A Medium Toolbox for Writers
What are you rich in? Give it away with your words and you will never be broke~Author
A collection of resources for writers that will assist them in the writing process on medium and other platforms.
I have been writing since I was a teenager.
I began writing to understand who I was and who I was becoming as a person.
For me, writing helped me make sense of the world around me and some of the challenges that are built into life.
There are no two writers alike, and thank goodness everyone has their beauty, whether they recognize it or not.
I appreciate every writer I encounter because I get to see the world through their eyes for a few moments.
I rarely read things I don’t enjoy or want to know more about.
I was recently asked a question in my comment section by a new writer on the platform.
I had the thought of creating a toolbox for writers.
I have a toolbox for my profession.
I call it my go-to.
Most careers have professional tools or best practices that assist them in their field.
When I began writing as a teenager, it was for me, about me, and for myself.
When I became a therapist, I saw how journal writing created a haven for so many people who were hurting.
I believe that the same premise can be applied to any other writing platform.
Each platform has a different personality for me. I call it a culture within a culture, like the military.
Within every culture, you have these sects.
In medium, they are often called tribes.
I’m a little of an outlier. I don’t like to be boxed in or tied down to someone’s opinion of me.
I can read and comment on what I want.
If I do not have anything motivating or kind to say, I will not say anything.
I’m not on a soapbox; I’m stating what works for me.
It is a tool I use in my writing.
I have learned what works for me.
I gained insight from other writers.
I admire their gifts, but I do not desire to be them.
I appreciate my kind of beauty in the literary world.
Learning who you are as a writer is the first tool you can put in your toolbox.
I had to understand that everyone is not a writer just because they write.
This story is not intended to throw stones.
I accept people for who they are, not my limiting views.
Remember when I said Medium is like a culture within a culture.
In every culture, you will have people who do all kinds of things.
Medium is the same way for example, we have drive-by clappers, those who want something for nothing, they are on the platform but they do not want to engage and be a part of the community and will be upset they are not thriving.
There are all kinds of people here and that is ok, be who you are and create what works for you.
Which is another tool you can put in your toolbox.
You have to learn who you are in the literary world.
If you are still unsure who you are as a writer, that is ok.
Give yourself room and grace to grow.
Becoming an excellent writer is more than numbers, as it should be.
Writing is a gift you give not only to yourself but also to your readers.
Ask yourself: Are you writing for yourself or your readers?
I have a journal for myself, and I write for my readers.
It’s OK if you do both until you understand what people want to read, what motivates them, and what inspires them.
Yes, it’s about balance, which is another tool to add to the toolbox.
The longer you write and evolve as a writer, the more tools you will obtain.
For any writer, the journey from a blank page to a finished story is often fraught with creative roadblocks and technical hurdles.
Writing is not a one-stop shop.
Writing can come in waves, and sometimes it can come like a tsunami.
Having a toolbox is essential, especially for a large platform like Medium with an estimated million people on it.
The toolbox is a collection of skills, strategies, and resources that empower you as a writer to be your best and give your best.
It has taken me years to find my lane as a writer.
I have gone in other lanes as a writer from time to time, but in my lane, it is as easy as breathing.
My lane is never crowded.
I don’t crash into anyone else, and what has been so freeing is that I enjoy it with no stress.
The foundation of establishing your literary toolbox is you; it is the core of why you do what you do.
Don’t emulate the latest trend; find your corner of the world and shine, and when the time comes, whatever sunlight belongs to you will come.
If you write just for money, then at some point the swamp will run dry.
If you write for the approval of men, the first negative or mean-spirited comment will make you run away.
What are we rich in?
Give it away with words, and you will never be broke.
If you are not consistent in your writing, it will be difficult to thrive on Medium.
If you know you cannot be consistent in writing, be consistent in engaging, and plan to write two times a week.
Don’t blame people or the platform when you know it’s you.
Work on whatever is keeping you from becoming serious if writing is a goal.
If writing is not a goal and you are passing through, that’s ok too, but don’t expect Medium to be your source if you are not willing to put in the effort it requires.
Medium is work if you want to be a little successful.
If you plan to be excellent, saddle up and get to work.
Writers must decide on a platform this large where their lane is.
How often will you be cultivating who you are as a writer?
Do you have the time and energy to dedicate to a global platform?
Get a plan and work on it.
Don’t scheme and try to work a system; in the end, you will lose on an ever-changing platform like Medium.
Character development is so key for a writer.
You can be a wonderful writer, but if you are insensitive, half-engaged, and have thousands of blank followers, you have achieved what you put in the soil of Medium.
No writer’s toolbox is complete; you will constantly be learning and sharpening your tools.
I will add to the toolbox to learn what techniques are best for your genre of writing.
I have a young publication, and I see many writers who don’t take advantage of grammar checkers or other tools that can enhance their writing.
I am not talking about AI story writing.
Finally, a writer’s toolbox wouldn’t be complete without a community of like-minded individuals.
Medium has assisted me in my genre, and I have been open to others who write.
Learning from others’ perspectives, both on the craft and on the impact of the work itself, helps writers refine their stories and identify areas for improvement.
The writer’s toolkit is never fully stocked.
It’s a work in progress, continuously expanding with new skills, strategies, and resources.
Find your lane as a writer and ride it until the wheels fall off.
Thank you for reading.
Be Well!
