Why Medium Has Become The Only Platform I Write For
As someone who has been an avid writer on a number of different platforms over the past few years, I can honestly say that Medium is by far my favorite and the one I would prefer above all the rest.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but here are my personal reasons as to why Medium has become my top favorite place to write.
1.)I don’t feel criticized or judged for any of my work.
Unlike other platforms I have been a part of, I have never received any offensive or impolite comments on anything I have written. On past pieces written on other websites, I had people break down and critique every small detail of what I had to say. An example that still hurts me to this day was from a time in which I wrote on mental health awareness and how mental health is just as important as physical health.
After submitting my piece and gaining some views, I felt content and proud that I was able to write on such a controversial topic. That happiness quickly turned into sorrow and dejection as I received a comment that was at least five full length paragraphs ridiculing everything I had to say.
I’m not going to go into detail, but the gist was that this reader believed I was making up my story of anxiety. He acted as if he knew me and formed his own opinion of a total stranger saying that I should put my phone down and go outside once in a while and my anxiety will miraculously go away.
First off, he has no idea who I am, how much time I spend on my phone and how much time I spend outside. My article was literally raising awareness and spreading positivity about mental health and he took it as something terrible and made me seem like I was a horrible person for what I had to say. He also made it very clear that he believes “millennials are a group of people who lie about health issues to gain social media followers”.
I honestly could go on and on about what all he had to say, but that is by far the point of this. I am just very happy to say that, never once has a comment on here made me feel that way. If anything, the comments and feedback I receive only inspire me to write more.
2.)It’s not about the shares
Unlike any other platform I have written for, shares on social media aren’t the way to gain readers. I like that I can post articles on Facebook if I would like for friends and family to have reading access, but posting on other places is not necessary.
3.)Medium is like its own little world
To add on to the social media topic, Medium followers are gained through Medium itself. I have had good conversation with some of my followers and I love that there are groups that are categorized into specific topics and these publications are always welcoming with your work.
4.)I like that we show interest through claps
Before Medium, I was so accustomed to either liking articles I read or sharing them. It was cool to see something different. (Make sure to clap as much as you’d like for this one ;) ).
5.)Reading articles
Reading on Medium is so easy! The overall layout and design makes it super easy to read what interests you, with the bold titles and big pictures.
6.)Medium doesn’t give you deadlines
Medium is the first online publication in which I do not have to submit an article of a certain amount of words either every week or every other week.
For me personally, it can be very difficult to try and think of something to write each week just because I have to. Some of my worst work was produced during those times writers block kicked in and I attempted to conjure something up just because I knew I had to. Being on a time crunch when writing can make things tricky.
Being able to freely write as I please has helped me to not only become a better writer, but to write on content that I believe to be more relatable and practical.
With Medium, I can write three articles a week, then go on a month long hiatus if it feels that’s what I need to do.
Since starting my journey with Medium, I feel that I have gained a better reading and writing ethic and I spend more time on here than any other app. Instead of clicking on Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat and scrolling carelessly for unnecessary periods of time, I get on here and read and commend articles that I enjoy. It gets my brain flowing and creativity starts to course through my mind.
Between the layout, being able to highlight what resonates with you and all the factors listed above, I am very happy with my decision to write for Medium.
