Focusing on Others — 16th Day of 30-Day Writing Challenge

Read These Writers

“What writers (on Medium) inspire you and why?”

It’s an interesting question. It’s a bit like the question, “Who are your heroes?” or “What movie always makes you cry?” or “What poem moves your soul?”

Is there something deeply wrong with me if I have no answer to any of those? Not because I find the choice difficult, but because there is no choice to be made. The answer is, “I have no ‘heroes.’ No writers — anywhere — truly ‘inspire’ me. No book or poem has ever moved me to tears. No one. Nothing. None.”

Don’t get me wrong: There are people I greatly respect and admire. There are writers I enjoy reading more often and more consistently than others. There are writers whose work can tame the chaos of my own thoughts and express them in ways that make me know that none of us are ever alone out here.

There are movies and music that have made me cry — but that’s rare. I have never, ever read a book that could do it, though I have read books that sucked me into their worlds, and I have felt a deep connection and saudade for places and people that don’t exist. I have read poems where the words fairly sang and danced, demanding that I read them aloud and reread them to understand the layers upon layers of meaning and metaphor. Some have made me smile; some have made me deeply sad. But not one has truly reached inside, grabbed my soul, and given it a good shake.

It would be hyperbole and a lie to say otherwise.

That said, would you even want to be listed here? Of course, you would. And so, I apologize, in advance, for not including all my favorite Medium writers here — it would tax the reader’s patience if I tried. But if you enjoy recommending and being recommended, sincerely, by your fellow Medium readers and writers, I would ask you to write for Reading Rhombus. It isn’t a large or busy publication, but its whole reason for being is to showcase and promote your favorite writers.

I have only recently returned to Medium myself. Some of the writers I was most familiar with seem to have drifted off — as I did. New ones have appeared, and I haven’t yet gotten to know them that well. Give me time.

But to answer the question at hand, at least in part, here are just a few of the authors I enjoy most — limiting myself to Medium because we all know that’s the real value of sharing each other’s work — not promoting the classics and literary luminaries.

Jill Ebstein

Jill may die of shock to see herself listed here and listed first. Quiet, unassuming, talented, generous, and a writer who consistently produces quality work, I truly admire Jill. Our careers have crossed paths without our ever meeting prior to Medium. I remember reading something she wrote in which she admonished authors not to ramble on and on, as I am wont to do. She said that if a post was longer than a 5–7 minute read time, she’d pass unless the writing were top-notch. I took that as a dare.

I think the longest post I’ve gotten Jill to read, to date, has a 23-minute read time.

Later, Jill asked me for pointers on writing humor — at which I completely froze. For all the humor in some of my writing, I’m not “funny on command.” It either comes out or doesn’t. It’s as likely to poke its mischievous head out at a funeral as it is when someone tells a good joke. What tips could I give her? What made her think that I was even qualified to give any at all?

Jill seems to think she’s not very good at writing humor. I disagree. I think her style is gentle, subtle, and always kind. Good-natured. That’s her personality, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

John Henry Dejong

John Henry doesn’t mince words. Agree or disagree, but as I used to say to my kids, come at him with well-reasoned, logical arguments and evidence. Don’t get into a shouting match, and don’t rely on ad hominem attacks because you will lose.

I have never met John Henry face to face but have called him a friend online for more than 20 years. He is a passionate, lifelong student of politics and socioeconomics. He’s a musician. A mental health advocate. A dad. A grandfather. A professor from the School of Hard Knocks.

Agree with him or not, his writing will make you think.

Mitchell Allen

You know that one friend some of us are lucky enough to have, the one who is always curious and game to try new things? Who not only isn’t afraid to play silly games but kind of loves them?

That’s Mitchell Allen. I can’t remember when we first met online — it’s been a while. We share a love of short stories, puns, and wordplay. Mitchell is far better at puzzles and logic games than I am but finally got me to try Sudoku. Finally convinced me it was logic, not math. I now have a well-stocked library of second-hand jigsaw puzzles, play-tested by Mitchell and his wife. Now, Mitchell has written and published an original puzzle book!

You’ll find a link to the book at the bottom of that post, and I encourage you to read more of Mitchell’s stories here, too.

Linda Carroll

Linda writes for both readers and writers. Her writing advice is no-nonsense and useful to working writers. She doesn’t hesitate to call out bad advice for what it is, either.

Her Medium “meta posts” are never rants; when Linda highlights a problem, here, Tony Stubblebine would do well to pay attention. Linda is anything but alarmist or reactionary.

But where Linda really shines is in storytelling. She brings some of the most little-known tidbits of history to light and life in entertaining ways. Before I got to know Linda better, I’d delve into the details of her stories, thinking them too entertaining to be entirely factual. But the most entertaining part was that fact is stranger than fiction. I’ve learned a lot from Linda — some of it useful, all of it interesting.

Sharon Hurley Hall

This is almost cheating since Sharon has (mostly) stopped writing on Medium and now has a thriving Substack newsletter: Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter | Sharon Hurley Hall | Substack (antiracismnewsletter.com) and a new book: Announcement: I’m Tired of Racism | by Sharon Hurley Hall | Aug, 2022 | Being Sharon (medium.com)

Sharon is not only a warm, wonderful writer in her own right, but she is also one of the very few editors I would recommend without hesitation. Editing is a unique skill — and one many excellent writers are not gifted with. It isn’t “proofreading.” It isn’t what I’m inclined to do when faced with imperfect writing —which is just to rip it to shreds and redo it from the ground up. An expert editor can polish the most talented writer’s work and make it shine. The polish isn’t obvious, and the shine isn’t glaring — you almost don’t notice how much work went into it. It’s just better in every way.

I have known Sharon online for nearly 15 years. You should get to know her, too.

This is Day #16 of the 30-Day Writing Challenge by Nancy Blackman for Refresh the Soul. Previous days’ posts:

• A Tiny Note from the Universe
• These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
• A Most Meaningful Year
• When It Rains, It Pours
• One Deadline that Doesn’t Drive Me
• This is Beauty
• There Are Worse Things I Could Do
• Life’s Little Soundtrack
• What’s in a Name?
• If Money Were No Object
• Tears of a Mother
• Prey for the Predator
• Family by Birth and Choice
• Fear, Loss, and Detachment
• Citizen of the World
• South Dakota Haiku
• Ranked Choice Appreciation?

Holly Jahangiri is the author of Trockle ; A Puppy, Not a Guppy; and A New Leaf for Lyle. She draws inspiration from her family, from her own childhood adventures (some of which only happened in her overactive imagination), and from readers both young and young at heart. Visit her website at jahangiri.us and subscribe to her newsletter at https://hollyjahangiri.substack.com/