AN EDITOR’S OBSERVATIONS | On Editing & Submissions

Power of Three Is Better Than One

An editor’s perspective and reminders to writers

Reflection about editing as a team.

Due to Sandi’s unexpected misfortune that landed her a stay in the hospital rather than a relaxing vacation with her son and a chance to see the last KISS concert, and Vidya’s planned vacation travels last month, I was running the pub alone for most of October, 7 days a week. I’m relieved and happy that Sandi is recovering well and glad that Vidya had a great vacation visiting her son overseas.

It was very busy for me in terms of submissions without the help of my co-editors, along with handling my day job, parenting, and fitness routine, and then getting sick with a damn head cold in between. I did my best to either clap or highlight all the stories, but I didn’t have time to make many comments, and my energy and capacity for responding to stories was running especially low during my illness.

But most of all, I was lonely.

I missed my excellent co-editors and our chat group's regular banter, giggles, and “What do you think of this story?” It’s a safe space where we can bounce off ideas and get each other’s opinions regarding submissions. I ran this pub alone for the first six months after launching it in September 2021, and I can confirm it’s a more joyful and less stressful experience running it with people who sincerely care — than doing it all on my own.

I’m grateful to be working with both of them. With Sandi’s quick wit and keen eye for attention to detail, Vidya’s radiant positivity and encouraging words to writers, and my very particular standards when it comes to formatting, photography quality, and how the stories connect through creativity — make us the best team ever.

Where did my patience go?

I realized I have way more patience and energy for reviewing submissions when I have two great editors supporting me — they are the rocks that keep me grounded. Having an editing team enables me to take regular days off from the pub every week, which gives me space for time off from writing and Medium.

We have each other's backs. We cover for each other when either of us is sick, needs a break, or is on vacation —and all of this is done voluntarily — without pay.

The Boost?

Being the owner of this pub, I’ve applied to the Boost pilot program via Medium’s waiting list (July 2023) and have yet to hear from them. Although Sandi Parsons and I are members of the MPP program and earn money on our published stories, we don’t receive any compensation from Medium for any work that goes on behind the scenes to keep this pub running.

Medium rolled out a new Partner Program on August 1, 2023, and the results of this program have been well — questionable, ambiguous, and darn confusing for participating writers — leaving many writers suspicious of what’s actually going on behind Medium’s paywall. Some writers’ earnings soared over August and September, while other writers saw their earnings take a dive — only then to see another dubious shift when October ended.

Medium never ceases to keep writers on the edge of their seats. For now, I’ll continue to ride the rollercoaster on this platform.

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, who lives in India — is not part of the MPP program as it hasn’t become available in her country — yet. She doesn’t receive any compensation from Medium for her stories or for helping with the pub.

I hold hope that our pub will be accepted into the Boost pilot program in the future — as this may offer us editors compensation — but it’s out of my control. Being awarded monetarily offers editors a greater incentive to promote writers and their stories and gives validation to editors for the work they do behind the scenes to run a pub. Good publications consistently attract new readers and writers to the platform.

The Power of Six Word Photo Stories

Our publication evolved into a place where new and regular writers feel welcome, seen, and heard by the editors and the writers who publish here. Readers and writers can count on our monthly prompts and use them as a space to express their creativity through photography and short storytelling.

Gaging from the interactions I’ve read in the comments section, we’ve built a community where writers seem to connect more as friends rather than online strangers. Powerful six-word photo stories can offer more than just a glimpse into the lives of the people writing them.

The three of us editors do our best to support and encourage the community for our readers and writers with our vibrant and creative photography pub. The power of three is better than one.

Now, a request to writers from your editors: PLEASE take the time to review your stories so that editors don’t need to spend extra time on your submissions.

Thanks again to the writers who made it easy on my end — for formatting your stories correctly, providing quality photos, following submission guidelines, and remembering the “No people in photos rule.” It makes a big difference to the editors when you take the time to review the guidelines and proof your submissions before you submit them.

I can not emphasize how important this is to ALL editors who run publications. It is extremely frustrating for editors when submissions come in that look like they didn’t get a second glance before they were sent. I do NOT recommend submitting stories from cell phones. I’ve noticed that typos, formatting details, and photo quality often get overlooked using the small phone screen.

If I continue to see submissions that come in improperly formatted, don’t follow guidelines, have poor-quality photos, or stories where the photos have no connection whatsoever to the story, I may be tempted to write a satirical piece about this to vent— wouldn’t it be fun to unleash some frustrations through some edgy humour?

Thank goodness my co-editors are back. I look forward to my next day off from the pub. Volunteer editors need a break, too.

Writers, please continue with good writing and keep taking quality photos — we welcome your creativity, different perspectives, and engaging stories.

About the writer

Mary Chang is a writer, creator, and editor of the Six Word Photo Story Challenge publication. She’s also a parent and fitness enthusiast who loves creating monthly challenges. Fueled by cartwheels, cold open water swimming, and the power of grit. Defying and embracing middle age.