and What I Learned From Another Writer Here
I sat up in bed with pillows propped behind my back, a cup of coffee sitting beside me, ready to catch up on my reading. I love Medium and the treasure trove of great stories, from incredible writers here.
My personal writing journey on Medium began in 2019. I published a story close to my heart regarding laptop use in coffeehouses and restaurants. I’m not a writer with 10k followers, but I am a storyteller, so with trepidation, I wrote the essay.
It took me forever to push publish, but after taking a deep breath, I sent it off in the late afternoon. I fully expected it would go into Medium space, but what happened I was totally unprepared for.
The following morning I received several emails regarding my essay. “I Banned Laptops In My Coffeehouse,” was curated. I was asked to be a writer because of the quality of my writing.
Wow! I danced all over the house. The Startup, Newsworthy, and Indelible Ink asked me to write for them. Below is the essay link.
I began to write other essays. The Start-up, Noteworthy, and Indelible Ink took them for their publications. I was ecstatic.
Then!
Over the last six or eight months, I began to notice a shift in Medium’s algorithm. My essays weren’t picked up by publications, the paywall doled out pennies and curation didn’t happen again.
Of
course, I began to think it was my writing until I read many successful
writers on Medium lament about the algorithm changes, curation jail,
and their diminished revenue. On
this particular Sunday, I read an article by Sam H. Arnold, whom I
follow. After reading her article, I knew what was wrong and what I had
to do. I’ve added her essay below.
I realized I was feeling pressure to have my essays curated and for those essays to make money behind the paywall. Adding to that pressure, unless you’re curated, the chances of readers seeing your posts are slim to none. There are so many stories I want to share, but this new algorithm got in the way of my posting.
I love writing on Medium, but I will need to make a few changes, the first is to start my own Publication anyone can access, whether a Medium member or not. I’m working on creating it now.
I’ll post the site as soon as it’s live. It will not be behind the paywall; it won’t make a dime or be curated. That’s OK. I’d rather have eyes on my writing.
At first the writing will be mine. Later I will ask other writers to share their work.
The posts on my publication will be shorter, and spontaneous with a wide range of essays. I’ll post on my Medium address for possible curation and essays will be behind the paywall. This move will take the pressure off so I can enjoy writing on this platform again.
I can now post stories I love, adding to the subjects I’ve been writing about, sharing more information. I’ll enjoy that, and hope readers will too.
I was a pastry chef and caterer of fine foods for ten years. My second business, a coffeehouse on the rim of Yale’s campus for twenty-four years; both were five-star businesses. There are years of coffeehouse stories people ask me to tell over and over, I'd like to share some of these with you.
Come with me on this exciting journey. I hope you will find writing that is genuine, interesting, informative and a joy to read. I welcome you. You are the reason I sit down to share my knowledge and my love of stories.
Thank you, Sam H. Arnold, you put the key in the lock for me to turn.
Be well, be safe… Lulu
