What Happens When You Are A Medium Nobody?

In response to Coffee Challenge; Why I am pro a shoutout movement

And if they know nothing about you, there’s a good chance they never will.

At some stage in 2020, I came across the writing of James Frank Sanders. Something attracted me to him. That he was 94 years old, living in an aged-care facility, and pushing the buttons of living, and had decided to write on Medium, made me sit up and take stock.

Now there is hardly one writer on Medium, who in the early months of writing, hasn’t felt the disappointment of penning an interesting article, to find that it might as well be hovering in the stratosphere, because…

not a soul seems interested.

James was disappointed in the extreme, so much so that he was thinking of quitting.

Fair enough.

When you have geared yourself up to a new venture, with possibly a welcome revenue stream attached, and nobody seems to give a toss, at the very least it is soul-destroying.

It’s easy to see why ageism might creep in.

You feel too old.

You’re not inspiring anyone.

Better just curl up in front of the telly, have snooze to pass the time, and try to forget that stunting feeling of rejection.

I had to rescue him.

I had to!

You know what? Given that James is now 95, everyone on Medium should be barracking for him. That means offering him a huge level of promotion.

Yet the truth was otherwise. The silence was deafening.

Crickets.

But, no, I thought to myself. I can’t let this pass. Not only has this man mastered the machinations of Medium’s website, but he’s written, proofread, and pressed the publish button, all by himself.

That takes courage.

‘Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.’

I wanted James to try again tomorrow, so I wrote this poem called, ‘They’re Changing The Rules At Medium Palace’, a poem that called for a way of affirming the new kid on the block, (AKA James).

It took a while for James to find the poem and he immediately responded to me.

Thank you so much for your kind words Maria. Sluggard that I am, it took me so long to read your poem, I am now 95 but going strong. I have decided to start writing again due to renewed interest in my scribble. Yours for a great future.

Since that time, James has gone on to enjoy a following of 765. Not bad, for a man who is 95 years old. I think we might all agree, James is no sluggard’. If anything he is an inspiration.

Carole Olsen says he’s her favorite writer.

Someone in Open Thread posed the question: What’s the best thing you’ve read on Medium recently?

Jjsumi replied:

I just read the story of Mr. James Frank Sanders titled, Limited Glory >> https://readmedium.com/limited-glory-1b75434eb88b

The story was short and not complicated at all. It’s genuine and based from a personal childhood experience. Reading it made me laugh and reminisce my childhood days.

Sometimes, we all need to be simple and be… childish! Life is too short to be very serious at all times. And, what’s more, Mr. James is 95 years old. That’s a lot of stories to tell. 😊

Thank you JJ. I know you will have made his day.

So there you are, writers on Medium. Take inspiration from James. On the days when you feel that nobody gives a toss, and there can be many, think of James.

If he can do it, so too can you.

Also, if you have read an inspirational piece, why not give the writer a shout-out? You never know how far your support might travel.

Shoutouts are the secret sauce for promoting great, but struggling writers.

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.

Shoutout to: https://medium.com/coffee-times, and Winston Huang

Shoutouts too, to:

Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles Drpreetisingh Yana Bostongirl Drashti Shroff Marrisa W. Sharing Randomly