Summary

The author, Roz Warren, explains her practice of clapping 50 times for every Medium article she reads, regardless of its quality, as a form of encouragement for writers to keep improving and writing.

Abstract

Roz Warren, a writing coach and editor, engages with content on Medium by consistently clapping 50 times for each piece she finishes. This act is not necessarily an endorsement of brilliance but rather a sign of her having read the work and an encouragement for the writer's effort. She withholds claps only for content she finds too offensive or inept to complete. Warren believes that the true value of a piece cannot be judged by claps alone and that writers should always strive for self-improvement. She concludes by prompting readers to decide for themselves how to engage with her own post, expressing gratitude for their readership.

Opinions

The author does not see herself as a judge of the content she reads but rather as a supporter of effort and potential.
Fifty claps from the author can signify a range of reactions, from excellent to barely adequate work.
The author believes that a writer's self-assessment is more important than external validation.
She encourages writers to continue writing and improving, regardless of the feedback they receive.
The author uses the metaphor of clapping to illustrate her philosophy on writing and feedback.
She suggests that her claps are a form of silent feedback, leaving the interpretation of their meaning to the writer.
The author values readership and engagement, as evidenced by her call to action for readers to decide how to respond to her post.
She offers her services as a writing coach and editor, indicating her professional investment in the writing community.

Why Do I Always Clap 50 Times?

It’s Not Complicated

I clap 50 claps for everything I read on Medium.

Why?

I’m not here to judge you. I’m no Curator.

I figure that by giving you 50 claps, I’m either applauding excellence or encouraging further effort toward excellence.

Fifty Claps from me doesn’t necessarily mean, “this was brilliant!”

It means “Roz read this.”

What if your post is so offensive or inept that I can’t bear to finish it?

Then I flee. No claps from me. (That’s a tiny Medium poem!)

But if I actually make it to the end of your essay or story or poem or humor piece or cartoon?

I lean on that little hand until it can’t clap anymore.

So, when you’ve gotten 50 claps from me, how do you know whether it means “This is the best thing I’ve ever read!”

Or “This is barely adequate — but I applaud your effort!”

You don’t.

Which is fine.

Because a good writer knows that their work can’t be really be judged by anyone but themselves. And that anything you’ve written could always be better.

So what should you do when you get 50 claps from me? That’s easy.

You should keep writing.

Which leaves us with one last question — should you clap 50 times for this post?

12 times? 47 times?

Should you give it a single contemptuous clap?

That’s up to you.

Whatever you decide — THANKS FOR READING IT!

Writing Coach and editor-for-hire Roz Warren, who writes for everyone from the Funny Times to the New York Times, can help you improve and publish your work. Drop her a line at [email protected]. (That’s Ros with an “s,” not a “z.”)

Need a Good Editor? Get in Touch

Is There Anything Wrong with Creating a Medium Post That’s Just an Ad for My Services as a Writing Coach?

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