Building Community on Medium — A Penny For Your Thoughts
By Miriam Clifford, Published in Coffeehouse: A Penny University
(a) penny for your thoughts
idiom
Cambridge Dictionary
said when you want to know what another person is thinking, usually because they have been quiet for a while
It is beautiful to see people coming together in support of each other. This is rare on social platforms, but here, it does exist. I learn so much from reading diverse perspectives.
I have been on Medium for about a month or two now, and my journey here is just beginning. I appreciate all the new faces — artists and life travelers. The amount of support I received on this platform shocked me. I was not expecting such a warm welcome, and it has made me so appreciative of this space. I hope in my publication to create the feeling of a busy coffeehouse, where everyone is welcome — but able to hold their own space to express who they are, and write quietly about the things that matter to them. I purposefully wanted a mixture of topics — coffee, food, mixed with philosophy, resources about the artistic process, and insights about life. The saying “A penny for your thoughts” comes from the idea of coffeehouses when they first emerged as centers of thought in Britian — something I will delve into later in this blog.
This network has a several philosophers, poets, writers, photographers, tons of interesting people, even runners and other things relatable to writing. And everyone here as far as I know is a writer-because if you write — you are a writer. I remind people of this all the time. The craft of writing is caring about it — wanting to improve, and showing up each day to do just that — grow and learn.
One of the first series I did here after a 5 year hiatus of writing publically about my life journey was called “On the Wings of Greats.” My hope was to share my love for the writers that came before our time —as guides — in carrying us through the trials of artistic expression, and moving us towards this mysterious force of creativity.
I most enjoy writing about the artistic process-but this is the most difficult writing I do because it truly comes from the blood, sweat and tears of sitting at my desk painstakingly considering why I failed at something in my book, or hours of research about a particular author or idea that helped me get unstuck. Many of you shared books and ideas that propelled me forward, and for that I sincerely thank you. I would not be where I am in my book without your ideas, words of encouragement, and open sharing of work/books. I will continue to compile those resources here to pay it forward.
Reading your work has made me a better writer — the quality on Medium surpasses any other platform I have engaged with in the past several years.
Writing can be a solitary enterprise — but this platform allows me space to move back and forth between creative writing and outwardly focused work — preparing me for the day when I publish — a day that still scares me, but the fear is lessening.
In the “War of Art” Steven Pressfield calls this the most important lesson in writing when he says, “No one wants to read your shit.” Pressfield is not one to sugar coat things. In order for people to read, you need to put in the work, and make it better each day. Medium forces me to put in the work, even on days when I don’t feel like it — because it is a promise to you — the reader. It propels me.
I am happy to report that I did finish a draft of the part 1 of my book.
Rather than seeing myself as a failed author, this time around I feel motivated by changes. When I am doubtful, I write on here — and it keeps me writing. The next day I wake up and my feed is filled with beautiful comments — what more can I ask for as a writer?
My mind starts to consider that maybe my writing is not shitty after all, to use the words of Pressfield. Similar words echo in my mind from science fiction writer Larry Niven when he says,
“It is a cardinal sin to bore the reader.”
They want to read your best work — and you force me to bring out the best in myself. I suppose chefs feel the same way.
I still feel like a traveler watching the amazing place I wish to go in my writing from afar — but I know now it is waiting for me. I want to go on the adventure and write the words — “The End.” Words that Steven Pressfield says feel like slaying a dragon and bidding it good riddance. (Pressfield also adds the words, you son of a bitch, dragon in the War of Art).
In prior attempts at writing my book changes would cause me to abandon it, but this community has helped me. Before I used to go grab coffee, and hope for the best — hope that the muse would return to help me finish. But now, I have so many more strategies — from stoicism to the thought of a collective unconscious helping me — to works of art inspiring me. Other days its reading an insightful piece about a life event, or a vulnerable post about how you overcame something. So thank you.
In England there was this thing called Penny Universities — I named the publication here after that because it spoke to me. Coffeehouses in historical context became spaces where people met up to talk and develop new thoughts. The “penny universities” as they were called were spaces where people learned from each other.
Artists and interesting people would pay 1 cent to have a coffee, but it wasn’t about the slutchy drink that was considered really wierd back then(a coffee topic for another day) it was about the community that propelled artistic creation. That is truly what I am seeking here on Medium — and I am finding it.
“Coffeehouses in 17th-century Britain were called “Penny Universities,” and they were gathering places for academics, artists, and intellectuals. These intellectual hubs democratized learning, opening avenues for people of all backgrounds to engage in scholarly discourse — including those who could not access higher education. The ideas swirling around these coffeehouses helped create some of today’s major institutions, including Lloyds of London, the Royal Society, and the London Stock Exchange.” -Thompson, Big Think, 2023
It is where this saying of “a penny for your thoughts” came from.
This forum has opened a new door for me-and it is helping not only my self-view as a writer, but expanding my understanding of art and allowing me to meet new types of artists; it is allowing me to write more vulnerably. I’ve learned for instance, that in photography — you must consider three different meanings in a work — that symbolic to greater forces like culture, that of those viewing the piece, and also your own meaning that might be hidden in the work. There are so many layers. You get to see artists working in different types of mediums. On here, we are in addition to our art, writers.
Sharing writing online is an act of vulnerability. It helps improve our craft and free judgement from the creative process.
I used to hide my writing, I thought it was so bad. Even when I had some successes in article writing, it didn’t help me to understand that I should write a creative book. I shied away from revealing who I truly was in my writing-from writing what I truly wanted to write- for fear of rejection. I thought if I work hard enough, people just might like it if I focused on the craft of writing and just tried to share my truth.
It’s why I like that Stephen King says,
“Write anything you damn well please.”
We write for ourselves, but more so for others. I write so maybe someone does not experience the same pain or so that they feel less alone in it. Writing connects us. Stories are rooted in our desire to understand the mysterious. What began as red drawings in caves in the dark, has expanded to many different art forms, but the premise is the same — stories make us feel less afraid of living.
Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
When we write, we tap into an energy that is greater than our individual person, while discovering who we really are — it’s amazing to know this journey is communal. Carl Jung called this the collective unconscious. Whatever we call it, every time we reach for individuation or self-actualization, we see glimpses of our best self. If this concept exists, this community allows me to experience it through open sharing of knowledge, support, and serendipitous events that move me forward.
Rumi talks about how we move towards our life’s work in this beautiful excerpt. You can think about your own personal journey as you read the lines below.
Photo by Дмитрий Хрусталев-Григорьев on Unsplash
Unfold Your Own Myth by Rumi
Who gets up early
to discover the moment light begins?
Who finds us here circling, bewildered, like atoms?
Who comes to a spring thirsty
and sees the moon reflected in it?
. . . .
Chase a deer and end up everywhere!
An oyster opens his mouth to swallow on drop.
Now there’s a pearl.
A vagrant wanders empty ruins.
Suddenly he’s wealthy.
But don’t be satisfied with stories, how things
have gone with others. Unfold
your own myth, without complicated explanation,
so everyone will understand the passage,
We have opened you.
Start walking toward Shams. Your legs will get heavy
and tired. Then comes a moment
of feeling the wings you’ve grown,
lifting.
An expert from “Unfold Your Own Myth” by Rumi
Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash
I have lived in 9 states (NY, NJ, KY, TX, CO, WA, OH, AR, HI). I lose count these days of all the places I’ve lived. I never felt I really belonged anywhere. I was always in motion-my parents would send us away to rural spain in the summers, so I grew up bicultural — that is probably one of the happiest things about my childhood. I was always in motion. I wouldn’t change it. I feel so lucky I got to experience that and don’t take it for granted.
I know it changed me for the better-but it also caused me to question belonging. I felt I didn’t belong anywhere 100%. But here in this community, I know I belong.
It makes me really happy to know my writing has helped someone. On my end, feedback motivates me on the days I feel like giving up. It quiets the monster of self-doubt. The gouls of my mind visit me often — they have different forms. It is the ghost of procrastination, the one-eyed monster of self-doubt, the snake of self-deception, the ivory tower looming over me — trying to tell me I am inadequate. I know these things are lies rooted in the subconscious. Writing here has allowed me to explore them openly — and somehow, they are beginning to lose their power. Writing has that magic. The trick is to show up every day.
You know probably from my comments I still have some qualms about social media, and my love/hate relationship to writing online. I did my graduate degree in marketing research/insights and by training its my job to see the holes in consumer products and advocate for consumer empathy — so I suppose its just engrained in me.
There are bad things I disagree with in tech market research — like seeing people as “users” — and seeing people as mere data points -we lose so much when we focus solely on metrics versus on people. I think platforms in general would benefit from assessing how we engage on social media.
I read a lot of articles on medium about how to be successful on medium, but success can be defined in many ways. For instance, we might think if we grow follower counts, our writing is improving — yet bias is injected through likes-because people prefer what they think is popular. So if your content does not have a lot of likes it does not mean it is bad. In reality, a comment should be more meaningful than a thousand likes. It gives feedback for growth.
Medium provides this amazing opportunity to engage in artistic discourse in community. When we get too lost in numbers and promises, it can keep us from pursuing the real dream of artistic creation. We do benefit from the service of these platforms, but the way they are construed it can be easy to fall into the trap of creating for the wrong reasons.
It is important to remind ourselves of our personal reason-whatever it is-as long as you are true to yourself. Don’t lose the end in sight to metrics — define what type of artist you chose to be.
I am just a nameless follower, but if I can encourage someone, I will — sometimes just that can make a difference for someone or have them look at something in a different way. At the end of the day, for me the goal is not about follower counts — or ego — we all get trapped in that nonsense. It’s about actually reading and listening — and growing as a writer. It means our art is progressing and reaching people. Community makes art better.
Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash
So, thank you for the community. Thank you for all the beautiful comments. I appreciate you for taking the time to read my writing, and I apologize in advance if I ever commit the cardinal sin of boring you to death — it is not my intention. Thank you for being here and showing up. I know I am not alone, and you are not alone either. Writing transcends space and time.
In the words of Nirvana, thank you for coming as you are.
Come as you are, as you were
As I want you to be
As a friend, as a friend
As an old enemy
Take your time, hurry up
Choice is yours, don’t be late
Take a rest as a friend
As an old memoria — Nirvana
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I write three publications:
Coffeehouse: A Penny University: A publication and community exploring the creative process. In 17th Century Britian, Coffeehouses were thought of as centers of thought, and any person regardless of social standing could buy a coffee for a penny to engage in creative or economic discourse. Coffeehouse is geared towards those working on an artistic project, book, or entrepreneurial endeavor. I provide food for thought, resources, books, and ways of thinking about creativity to propel you forward. To keep the theme & feel of a coffeehouse, I also add articles about the world of coffee and food from different cultures.
SundayDrives: This publication explores historical and family travel around the USA. Often times I research NPS sites, places on the National Registrar of Historic Places, UNESCO World Heritage sites, museums, and other sites of significance in our nation’s history. I have lived in 8 states and counting, and our family enjoys free or inexpensive travel around the USA.
JoyMailed: This publication began as a way to seek joy in life. It explores research on topic such as finding happiness, mindfulness, stillness, gratitude. I explore topics related to meditation, psychology, and resources to live a more joyful life. I also keep an interior “bucket list” of emotional milestones I hope to achieve in life and share these as inspiration for your own life goals.
Article Links:
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/14/mlk-day-2024-federal-holiday/72176087007/
Thomson, J. (2023, June 13). “Penny Universities”: How British coffeehouses changed the intellectual world. Big Think. https://bigthink.com/the-past/penny-universities-coffeehouse//
