Writing Tips

Tips for Experienced Writers on Planet Medium With 50+ Stories Who Desire More Eyeballs on Them

A beginner

What do I know? After all, I’m a Medium Rookie. I am neither a Medium Wizard nor an Expert Writing Coach.

What I am, though, is:

🚩A lifelong researcher

🚩An avid reader on Planet Medium and elsewhere

🚩A diehard proponent of not wasting time

The eyes of a child

Parents know the most insightful, unfiltered comments come from kids.

Why?

Because their innocence has not yet been poisoned by years of programming, biases, “teaching,” and life experiences. Let’s face it: children are amazing creative creatures until we adults get hold of them.

Hence, the sayings “from the mouths of babes” and “viewing life as if through the eyes of a child.”

These suggestions are made through the eyes of this child. I still endeavor — as much as possible — to remain curious and bewildered with the joy of a child.

Avid reader and lifetime student

I still cruise Medium and read a lot. At least twenty or sometimes thirty pieces — daily. For non-mathematics wizzes, that’s in the range of 600 or more articles monthly.

I search for writers who:

1. Inspire or teach me how to improve my scribbling or
2. Educate, amuse, or enlighten me.

I read across a broad spectrum. From humor to politics and world affairs to writing tips to aging and women’s issues to philosophy, inspiration, and spirituality to science and the environment.

New and veteran Medium writers

Though trying to support other beginners on the site, I also read many seasoned authors.

Why?

Because if I appreciate his style, I learn a vast amount from the masterful Charlie, a veteran writer for decades.

Why seasoned writers should cultivate rookies

Experienced writers should want neophytes reading their work. That is unless you either write solely for your edification or bear no interest in financial remuneration.

Even if you are popular with many thousands of followers and enjoy hundreds of faithful readers, you ought not to dismiss us children.

Why?

I have noticed a few patterns during my brief visit to Planet Medium.

✔️ Writers (and readers) come and go. It’s the natural ebb of life on any planet. Births occur, and so do deaths.

♦️Some mosey off to green pastures. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, right?

♦️Others disappear, disillusioned to discover the platform isn’t the “get-rich-fast” scheme they hoped.

♦️Writers in other countries salivating for the M Train to roll in are taking a break until the cars start moving.

♦️ Many write or read infrequently or when the spirit moves them.

♦️ A few view the site as a scientific experiment, awaiting more data before committing to serious time.

✔️ Things evolve. Life happens.

For example, I was following and chatting with one nice chap whose tenure on the site was similar to mine.

He disappeared for three weeks. Illness and other personal issues upset the apple cart of him forging ahead as planned.

But he’s back. Yay!

Life’s circuitous path frequently dictates such unexpected comings and goings.

✔️Readers get bored with repetitive stories and quit reading authors.

As a rookie and kind human being, I love supporting all new and experienced writers.

Nevertheless, my remaining time on Planet Earth is limited. And I have a low boredom tolerance. Hence, I’m unwilling to be bored on Planet Medium.

Ergo, if John has written essentially the same piece or regurgitated redundant information, merely repackaging it in numerous articles, I’m gone.

With a decent IQ, I’ve figured out there’ll be nothing new from him after three reads with the same content.

I’m on the hunt for someone new to read.

THE PROBLEM

Too often, writers haven’t segregated or organized their work for quick retrieval by readers.

Kudos to those with “Lists” on your profile with your writing sorted in some fashion. For great examples, look at ✨ Bridget Webber Natalie or KAKA LAM 嘉嘉 @iamkakalamkk.

I can easily pop into your folders, read a piece or two, and be a happy camper. You, too, benefit by earning a few shekels.

But for those without an organized system, I scroll down the list of your first 5 to 10 articles.

I have already read all of them if I am your fan.

I next check the “Lists” for pieces I may not have seen.

I will remain for 10–15 seconds on your Profile page. Then, I am off to your neighbor if I have found nothing new to read.

Some have “Lists” of other people’s stories. Thank you. Sometimes, I find new authors’ work. But I am not reading yours.

Tips for maintaining readers or attracting new ones

1. Organize your stories in files indicating they are “yours” not of others, if maintaining others’ writing as public.
2. For excellent examples, check out: ✨ Bridget Webber, Natalie, or KAKA LAM 嘉嘉 @iamkakalamkk. Think of Lists as an Electonic Library.
3. Make the Lists of others’ works “private” unless you want us to have access to them as well. For example, I maintain a “List” for all my weekly “#11 Top Medium Stories This Week.”
4. If you pin stories on your Profile, shake things up a bit.
5. Consider rearranging, adding some older but goodies, or those with fewer reads. It’s normal human conduct that most people look at the first few stories on someone’s Profile page. Thanks for making it easier for us to read your stories.🙏👍