Summary

The author discusses strategies for managing growth on Medium, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing tasks, maintaining authentic connections, and finding balance.

Abstract

The author of the article is grappling with the challenges of managing an expanding Medium profile, particularly in terms of engaging with the community and producing content. They share a framework that includes dedicated time for writing and editing, replying to comments, reading stories from other Medium users, and discovering new writers. The author stresses the significance of not forcing work and staying genuine in interactions. They also describe a personal routine that involves early mornings, a color-coded spreadsheet for tracking reading, and a method for curating new content. The article concludes with a "Sum of 5" challenge, encouraging readers to engage with successful writers, and a call for consent to tag for notifications upon new publications.

Opinions

The author values quality over quantity, choosing not to write if the inspiration isn't there.
They believe in the importance of genuine conversation with readers, demonstrated by their commitment to replying to comments daily.
The author acknowledges the difficulty of managing information overload and the need to prioritize reading within their community.
They use a systematic approach to curate their reading list, including notes on writing styles and tracking engagement.
The author is open to making new connections on Medium, viewing it as a unique platform for forming relationships through shared writing and reading experiences.
They see Medium as both a creative outlet and a social space, necessitating a balance between content creation and community engagement.
The author promotes the idea that one can learn and grow by reading the work of successful Medium writers, as outlined in the "Sum of 5" challenge.
They respect the reader's choice for engagement by offering an opt-in notification system with detailed categories.

The Only Way to Eat an Elephant: Managing Medium Growth

I can’t keep up.

I remember a month ago it took me five minutes to reply to every comment from the week before.

One

It took ten minutes to read my lone commenter’s stories. The good ole days.

I want to read your stories.

My eyes hurt.

Managing the growth while staying authentic and connecting with you is becoming an uphill battle.

I’ve developed a framework to help me manage the different tasks and priorities. Maybe this can help you do the same.

Remember there is only one way to eat an elephant.

One bite at a time.

But there’s more than one way to skin a cat

My primary tasks are Writing and editing, Replying to comments, Reading your stories, and Finding new writers.

Writing and editing

One to two hours with thirty minutes of deep work

I’ve referred to my muse more than once. She’s become this archetype of a thing that takes control of my fingers.

Like Swayze in Ghost.

In reality it’s more like my brain explodes in one direction and I scramble to pick up the debris.

The way I manage this is batch work.

Some days I cannot stop writing about writing. Sometimes these stories are so simple to write. Some days they are impossible. I only write about them when they are simple.

Forced work usually sucks.

The same goes for personal narratives, science fiction, health, fitness, and food. Sometimes the inspiration hits me and its the only thing I can write about. Other times they feel forced.

I do not write about anything if it’s forced.

Replying to Comments

Ten to thirty minutes daily

This is the second most important task I undertake on Medium. I want to connect with everyone who took the time to read my work.

A genuine conversation.

It shouldn’t be me talking and then “no further questions,” as I walk off the stage. The only thing you hear is the thud of the mic dropping.

You honored me with the most valuable thing in the world. The last thing I want to do is fail to show you the respect you deserve.

Here is my routine. I wake up at 5:30 am, cuddle with my wife until 5:45.

Priorities

I’m at my computer by 5:50 with coffee. I reply to comments until 6:05 or 6:10. I read one or two stories, clap and comment on them, 6:15 I start writing. 6:15 to 7:15 I write.

There’s not enough hours in the day.

Some days there’s a story itching to get on the page.

When that happens I throw out the routine, except for the cuddles, and start writing as soon as I wake up.

Other days there is no story to tell, I interact with you guys until it’s time to go to work.

Read my Medium friend’s stories

Thirty minutes to one hour a day

Once I complete the top two priorities I focus on reading your work. You guys kick ass and there are some amazing word combinations out here.

My eyes hurt from trying to read them all.

If I haven’t read your stories in a while I promise it’s not because I don’t want to.

It’s because I consume way too much information and my brain needs a break.

Between work, my science fiction addiction, my guilty pleasure podcasts and the non-fiction books I read, I am in information overload.

I want to read your stories.

I have a list of all of you.

Stalker

A spreadsheet, it’s color coded with check boxes. I make notes next to your names. If you use AI to write, the note next to you is “AI content.”

This is how I curate my reading. When I find an author that stands out on the page I highlight them yellow so I can return to their work.

Every time you read my story I put a green highlight on an empty check box.

I curate my reading list by checking the green boxes.

Making new Friends

Five to ten minutes a day

Can we have too many friends?

Yes in person it’s best to have a tight circle,

but on Medium we are all connected by our words.

If you read my stories you know me in a way my friends in real life don’t. Same goes in reverse. I am always looking for new stories to read.

I want to be everyone’s friend here. My eyes and brain are the limit.

Hurry up neurolink I got two hundred stories to read every minute.

My Medium algorithm

Here is a little deep dive in how I am managing my expanding Medium profile.

I hope it helps you find a balance with your different tasks. I know in mid December I could spend a minute replying to the one comment I received a day.

I could read four or five of your stories immediately afterwards. Most of the time I spent dedicated to writing.

We need to remain focused on writing, but Medium is as much a social media platform as it is a canvas for word art.

Remember to always search for a balance in everything in life.

Bonus

Sum of 5

I set out on Monday with a task to read one story from five different writers. I chose a few of the most successful writers on Medium.

Reading their work changed me.

They are successful for a reason. I would encourage you to do the same.

We are the sum of the five people we spend the most time with.

Surround yourself with writers who have kicked this platform and life’s ass. Check out my story and tell me who you choose as your Sum of 5.

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