TONI TALKS | BOOSTER CLUB INTRODUCTIONS | SUNDAY EVENING POST
Team Huddle【Starting Line-Up】
Suited Up… Game Faces On… Prepared to Play
Fair warning. Metaphors are my thing. We’re headed into fall. Hence the focal image of a football field. When an idea has legs, I’ll run with it as as far as it will take me. That said, we’ve all chosen to enter the arena that Medium built. It’s a noisy, crowded place. You’re here because it’s a superior setting to connect with your fans.
However, it’s hard to hear anything because everyone is talking loudly at the same time. Medium does recognize this. Buster Benson, whose role is Principal Product Manager of Publishing, literally drew a diagram to illustrate just how much senior managment is listening.
Buster’s been here for a minute. He arrived as a blogger, circa 2012. He addressed the company’s fluidity in going with the flow of change, when warranted. More specifically, Mediums willingness to alter the rules governing stats. Thankfully, the site is dumping the calculation that factored read rate percentages in our earnings. The new metric they’re laser focused on is engagement.
I tuned in all day, listened closely and jumped up to do the happy dance often. Yesterday was the best birthday gift ever! Wholeheartedly engaging with writers does it for me!
Sounds like I’m finally in front of the next wave. While sequestered on a short sabbatical, I connected with 70 writers who trusted me enough to try out a concept to organically find an align with like-minded writers.
The core group will collaborate on a solution (over the course of 13 weeks) to first focus on writing boost worthy posts. Secondly, to have eyes on each others words. If nothing else, being supported by a group of 70 readers boosts our words in ways that rise above the noise bombarding us. At the end of the day, getting our words read is why we write on Medium.
My Promise
I’ll be sharing a wrap up of what went on the prior week, as well as, my predictions about what’s ahead. I’m calling it, “The Sunday Evening Post.”
Bottomline, Medium’s changes spell success for writers who lead with authenticity. One message was broadcasted loud and clear. This platform is not the place for bots, spammers, doomsayers or crypto clickbaiters. The site is designed to house stories, written to help readers become better humans.
Medium is experiencing a renaissance. Now is the time for organic storyteller’s to move in and lift all of us up!
As your self appointed “goal-getter” the plan for the week ahead is training camp-esque. My committment, to team members, is a deep read that totals 20 minutes per person. I encourage you to click on the links and also read.
Below you will find an alpha list for each club member. I also took the liberty of assigning “jersey numbers.” They’re listed next to the writer’s moniker.
The links to 20 minutes of stories from each writer. START HERE: Click the each link: 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 Find my two offerings posted August 12, 2023.
Takeaway
Deep diving into a sampling of posts to get a read on (pun intended) each writers voice and unique angle. This helps me compile a team playbook, and by extention shift into a coaching role.
About Medium Day (August 12th, 2023)
CEO and quarterback Tony Stubblebine called an audible yesterday at the Medium’s first annual conference. What spoke the loudest was his desire to boost the best storytellers on the platform.
According to Tony, amplifying our voices is priority one. Curators, who are made up of a mix of pub editors and Medium employees, are currently scouring the site for quality writing. Let’s help them by writing boost worthy posts.
What I was most excited about was the surge in spectators. The metrics, shown below attest to the month over month membership increases. I don’t know the reader to writer ratio, but I’m betting a large percentage of new members will start their writing journey as readers.
New Medium Members 2023
1️⃣ June: 35,384 2️⃣ July: 47,619 3️⃣August: 101, 512 【thru the 12th】
Just remember a boost can only advance you to center field. Standing their under the glare of the spotlights, you’ll still be 50 yards away from the goal line. I see it this way, receiving a boost is like having a quarterback throw a pass down field. It’s in the air, and someone has to catch it.
Once it’s caught it’s a matter of moving it down the field. If your ground game is strong, your followers and fans will help you steadily advance toward the goal.
Over the next 3 months, the smartest move, is to work together to develop a team strategy that helps each individual gain yards.
Assignment: Getting to know each other. The club consists of just over 65 writers who responded to my request to align and support each other. My committment is to share ideas that will help each of us (individually) and as a group capture attention.
Pace Yourself: Deep read no more than 10 writers per day. Over the course of the week, you’ll have them all.
Annelise Lords 【21】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗
A Shayens Abran【35】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Ashllyn T. 【46】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Autistic Widower ("AJ")【65】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Aleena G【8】Newbie 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Britt H.【9】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Bee Wild 【19】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
B.R. Shenoy 【15】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Benighted【40】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Bruce Coulter 【62】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
BGREAT 【68】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗
C. Elyse 【18】Short Stories 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Charles McDonald【50】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Deb Palmer【20】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗
Neera Handa Dr【24】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Dr. Preeti Singh【27】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗
Douglas Lim【54】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Devette Lindsay 【69】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Dawn Ulmer 【4】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Eiman Fatima【58】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
FranMorelandJohns 【52】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Gerald Washington【13】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗
Grace Bianco【26】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
George J. Ziogas 【41】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Gentry Bronson 【49】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Henery X 【10】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗 7️⃣ 🔗
Indirah Ambrose 【23】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Jessey Anthony 【39】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
John Whye 【48】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Jacquline Dacres 【51】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Julia A. Keirns【61】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Jimwebster 【66】 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Katherine Myrestad 【2】 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Kendra Sparkles 【25】Satire… Nailed It! 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
N/A
Michele Maize【5】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Mike Butler 【34】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Malky McEwan 【38】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Maria Rattray【60】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Maribelle Az 【70】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗
Omni Essence 【17】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
OCTAVIA EVER AFTER 【43】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Prasanna Srinath Subhasinghe 【11】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Paul Gardner【16】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗 7️⃣ 🔗
Patricia Hamlett【28】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Pamela Oglesby【36】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Rodrigo S-C【3】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Shanti C K【29】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗
Susan Nicolai, writer, artist, empath, connector 【37】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗
Sherry Atkinson【42】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Srini【64】Satirist 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Shanté Nixon【67】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Scarlet Ibis James 🦩 【22】Short Fiction 1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗
Toni The Talker 【33】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗4️⃣ 🔗 5️⃣ 🔗 6️⃣ 🔗 7️⃣ 🔗
Toya Qualls-Barnette 【12】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Trisha Faye【30】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗 4️⃣ 🔗
Theodore McDowell【31】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Tovah Rainsong【47】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
Ted Czukor 【57】1️⃣ 🔗 2️⃣ 🔗 3️⃣ 🔗
