To Newbie Writers Whose Stories Were Kept in The Medium Darkest Corner
This is how I got out of a dark hole.
This is how I got out of a dark hole.
My experience as a newbie on Medium
I discovered Medium in late 2018 with the full hope of finding a platform where people would care about what I have to say.
I was enthusiastic and posted a few articles which were kept in the darkest corner of medium newbie and never saw the light or never came across anyone’s sight.
My profile was quiet like a graveyard. I felt rejected and hurt.
I was discouraged and turned away from the medium but kept minimum sight at Medium from far like a sneak peek on my ex’s Instagram.
Once in a while, I read newsletters from Zulie Rane or see her YouTube talking about how to be successful on medium. Had mixed feelings of jealousy of her success and spiking my interest from time to time. Anyway, I decided Medium was not for me.
Why I started to write again on Medium
Only recently, in the year 2022, I found many of my friends were so struggle with finances so I wanted to share my story of how God saved me from my financial (mental) crisis so I wrote an article,
Rest and Let God Do the Work for Your Finances
My story will help you believe that miracles still happen every daymedium.com
Maybe it was a God idea, but I decided to post it on medium, and with little knowledge, I learned from Zulie Rane from time to time.
I was looking for a publication to submit my story. Thank Mystic Mind for seeing my article’s value.
I didn’t expect anything, as I have never gotten any attention from a Medium platform.
It was not a viral overnight kind of thing. It was just a few hundred views, claps, highlights, comments, and a few followers which were enough to make me qualified to enter the Medium partnership program.
It never happened to me before and it was enough to change my perspective on a Medium.
The light of hope was ignited in my heart once again like reuniting with an old lover.
What I have done wrong and now that I can do better
I went through my older articles and I nearly cried because laughing too hard at how novice I was.
I am glad I could laugh at myself. The only reason I could see my old works as crap is that my skill has improved.
As much as I wanted to delete them all, I will keep them for the sake of accepting where I am coming from and you may be inspired by how bad it was.
I am not going to prise myself here. I still have a lot of insecurity regarding my writing ability. But what I want to share with you is how I realized what was it that stood between me and my dream. It might be the same reason you struggling to reach your goal as well.
First, of course, my skill!
Please don’t feel discouraged just yet because skill can be improved. It is a natural process of doing the same thing over and over. And if your motivation for writing is from love, your skill will surely improve. Plus, a journey of learning is very fun in its way.
Second, lack of knowledge and a bit too much of an Ego.
I thought people would like me and my work just because I was myself. I refused to learn the culture of Medium.
As you join social media it was as if you enter a new country, they have their language, their culture. If you wish to communicate with them, you need to learn their way.
And that when Ego dresses like an angel trying to pursue you out of your way, saying you can be loved as who you are! find other places where you belong.
I believe in it once but not twice.
Surely, there will be a place best fit for us but refusing to learn was an act of a childlike needing to validate love and asking anyone to take us as who we are or not at all. Often they didn’t take us, hurt again!
Raise above your fear and seek to understand what Medium needs from you. Combining what Medium want with the style of who you are won’t make you a pleaser but a greater act of compassion.
Last but not least and most significant, take control of the fear of rejection
No one like to be rejected. It’s hurt. I hate it either. I used to fear so much rejection from the publication as if they were the God of the writing who know who I am and if my work is valuable or not.
No, they don’t! No one! You are important and your voice is significant but to be realistic. It will not be for everyone.
Even the worst evil content promoting hate and violence can get attention and engagement surely you can do much better than that.
The way I look at publication now is not a fairy God of writing but a way to meet the right audience. When they rejected me it helped me find the right audiences who will truly love my work.
Submit one, reject! Find another one until you and your dream became one!
I wish you a load of luck!
My name is Lita Jane. I am sharing inspirational stories serving Love, Hope, and Faith. Continuing our relationship further by signing up for my newsletter, Lita Jane, and inviting me for a coffee would be nice.