The Algorithm Does Not Care If You Get Sick
And Diana Ross and the Supremes have everything to do about it
Motown Records produced a five-album box set around 1970 in which the artists were interviewed before their song played.
Because I’m such a geek, I most often think about when Mary Wilson got to do the intro for “Love Child,” saying something to the effect of, “it’s been nine months, time to do a hit record!”.
And there it was, another #1 record for Diana Ross and the Supremes. They landed at number one 12 times during their most successful six years.
What if you were so talented and marketable everything you touched turned to gold?
It’s not the same in the world of the writer. Most of my brothers and sisters on Medium are in the same boat, just trying to make it, seeking out a few dollars here or there.
Sometimes we get lucky, and we go viral. Folks, stop writing about your first viral article! Because trying to emulate it doesn’t generally make it happen again.
Last year I had my first viral article. It was about one of my geeky interests, the drought in the Southwest. It’s garnered 10.9K views to date, 3.5K reads, and 184 fans. I just stared at the computer every day with my mouth wide open, watching the money accumulate. (But I would never write about it. No. ‘cept I just did!)
On top of it, I received a $500 bonus for achieving reader engagement. (Not to boast, though!)
This happened about nine months into my tenure at Medium. In all, I’ve published 110 articles and have 1,147 followers.
The point is, you know how all of those other writers are pumping out 1–2 articles/day and tell us to publish daily?
Well, they just might be right. For example, take a look at the below screenshot:
This is for most of November. Not my best month. See where the descending numbers start from the monthly peak? That’s when I began to get sick the first time. Towards the end of the month, when I grew even sicker, the number of views decreased precipitously.
The algorithm doesn’t care if you’re sick. Honeybadger don’t give a shit. You’re only as good as your last hit record.
All I’m saying is, the trends on here are so transparent and predictable. Writers stop writing, and readers stop reading. Twelve-15 stories are about as many as I can pound out a month, and if I’m sick — even less. The algorithm is a roller coaster anyway. So why not feel the thrills?
With Holland-Dozier-Holland as their songwriting team, they couldn’t go wrong. Still, I wish I had been any of the Supremes (except for Florence Ballard) with a better-written contract. Poor Flo.
Time for another hit record, Medium!
Maybe you’d like some of my other work:
As a Medium member, you can read all of my articles and those written by thousands of other writers for just $5/month. I receive a small commission to help offset the cost of office supplies. Join by clicking the link below:
