REFLECTIVE WRITING
The Challenges of Writing for 90 Days Straight — Week 10
Follow me on my journey as I discuss this week’s contemplations and opportunities for growth.
The week count has struck double figures. It’s now Week 10 and Day 71 of my 90-day writing challenge. Wow. The end is in sight.
I’ve got some ideas I want to explore for the next couple of weeks on the back of some excellent advice I found through the Medium Daily Digest — more on this later, so I’m looking forward to pushing on.
In the last seven days, I had another story curated, bringing the total to six curated posts, distributed nine times, from the 56 posts already processed.
Photo by joba khan on Unsplash
The piece is on the Illumination publication, which is a resource that I’d recommend to any writer starting on Medium.
I’ve mentioned it a couple of times in recent weeks. The insights from Dr Mehmet Yildiz are invaluable, and there’s a genuine sense of togetherness and sound advice through the publications Slack channel. If you haven’t already, try and have a look.
A Quick Word on Curation
The words’ Curation’ and ‘Curated’ both get banded around a lot on Medium.
I’ve started to notice a sense of bitterness towards them coming from some quarters. It could be because I’m reading a lot of stories on improving my writing, so those stories could appear on my feeds because of that, I don’t know. I do understand the frustration, though.
I’ve written posts which I thought were certain for curation. I scurry over to the stats section (daily), click on the details to reveal the message:
I’m not going to lie; I die a little inside each time I see that message. It’s how I imagine opening a beautifully wrapped Christmas present, only to find a lump of coal, would feel.
But, you know what. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I’ve found some fantastic posts on Medium, in no small thanks I’m sure, to the distribution channels through a piece being ‘Curated’.
Like it or not, curation helps filter most of the rubbish, which allows us to dig out the gems.
I’ve said from the first reflection post, that I started my 90-day journey to help improve me as a writer. Reading the guidelines and having “curation’ as something to aim for as helped this hugely. So, for that, I’m thankful.
I have been fortunate enough to have a few pieces curated now. Whether this was skill, luck, both or something else, I’ll never know. I am proud to have been curated in the following topics, though:
- BOOKS x 1
- PRODUCTIVITY x 1
- RELATIONSHIPS x 1
- REMOTE WORK x 1
- SELF x 3
- WORK x 2
Followers
In earlier editions, I mentioned how I would prefer a lower number of followers if it meant I had more ‘true’ supporters, and I still stand firmly with this.
I’ve gone up another eleven followers this week, down from the sixteen of last week, but it brings me within touching distance of the number 50 which will be a satisfying milestone to reach.
I find it incredible, that just a couple of months ago, the vast majority of these people will have been unknown to me. The internet, and Medium, has made these connections, it’s quite amazing.
A Recap of Last Week’s Reflections
“We do not learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey (American Philosopher)
Contemplation 1: Story Structure
I’ve looked at a few different structures to my posts this week.
One idea that I picked up from one of my favourite writers, Sinem Günel, was to use a second image to break up a longer piece.
I love this idea. I mentioned last week how story structure could be thought of in similar terms to a song. The mid-point picture is like the interlude or middle 8 of a song — It adds enough variation, to keep the interest.
With the MPP (Medium Partner Program) rewarding writers on the read time from Medium members, I’ve noticed more and more seven-minute plus articles than when I first started my journey.
If this is something you’re experimenting with, you might find placing an image halfway through is a refreshing break for the reader, and could help keep them engaged longer.
Contemplation 2: Links to Stories within a Story
It isn’t easy to assess the success of this because there isn’t a way (that I’m aware of anyway) of finding out what link a reader clicked on to find an article.
I do believe, though, that a message is only as powerful as the context in which it’s received. If the link to your own story supports this, use it. If it doesn’t, don’t.
If on the back of this we’re able to increase the exposure of a relevant post, this is only a good thing and a win, win situation for both the reader and us.
This Weeks Contemplations and OFG’s (Opportunities for Growth)
- Contemplation 1: Finding Inspiration
- Contemplation 2: Updating Previous Stories
Contemplation 1: Finding Inspiration
For me, it’s important to write only about things I’m genuinely passionate about and can offer an opinion to consider. The single hardest thing I’ve found about writing every day is having interesting enough (in my opinion) material to share.
It’s essential to keep the idea funnel topped up, but this is something I’ve neglected in recent weeks.
OFG: A couple of days ago, I came across this excellent piece through the Medium Daily Digest.Seven lists are too many for me, but I’ve started using four, which have helped in the last couple of days.They include:- Quotes I Like- Posts with Titles I Just HAD to Click- Life Experiences- Random Thoughts and IdeasI will let you know if it helps in next weeks reflections.
Contemplation 2: Updating Previous Stories
I feel good about my writing. I have done for a few weeks now, so I think the time is right to go through all of my earlier pieces to update them with the ideas I’ve picked up over the last ten weeks.
My understanding with pre-published pieces is that if I were to update them, they’re still unlikely to get many additional views because a lot of the exposure is related to the time they were initially posted, and not when they were last updated. The time that has passed will be more than a couple of months ago for some posts now, which isn't ideal.
I have contacted Medium, and they’ve confirmed that it’s not against guidelines to delete and re-publish a post, so this will be particularly useful when I come to make a push on submitting to more publications.
OFG: I’m going to start from the first post and work my way through to the most recent, polishing each piece, in the best way I can.I will focus on titles, subtitles, images, structure and formatting in the first instance.I’m not going to delete any pieces until after the 90th day, in case I pick up on any other useful ideas before that time but after that time I will focus on SEO settings and the tag topics.
Closing Thoughts
Towards the beginning of this post, I discussed my thoughts on curation.
It’s easy to focus too much negative energy on getting a piece curated — As recently as today, I read a post suggesting that the curation team isn’t human at all and AI instead. Maybe it is, maybe not. I don’t know. I can’t say I really care either.
I do know that the idea of being curated has helped give me a bar to aim for though. If I’m fortunate enough to have a piece curated, great. If not, maybe there’s a lesson to be learned.
Earlier today, out of curiosity, I looked back at my first ever post on Medium, and while it wasn’t awful, the standard wasn’t good enough to be curated or published.
It’s amazing, how when we write we think the piece is of a high standard. Maybe for the version of ourselves at that time, it was.
I’ve already updated title, subtitle, pictures, formatting and tidied up some silly grammatical errors and I’m already feeling a lot happier about the post. That’s what it’s all about, the feel.
If you can look back on a story, a couple of months from now, and still feel good about it, others will too, and you’re on to a winner.
I finished last week with this, but it’s worth saying again, so I hope you don’t mind: Keep reading the curation and publication guidelines, and don’t forget the Medium Daily Digest!
Before You Leave
Thanks for being here. I’d love to keep in touch so join my mailing list now for semi-regular e-mails about what’s been occupying my mind over recent weeks.
