increases in my readership. It’s my incredible good fortune to be an editor on two great publications and have an awesome editor at another who’s like lightning in publishing my submissions.

And here’s even more good luck. You’ve read this one to the end!

Huzzah!

Now for you to get lucky and subscribe to my weekly newsletter: