Why I Read Certain People On Medium

Summary

The author reflects on their personal criteria for choosing to read certain Medium writers, emphasizing the importance of mutual engagement, quality of content, and the writer's personality shining through their work.

Abstract

The article "Why I Read Certain People On Medium" delves into the author's introspection regarding their reading habits on the platform. The author admits to prioritizing writers who engage with their content, as well as those who produce high-quality writing, particularly in poetry and educational pieces. They also acknowledge a preference for writers who exhibit a positive, sensitive, and caring persona in their work, even if their writing is not exceptionally distinctive. Conversely, the author chooses to disengage from popular writers with large followings, reasoning that their readership is not missed among many. The piece concludes with the author expressing gratitude to readers and excitement about new content from favored writers.

Opinions

The author values mutual engagement on Medium, often reading and reciprocating those who read their work.
Quality of writing, including beautiful poetry and educational content, is a significant factor in the author's reading choices.
Writers who convey a gentle spirit, positivity, vulnerability, and concern for others and the planet are preferred, regardless of their writing's artistic merit.
The author recognizes that not all preferred writers are remarkably skilled, yet they are drawn to their genuine personality expressed through writing.
Time constraints lead the author to be selective, choosing not to follow even talented and popular writers if they already have a large readership.
The author believes that beauty in writing is subjective and acknowledges their lack of expertise in judging artistic merit.

And Avoid Others

A little introspection can be helpful in sorting out the “why’s” and “how’s” of life. Applying this to my viewing habits on Medium recently led me to question why I faithfully read some writers, while avoiding others who might have many more followers and financial success on Medium.

Of course, those who regularly read most of my pieces are always reciprocated in kind. That is the easy part to understand. There are others who receive my readership because of the quality of their writing. Beautiful poetry in particular appeals to me. The tipoff is that when someone’s icon appears on my Medium home page, a smile and a frisson of excitement arise spontaneously. And I can’t wait to read their latest piece.

With other writers it is their content that attracts me, they can be counted on educate me on a current issue, an historical figure, or on another country, culture, or religion. Those who put forward wonderful photography also get my attention.

Where my analysis becomes trickier is in realizing I read on a regular basis some writers whose poetry or prose is not remarkable in any distinctive way. At times what they write might even confuse me, or the advice offered seems very basic. I might not be emotionally moved by many of their pieces. That is not to say their productions lack artistic merit. I am in no position to judge that, having no claim to any special expertise in that arena, and “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” remains true. Yet I can’t resist reading certain of these writers. Why?

My answer upon reflection is that the person, the creator of the content, comes through to me, and I like them. What these artists tend to have in common, is that a gentle spirit, an aura of positivity, a certain vulnerability and sensitivity, and/or a genuine concern for the welfare of others and the planet comes through in just about everything they write. They leave me wishing that I could simply sit down with a hot drink and chat with him or her.

Whereas other clearly talented and popular writers I have stopped following. I have only a limited amount of time to read, and it is already more than I spend writing, and these artists don’t need me to read them. They deservedly have so many devoted fans, I won’t be missed.

Have to end this now, I just noticed that a couple of my favorite writers have new pieces for me to read. If you have gotten this far, thank you!