Summary

The article discusses the challenges faced by experienced writers due to new writers who may not understand or adhere to the established norms of the Medium platform, advocating for a focus on writing quality content over chasing reader engagement.

Abstract

The author, who has a moderate following on Medium, expresses concern over the changing dynamics of writing on the platform, attributing it to a 'Me Too' mentality where new writers seek validation through comments and highlights. The author argues that this approach undermines the authenticity of reader engagement and suggests that writers should concentrate on producing more content rather than pursuing readers who do not engage. Citing the brevity of life and the importance of making every day count, the author encourages writers to focus on creating their best work and accepting that not all readers will engage, as this is a part of the writing 'game'.

Opinions

The author believes that new writers are altering the traditional 'game' of writing on Medium by soliciting direct engagement from readers.
There is a sentiment that some readers may not genuinely engage with articles, which is seen as a natural aspect of the platform that writers should accept.
The author finds it inappropriate for less established writers to ask more experienced and well-followed writers to engage with their work.
The article suggests that time spent chasing reader engagement is better used for writing and creating content.
The author emphasizes the importance of making every day count by focusing on meaningful and productive writing activities rather than seeking validation from every reader.
The author implies that the authenticity of the Medium platform could be compromised by writers who aggressively pursue engagement, which may degrade the overall quality of interaction between writers and readers.

New Writers Don’t Know the Rules of Medium and Challenge Experienced Writers

How to make the most of your day as a writer

I am not a big writer with over 10,000 followers. In fact, I’m barely over half of that when you look at my stats.

So, I may not know everything when it comes to writing, but I see new writers are destroying the game of writing. Their purpose is changing and it could be because of the Me Too mentality.

Don’t get me wrong, when I say Me Too, I am not referring to the sexual harassment movement that made headlines over the past few years.

My idea of Me Too is some writers are asking for your support or acknowledgment of their work.

They want to see you show up on their page by highlighting what they wrote or leaving a comment on their article.

Honestly, there are hundreds of articles where I don’t highlight or leave a comment. The article I read was okay, but to me, nothing stood out. So I won’t leave a comment.

If there is something breathtaking, I’ll highlight something in the article. Or if the article moved me, I’ll leave a comment or ask a question.

The dynamics are changing

Over the past year, I saw many writers complaining about people not reading their articles in Medium Facebook groups. But you know what, this is nothing new.

It’s the same as it was three years ago when I started writing.

Some readers will read your work…

Other readers will say they did but never do.

It’s not an easy problem to overcome. In fact, it’s a part of life.

Some people in life give 100%. Other people will give you the bare minimum or even less.

And, there is literally nothing you can do. Just accept it and move on.

What really got me the other day, I read a Medium member’s article in a Facebook group.

Then the writer had the nerve to ask me to leave a comment on her 2-minute article.

I was thinking — really?

The writer is fairly new, maybe they had a year or less of writing experience on Medium. I don’t remember exactly, but I don’t remember seeing the writer before.

But to ask me with nearly 6,000 followers to leave a comment on her article, I thought that was ludicrous.

However, I went back to her article and left a response, anyway.

Ridiculous actions by writers like this will only degrade the authenticity of the platform. Some readers read your work and will never leave a comment.

Not everyone is part of the Medium partner program. Some readers who are not part of the partner program will only give writers a view, and not an authentic read that will eventually lead to your bank account.

Writers are wasting their time chasing after every single reader who doesn’t leave a comment. Their time could be better used.

This is what you should do

If you’re a Medium writer, don’t waste your time going after every single reader. You could spend your time writing more articles.

That is the real way you make money on the platform.

Every little second counts. Make your day count and don’t waste it chasing after every reader who doesn’t read your work.

You will never win this game. These people will always exist and never read your work.

John Maxwell wrote Make Every Day Count. It is one of my favorite books since it makes you think about life and your daily activities.

Maxwell said:

“When you accomplish something that you once believed was impossible, it makes you a new person. It changes the way you see yourself and the world.”

If you think about it, life is short.

According to the CDC, the average woman lives to 79.3 years old.

The average man lives 73.5 years.

So you need to maximize every second, every minute, and every day you have. Seeing tomorrow is not guaranteed.

Spending those few minutes chasing after every reader who didn’t leave a comment is flat-out stupid. You are only wasting your time.

And time is one thing you don’t have to play with. You need to use your time effectively. Don’t waste it chasing after readers who don’t read your work.

Spend the time creating your next masterpiece.

Some readers will never leave a comment on your article. Be happy and just accept that.

You can’t force someone to read your work and highlight or leave a comment.

Write your best stuff and the readers will come.

It’s all part of the game.

What do you think about readers who say they read your work but didn’t?