Summary

The "Thirty over Fifty" Medium publication's January 2024 newsletter celebrates over 40 stories published by diverse writers, highlights five boosted stories, provides writing advice for reader engagement, and invites writers to join a Slack group for support and collaboration.

Abstract

The January 2024 edition of the "Thirty over Fifty" newsletter on Medium proudly announces the publication of over 40 stories by more than 10 writers since the last newsletter. It emphasizes the selection of five stories for boosting by Medium curators, showcasing them in the publication's Boosted Gallery. The newsletter offers insights into effective writing strategies, suggesting that stories with constructive points and engaging titles are more likely to be read and shared. It encourages writers to focus on content that is useful and uplifting for a broad audience rather than personal journal-style entries. Additionally, the newsletter extends an invitation to writers aged 50 and over to join the "Thirty over Fifty" Slack group, where they can exchange ideas, receive support, and access resources to enhance their writing and reach on Medium.

Opinions

The editor of "Thirty over Fifty" values stories that are constructive, useful, and engaging, with a preference for titles that appeal directly to readers.
Personal journal-type stories are considered less likely to gain widespread readership compared to those with broader appeal and constructive content.
The use of inclusive language, such as "you" and "your," in story titles is suggested to increase reader engagement, although this is not a strict rule.
The publication welcomes a diverse range of topics, including travel, family, history, tech, and more, as long as the content has a clear point or purpose for the readers.
The editor emphasizes the importance of writers joining the publication's Slack group to foster a community of support and to facilitate the sharing of advice on writing and getting stories boosted on Medium.
The newsletter implies that writers should strive to write uplifting and encouraging stories that resonate with readers and provide value, steering clear of content that is overly stressful or unpleasant.
The editor acknowledges the challenges of using Slack and provides guidance to new members, encouraging them to take the time to learn the platform.

Thirty over Fifty Medium Publication Newsletter January 2024

Hi there

Since the last newsletter, “Thirty over Fifty” has had over 40 stories published by 10 plus writers! It is great to see and enjoy a range of stories by our cherished writers.

These stories include five stories that were nominated by me in January 2024 and selected to be boosted by Medium curators! You can find these stories in the Publication’s “Boosted Gallery” by clicking on the link below.

Thirty over Fifty’s Boosted Gallery

A range of other note-worthy stories that I would like to mention follow.

Tale as Old as Time by Toni The Talker

The Widow, The Boy and The Girl Who Gave All They Could by Grace Mary Power

Late to the Wealth-Building Game? by Bernard

You Are Over 65? Re-Tire. Put The Tires Back On by Claudia Brose

How Volunteering Helps You Deal With Empty Nest Syndrome by CarolF

C.P.A.P. Therapy — Give It a Try and You Might Feel Super Human Too by Jim Farina

A Special Message for Writers of “Thirty over Fifty”

If you’re publishing stories in Publications on Medium, your stories that focus on the readers will be read the most.

This practically means that personal journal type stories usually won’t get a huge number of views or reads.

I have been reading and writing on Medium for over five years now.

My research shows that using words like “you” and “your” can be more appealing to readers, rather than using the “I” word in the titles. Of course, there are many titles without “you” or “I” or related words in them, so this is a generalization.

However story content that clearly has strong constructive or useful points or a single point for widespread readers are, logically, going to be potentially more read than articles all about the writer.

Not many story titles in Thirty over Fifty’s boosted gallery contain “you” or “your”, however such stories contain interesting or useful main points that the Medium curators deem “constructive” to many.

For example, “What Are Libraries Good For?” describes personal stories of library staff and expounds upon the multi-functions of libraries. Altogether this piece is useful for many readers and is not all about or mainly about what the writer does or did or about what happened to the writer.

When drafting and submitting stories to ANY publication, really take time to think about your story title and how your story will actively help many readers.

I have published 2 articles that may help you.

Please read them if you are a writer, new or established, for “Thirty over Fifty” (or not) and want a refresher on what makes good writing that will more likely be read.

Writing Matters: How to write well on Medium

Advice on getting boosted and having your story read

In summary, as the Editor of “Thirty over Fifty” I am looking for uplifting, encouraging stories by writers aged 50 and over, with:

Good titles
A useful constructive point or points for many readers
Engaging and well-written content.
I won’t accept stories full of stressful or unpleasant things, which could be summarized or touched upon generally with constructive points or messages for the readers. Your followers may read your personal journal/diary type stories, but will anyone else?

IMPORTANT

Please do not think that “Thirty over Fifty” is only for stories about aging. There are other Publications focused upon the ageing process (see the Submission Guidelines for Thirty over Fifty for examples).

Stories about travel, family, history, tech, work, hobbies, arts and crafts, music, animal companions, nature, volunteer work, grandchildren, parents, neighbors, environmental help, climate actions, community support, recipes, fun stuff, etc. are very gratefully accepted into “Thirty over Fifty” if they have a point or a purpose for readers!

Michelle A. Patrovani — M.A.P., Kanimoli Ramaiah, Ida Adams, Trisha Faye, John Egelkrout, Robert E. Saunders, Stephen Friedman, Matt Garvin, Jim Farina, Wendy Tomlinson, CarolF, Claudia Brose, Todd Castor, Subrata Mazumder, Sharat Misra, Susan J, Vera-Marie Landi, Dani Mini, Susan Randolph, Wendy Tomlinson, Jim Parton, James F Hickey, B.R. Shenoy, Dave Park, Ray Payette, Martha Warriner Jarrett, Toni The Talker, Anthony Signorelli, Bernard, Bette A. Ludwig 🔍, Matt Garvin, Frances A. Chiu, Walter Rhein, Kathy Stephanides, TheWellSeasonedLibrarian, Rick Allen, Lisa Alexander, Curt Melzer, and others (the Medium platform doesn’t let me easily tag all the writers)

“Thirty over Fifty” writers can join the 30 O 50 Slack group.

I have created a Slack group only for writers of “Thirty over Fifty.”

Slack is an online communication tool, which allows for short messaging which are actually Posts in various Channels on Slack. A post is a written piece, such as appears on a blog. Stories published on Medium are sometimes referred to as “posts”.

A Channel on Slack is like a chat-room. It’s for discussion via “threads” related to a single topic. A “thread” is a discussion thread with a starting Post and Replies to the Post constituting a “thread.”

If you are a writer for 30 O 50 and would like to join the 30 O 50 Slack group, please write me a Private Note on this article you are reading now that you would like to join the Slack group.

Just highlight any few words in this article then click on the icon of the padlock, the last icon in the toolbar that pops up. A messaging space will pop up and you can type in a few words as your private message. Only you and I will be able to see the message.

I will then give you the URL (i.e. web address) to join the Slack group. You can register with your existing Slack account details or if you don’t have a Slack account you will be asked to create one when joining the group.

Please NOTE that all Slack members will be able to see your email address on Slack (so use a secondary email address if you don’t want to disclose your primary personal email address).

It’s best if your Slack name is the same as your Medium display name, however if it isn’t, please introduce yourself on Slack, giving your Medium username. You can change your Slack name once you’re signed in, if you want to.

Take your time getting to know how Slack works if you join. It’s a bit clunky or not all that intuitive. However, not everyone uses Facebook and Facebook doesn’t easily allow categories of discussions like Slack does.

I have posted instructions on how to use Slack in the “Announcements from the Administrator” channel in the group, and you should start your adventure on Slack by reading the important posts in this Channel!

The reason why I have created the “Thirty over Fifty” or 30 O 50 Slack Group is so that writers can have a space where they can support each other.

As the Editor for 30 O 50 I will provide useful information for writers of 30 O 50 in the Slack group!

Please check it out if you are a writer for 30 O 50.

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney.

If you are a writer for “Thirty over Fifty” and you received this newsletter via email, please can you let me know in a comment? I would like to know if writers are getting newsletters after signing up to receive them.

If you’re a writer for “Thirty over Fifty” you’re required to sign up to receive email Newsletters as they provide important and useful information.

Readers are welcome to sign up for ad hoc Newsletters too!

Thank you!

Peace and All Good, Grace Mary Power

Founder and Editor of “Thirty over Fifty”