The Top Shelf

Summary

The Top Shelf is a new Medium publication seeking high-quality literary works from skilled writers and is not a platform for teaching or amateur writing, with a preference for essays, poetry, op-eds, and fiction, while eschewing "how-tos," "listicles," and content with grammatical errors or typos.

Abstract

The Top Shelf, a publication on Medium founded by Sherry and P.G. Barnett, is actively seeking submissions of exceptional writing. The founders emphasize the importance of quality content and a well-honed craft, welcoming various genres including essays, poetry, and fiction. They stress that the platform is not designed for instruction or amateur efforts, and they have a low tolerance for grammatical errors, lack of focus, and excessive typos. The publication's ethos is to elevate well-crafted stories that resonate with readers, much like a piece of music with a compelling rhythm and cadence. They also remind potential contributors to adhere to Medium's curation guidelines, which include clear writing, compelling storytelling, and avoiding misinformation or marketing content. The use of royalty-free images with proper credit is mandatory, and tagging stories appropriately is encouraged for better visibility.

Opinions

The founders are passionate about showcasing high-quality writing and have created this space to ensure such work gets the recognition it deserves.
They believe that quality should rise to the top, much like cream, and are committed to curating content that reflects this belief.
The Top Shelf is not a platform for teaching or for writers who are still learning the basics; it is a space for accomplished writers.
The publication values excellence in writing, akin to musical composition, where rhythm and cadence play a crucial role in the reader's experience.
They explicitly discourage "how-to" articles and "listicles," particularly those that self-promote success on Medium.
The founders have a clear vision of what they do not want, including clumsy grammar, unfocused stories, and a high volume of typos.
They prioritize originality and the ability to engage readers over arrogance or self-promotion.
Proper citation of images is non-negotiable, and the use of royalty-free images is strongly encouraged, with credit given where due.
Tags are considered important for helping readers discover quality content, and writers are advised to use them effectively.

Bottom line: We’re looking for the best from the best!

Hello fellow writers. I have to tell you, I haven’t been this excited since I helped to rescue a baby fox a few weeks ago.

Welcome to this new publication launched by yours truly and my good buddy P.G. Barnett.

Both of us have been writing on Medium for quite a while and, because we’ve seen a good deal of quality content fall by the wayside while the dreck rises to the top like (sour) cream, we decided there was room for a new space where writers can feel proud to share their blood, sweat, and tears. Where quality content from kickass writers is king.

What we want: Literary diamonds. Again, quality work and nothing but. If you’re unsure of a piece, if your enthusiasm has gotten the better of you and you’re not certain it’s time to share, then don’t.

We’re seeking writers who have honed their craft. Newbies are welcome but please know in advance, TTS is not a teaching platform. If you’ve got the goods, we’ll be thrilled to publish you, but it will be our call.

We’re open to a variety of genres. This might change as we navigate this new minefield and discover what works and what doesn’t, but for now, essayists, poets, op-ed writers, fiction pros — go for it.

What we don’t want: Clumsy grammar, stories that have no focus or don’t flow correctly, and a ton of typos. Hand us a piece like this and we’ll tell you to take it somewhere else. And if your arrogance trumps your ability, keep walking, please.

We’re also not fans of “how-tos” or “listicles,” especially those that trumpet your success on Medium.

Finally, it’s important to note that excellence in writing is similar to that in music. Great writing must have a rhythm, a cadence that resonates with the “listener” and makes it hard to forget.

Write a story with those qualities, and you’re golden.

Finally, as always, it’s important to keep Medium curation guidelines in mind:

“Curators are looking for thoughtful, clearly written pieces that tell a compelling story, convey an interesting idea, or share a smart point of view. These can take many forms …We explicitly do not want to distribute misinformation, stories with clickbait headlines, stories that are primarily marketing a product or service, stories that use photos that the author doesn’t have the right to use, or stories with excessive typos and errors.”

You probably already know this but it bears repeating. Please be sure to use royalty-free images. You can find some excellent ones on Unsplash, Pixabay, Flickr.Com, and many other sites. And make sure to credit the photographer! Should you decide to use photos taken by you then credit yourself as the photographer. You should be proud of your artistic endeavors! Just remember, if you don’t properly cite your photos and images we can’t publish your story.

Also, tag your story appropriately. This helps readers find your work and that’s what we want, right?

If you’d like to be added as a writer, please contact me or P.G. Barnett directly via email as opposed to dropping a comment. We might miss it!

Thank you for reading and we look forward to your submissions.

Sherry & Paul

The Top Shelf

Submission Guidelines

Bottom line: We’re looking for the best from the best!