avatarWalter Rhein

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Abstract

/v2/resize:fit:320/1*ZvKKqTfi29mvN1ntUaHFvA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6224">I am really hard pressed to find anything of any value at all in the conservative philosophy.</p><div id="8e41" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-i-eventually-had-to-block-that-one-famous-medium-writer-ef5cf3e8dfdb"> <div> <div> <h2>Why I Eventually Had to Block That One Famous Medium Writer</h2> <div><h3>A good article should be more than a catchy title and a breezy formula</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*wMcsfe9rYwa7fihf-zBF-Q.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="4046">This was more of a reflection piece. I don’t think anyone has guessed who the famous Medium writer was…but then again this article applies to more than just one.</p><div id="eff2" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/snow-days-are-the-best-days-31a32dcdd7c4"> <div> <div> <h2>Snow Days Are The Best Days</h2> <div><h3>When school is cancelled for a blizzard, you’re in for an exhausting day of fun.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*VaSs30ALehkNnekNb4H86w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="b244">Every now and then I like to take a break from the more serious writing and put up a fun story. The first snowfall afforded me this opportunity.</p><div id="1332" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/i-made-over-2-000-writing-about-narcissistic-parents-in-october-7ce952342af7"> <div> <div> <h2>I Made Over $2,000 Writing About Narcissistic Parents in October</h2> <div><h3>When you find a keyword that works, stick with it</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*zkGOkulVI2VArg2yfjMvsQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="687e">That was two months ago now, but it was an interesting experience. I went through and looked at those articles again. They were all around 500 words and it was interesting the thoughts and feelings that were stirred up as I wrote them.</p><div id="c8a0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/lecturing-about-respect-is-nothing-more-than-another-control-tactic-7cf674a7b5d7"> <div> <div> <h2>Lecturing About Respect Is Nothing More Than Another Control Tactic</h2> <div><h3>They want you to respect them, but they won’t extend you the same courtesy</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*AMrYrZQ-XVHKH0HmL1i7uw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="5472">There are so many tactics that I get in bullying comments and private messages. When people say the word “respect” I have learned to dismiss them.</p><div id="873b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/dont-become-the-unwitting-tool-of-institutionalized-oppression-9ee0932a2531"> <div> <div> <h2>Don’t Become the Unwitting Tool of Institutionalized Oppression</h2> <div><h3>A large number of Americans are committed to spreading misinformation in the pursuit of maintaining national ignorance</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*2C1GFgaIBQmVE7_hnRovDQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="52d0">You see these people walking around and repeating lies they heard on right wing media and it’s just stunning. So many people allow themselves to be duped.</p><div id="fda9" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/i-saw-a-naked-child-on-the-street-and-knew-i-had-to-act-ef5299daa005"> <div> <div> <h2>I Saw a Naked Child on the Street and Knew I Had to Act</h2> <div><h3>When a winter storm hits, exhaustion creates another wave of danger.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*fHj3S27s5LAhHmkTE92D9g.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3a7b">Another true story. This article has proven to have some legs. It’s been a consistent earner.</p><div id="5b42" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-dialogue-224c4028fb9e"> <div> <div> <h2>A Dialogue With a White Supremacy Enabler</h2> <div><h3>They all use the same tired arguments, deflections, and lies</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*YC1c59bpAgvi0QPHW1HXtQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="33fe">I went through and paraphrased a bunch of common comments I get from white supremacists. Sometimes it feels like I’ve blocked the exact same person hundreds of times.</p><div id="6ebf" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/i-dont-want-to-be-responsible-for-the-death-of-a-racist-b6ecb1f2b5a8"> <div> <div> <h2>I Don’t Want to Be Responsible for the Death of a Racist</h2> <div><h3>The political left does not descend into violence and that sometimes feels like a disadvantage</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*vF2PJjei3GygpE1MhtYGQA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="6ba6">When you’re not inclined to violence, it puts you at a disadvantage. The problem is the political right embraces violence and it’s a fundamental component of their ideology. Then they turn around and accuse the left of violence so they can “murder in self-defense.”</p><div id="cb2f" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/why-shouldnt-writers-be-able-to-pay-for-reviews-f9f7d829d47e"> <div> <div> <h2>Why Shouldn’t Writers Be Able to Pay For Reviews?</h2> <div><h3>Do major publishers hold themselves to this standard?</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*T09ppv3YINsVd2mJbKtkyw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="f393">There are many injustices in the publishing world. Writers know they shouldn’t pay for reviews. However, books with the big publishers enjoy the benefits of paid reviews. Why is there no backlash there?</p><div id="8e1b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/dont-stop-at-defying-the-vaccine-mandate-demand-more-money-too-c8eb80a16503"> <div> <div> <h2>Don’t Stop at Defying the Vaccine Mandate, Demand More Money Too!</h2> <div><h3>Contradictory conservative talking points are amusing to unravel</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*HlNU3-wRnefxULNcV_8eIQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="57be">I love exposing contradictory conservative arguments. They spend months and months telling employees they don’t have to abide by a mask mandate…and they don’t realize they’re empowering employees to demand better treatment in general at work.</p><div id="4c23" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readcultured.com/banning-toxic-trump-supporters-dramatically-elevates-your-quality-of-life-2db1db4161bc"> <div> <div> <h2>Banning Toxic Trump Supporters Dramatically Elev

Options

ates Your Quality of Life</h2> <div><h3>Freeing yourself of their lies and misinformation opens up the pathway to achieving personal success</h3></div> <div><p>readcultured.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*XTbO7SZVQH7qOjbZfGvYMw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="df28">It’s been a year since I kicked the Trump supporters out of my life. This article details the surprising benefits.</p><div id="2897" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/when-i-get-death-threats-from-conservatives-i-know-ive-struck-a-nerve-2a95cb5637ed"> <div> <div> <h2>When I Get Death Threats From Conservatives I Know I’ve Struck a Nerve</h2> <div><h3>Intimidation has become the cornerstone of right wing politics</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*I9yv2amVBusvDMkaaXjYHA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3cd7">I think this article deserved more attention. I think the fact that it has “death threats” in the title scared off the promotion mechanisms. But the thing is, I do get death threats. Why is it more offensive for me to talk about that than it is for people to send them to me? I’m sick of it.</p><div id="6a59" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/letters-to-santa-are-the-gateway-to-the-true-world-of-magic-18dfcc47c2d1"> <div> <div> <h2>Letters to Santa Are the Gateway to the True World of Magic</h2> <div><h3>Why corresponding with fairies should be a part of your holiday tradition.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*UAO68EtI1EV-hKCugZIZJQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="267e">Another fun family article in which I evaluate a legitimate letter to Santa.</p><div id="99c6" class="link-block"> <a href="https://themakingofamillionaire.com/what-the-game-of-basketball-taught-me-about-running-a-business-75ca66412eaa"> <div> <div> <h2>What the Game of Basketball Taught Me About Running a Business</h2> <div><h3>A business philosophy that will help you visualize long term success</h3></div> <div><p>themakingofamillionaire.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*oqOZ4WMIqSwiuFx8kloAlg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3ab9">I wrote this one for Start It Up, but they rejected it. I’ve had articles in Curious, but not Start It Up. I only wrote it after reading a couple of their articles and being decidedly unimpressed. They don’t know me over there, so it makes it harder to get published. It’s funny how once you get one or two articles in with a publication, they start publishing everything you send them…but the first one is the hardest.</p><div id="285b" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-darkest-winter-9c80cac5bc85"> <div> <div> <h2>The Darkest Winter</h2> <div><h3>My winning entry for the ‘Christmas Memories’ contest a few years ago.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*DJAlXJJtjb4CnzdzL5VmPA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="3523">This story was a contest winner from a few years back.</p><div id="84f0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/people-choose-politics-over-family-in-the-united-states-761fc7ce369a"> <div> <div> <h2>People Choose Politics Over Family in the United States</h2> <div><h3>‘God, country, family’ is a slogan with inverted priorities</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*ATCEYL8_Pd1QKmA2dsMowg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="e82d">The conservatives in my family chose their political ideology over what was right for my children. I won’t forgive that.</p><div id="bfd0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/ive-written-the-greatest-book-of-all-time-and-i-refuse-to-have-it-published-199b1b8a1a7b"> <div> <div> <h2>I’ve Written the Greatest Book of All Time and I Refuse to Have It Published</h2> <div><h3>Who will eventually get control of the world’s greatest unseen manuscript?</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*fwIfO2oY5iFtbm0Pd5izIQ.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="cb48">A fun article to make you reassess how you approach publishing.</p><div id="04cf" class="link-block"> <a href="https://aninjusticemag.com/should-mel-gibsons-the-patriot-to-be-taught-as-true-history-a34be1d56a15"> <div> <div> <h2>Should Mel Gibson’s ‘The Patriot’ be Taught as True History?</h2> <div><h3>Americans are conditioned to believe sanitized versions of history are accurate</h3></div> <div><p>aninjusticemag.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*8hjtDVuYMN6P3uIGsGrvPA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="5f0c">This article is a response to the CRT controversy. I feel I kind of blew the title. This has performed well, but it should have gotten even more reads. Also, I couldn’t find a free image of Mel Gibson from the film to use.</p><div id="e146" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/an-authentic-and-nostalgic-look-at-the-true-college-experience-767f171ef448"> <div> <div> <h2>An Authentic and Nostalgic Look at the True College Experience</h2> <div><h3>Thoughts on ‘The Bug Diary’ by Amber Fraley</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*cOw0sh0zS62Q0yacBRNrwg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="c6fb">I like to review a few independently published books per month. I only did one this month, but it was a good one.</p><div id="0cf0" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/when-your-dog-gets-sick-on-christmas-83b35712f8b8"> <div> <div> <h2>When Your Dog Gets Sick On Christmas</h2> <div><h3>The holiday season reminds us all to hold our loved ones close.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*WZUy0EKgF7mAX3GSMgidwg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="f6fc">My poor dog got sick. Fortunately he recovered, but that put the whole Christmas season into perspective.</p><p id="f0b6">Thanks for reading. I appreciate the opportunity to bring some new life to my old articles. Also, thanks to everyone who has signed on to Medium through my referral link! That’s a huge way to support writers and I’m honored every time somebody signs up! Have a great 2022!</p><div id="2094" class="link-block"> <a href="https://walterrhein.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Walter Rhein</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>walterrhein.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*I5l98E8T7zGwYWtC)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

What Worked and What Didn’t in December of 2021

Monthly assessment of my writing journey

Photo by Tyler Delgado on Unsplash

Happy 2022 everyone!

I always like to go through my articles from the previous month and take a moment to reflect on what worked. It’s good to line up your articles and evaluate whether or not they performed up to their potential.

December is a busy month for everyone so my production was down. I didn’t have an article that “hit” quite as hard as last month, but it was still a month of solid earnings.

I’m a little slow to start January as well, but that’s because I spent the last few days finishing up the first draft of a book. It will be a sequel to this novel which was released by Burning Bulb Publishing a few years ago.

I started off January with a bang by writing one of those articles that gets 30k external views in a day. The downside of that is you don’t get paid for external views. Oh well.

The articles

This one deserved more attention than it got. A few days prior to releasing this one, I’d written an article with an aggressive title. I think aggressive titles sometimes hurt your subsequent articles (although that’s complete speculation).

It’s a solid article with a good title so I don’t know why it didn’t get more reads.

This was my monthly assessment from November. Articles like this only make a couple bucks, but it’s worth it to give another shot of life to old articles.

This was one of several articles I wrote on the draconian Texas abortion law that truly is an affront to the constitution. Unfortunately, that law is still on the books.

There’s been talk of places like California passing similar “bounty” style laws that circumvent the constitution and ban guns. The purpose of this would be to demonstrate to conservatives that, yes, laws enforced with a bounty are unlawful. They won’t recognize it until such laws are used to come after something they love.

It was an ongoing theme last month because it was in the news. It will be an ongoing theme again.

This was for my column with The Writing Cooperative. This is a nice opportunity that keeps me centered and guarantees 4 distributed articles a month.

I think it’s very important to evaluate sacred concepts and demystify them. We shouldn’t hold any generation beyond reproach. The “Greatest Generation” aligns with the Jim Crow era, and idolizing them is just a means of burying the injustices of that time.

This article was a reflection on the content of the “Greatest Generation” article. It’s disturbing how mentally difficult it is to even approach controversial topics. However, some of the content that’s considered “offensive” or which is buried doesn’t even come close to exploring the injustices we all face.

I am really hard pressed to find anything of any value at all in the conservative philosophy.

This was more of a reflection piece. I don’t think anyone has guessed who the famous Medium writer was…but then again this article applies to more than just one.

Every now and then I like to take a break from the more serious writing and put up a fun story. The first snowfall afforded me this opportunity.

That was two months ago now, but it was an interesting experience. I went through and looked at those articles again. They were all around 500 words and it was interesting the thoughts and feelings that were stirred up as I wrote them.

There are so many tactics that I get in bullying comments and private messages. When people say the word “respect” I have learned to dismiss them.

You see these people walking around and repeating lies they heard on right wing media and it’s just stunning. So many people allow themselves to be duped.

Another true story. This article has proven to have some legs. It’s been a consistent earner.

I went through and paraphrased a bunch of common comments I get from white supremacists. Sometimes it feels like I’ve blocked the exact same person hundreds of times.

When you’re not inclined to violence, it puts you at a disadvantage. The problem is the political right embraces violence and it’s a fundamental component of their ideology. Then they turn around and accuse the left of violence so they can “murder in self-defense.”

There are many injustices in the publishing world. Writers know they shouldn’t pay for reviews. However, books with the big publishers enjoy the benefits of paid reviews. Why is there no backlash there?

I love exposing contradictory conservative arguments. They spend months and months telling employees they don’t have to abide by a mask mandate…and they don’t realize they’re empowering employees to demand better treatment in general at work.

It’s been a year since I kicked the Trump supporters out of my life. This article details the surprising benefits.

I think this article deserved more attention. I think the fact that it has “death threats” in the title scared off the promotion mechanisms. But the thing is, I do get death threats. Why is it more offensive for me to talk about that than it is for people to send them to me? I’m sick of it.

Another fun family article in which I evaluate a legitimate letter to Santa.

I wrote this one for Start It Up, but they rejected it. I’ve had articles in Curious, but not Start It Up. I only wrote it after reading a couple of their articles and being decidedly unimpressed. They don’t know me over there, so it makes it harder to get published. It’s funny how once you get one or two articles in with a publication, they start publishing everything you send them…but the first one is the hardest.

This story was a contest winner from a few years back.

The conservatives in my family chose their political ideology over what was right for my children. I won’t forgive that.

A fun article to make you reassess how you approach publishing.

This article is a response to the CRT controversy. I feel I kind of blew the title. This has performed well, but it should have gotten even more reads. Also, I couldn’t find a free image of Mel Gibson from the film to use.

I like to review a few independently published books per month. I only did one this month, but it was a good one.

My poor dog got sick. Fortunately he recovered, but that put the whole Christmas season into perspective.

Thanks for reading. I appreciate the opportunity to bring some new life to my old articles. Also, thanks to everyone who has signed on to Medium through my referral link! That’s a huge way to support writers and I’m honored every time somebody signs up! Have a great 2022!

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