Thank You Medium

This one’s for real.

To Ev Williams and the Medium staff: It’s no surprise that we writers are a solitary lot. Unless we have actual jobs that get us out of the house and in a place where we can bounce around ideas with co-workers, we spend a great deal of time alone.

I fall into the latter category. I no longer have a “real” job. Although I have other creative pursuits, writing on Medium has become my job. And, like many career choices, it is by turns frustrating and rewarding.

So, yes. I am alone a lot. Although my husband works from home, at a “real” job, we’ve carved out separate spaces where we can do our own thing without getting in each other’s way. Those of you who are with your partners 24/7 will understand the importance of this.

After we have our morning coffee, my husband heads off to his office, on the main floor of our ranch home and I trundle down to our huge finished basement, where I’ve set up a fairly cozy spot for my ramblings and ruminations.

Unless I have errands to run, much like a vampire, I emerge when the sun goes down and I’ve had enough of staring at a computer screen, checking my stats, my fans, my read rations, my claps, my earnings. Wondering if I still have the “stuff.” Fretting about what I’ll write tomorrow and the next day and the next.

I mentioned “earnings.” I’ve been pretty vocal about my dissatisfaction with the relative pittance I and many other excellent writers make on Medium. The new algorithm has proved particularly challenging as we are presented with the head-scratcher of “How long is too long?” Eight minutes? Twelve minutes?

We have to work even harder now to keep our readers engaged. And that’s not such a terrible thing I’m finding as it forces me to rise to new heights. It’s both dizzying and thrilling.

But this story isn’t about me or my earnings. This is a “thank you.” Not for “allowing” me to write here, as I deserve it. I’m good and I know it. Every writer should feel this way, whether their metier is personal essay, or poetry or fiction because writing is tough as hell. It scrambles your brain.

Sometimes, writing makes us crazy. We’re either on fire with ideas or as drained as we Trump detractors. (When is this guy gonna go?)

But I digress. No. I am thanking you for creating a community that inspires me every day to do better. A creative community that is supportive and empathetic and also, so frickin’ funny. I like “funny.” It’s good to laugh.

Are you old enough to know that saying, “Laughter is the best medicine?” It’s pretty damned close.

This community. So many talented people who just want validation that what they’re putting out in the world resonates with even one other human being. Writers are needy that way. But you probably already know this.

There have been revelations from writers who have bravely shared some very difficult shit. I’m one of them, so I understand what it means to pour out your heart and soul to virtual strangers. It’s terrifying, but also freeing. Once you start, there’s no going back. “Bullshit” is no longer an option, unless of course, it’s satirical. And I am so down with that.

In opening yourself up, you can’t beat that feeling when someone says, “I get it. I’m with you.” And here’s the thing: Some of these “strangers” have become friends. What a gift that is to someone who spends the majority of her days in a basement giving voice to the demons in her head.

On the days I feel like throwing in the towel, it’s the other writers here who keep me going. We kibbitz and laugh and bitch and encourage one another to just keep at it.

Just so you know, and because I believe they deserve a shout-out, some of my special peeps here are Helen Cassidy Page, P.G. Barnett, Stephen Sovie, Kristi Keller, Katy Velvet, Hawkeye Pete Egan B., Michelle Monet, Robin Klammer, Susan Brearley, Dawn Bevier, Suzanne V. Tanner, Estacious(Charles White), Rasheed Hooda, Charlene Fate, Natalie Frank, Ph.D., Elle Fredine, Don Feazelle, Meg Stewart, Anna Rozwadowska, Tantra Bensko, Bebe Nicholson, Kathryn Dillon, Leslie Wibberley and so many more that I’d be here all day if I were to give every great scribe here a mention. No, scratch that. All month.

I hope you’re reading these people. They’ll make you laugh. They’ll break your heart. They’ll make you think, “Hey, I’m glad I started this Medium thing. It may be a pain in the ass sometimes, but it’s worth it.”

Finally, have you checked out all the Facebook groups? You should. They’re pretty amazing. And a ton of extra work for the brave admins who created them. I’m thankful to be a part of them as they provide limitless opportunities for the Medium community to engage and share our work with one another.

So that’s it. I probably shouldn’t go on too long here as I might lose you. See? I told you this was a challenge. But I’m up to the task.

With gratitude.

Sherry McGuinn is a slightly-twisted, longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

As always, I appreciate your reading. If you’d like to check out more:

And please check out the stellar writers in my pub, Rogues’ Gallery.