What Have I Learned From Publishing My First 100 Articles?
The Ups and Downs of a New Writer and Ex-Mormon
In my previous life, I worked as a coach for a Mormon non-profit church charity, assisting people with a myriad of life challenges to move to a much more safe and more productive position. For some, it may be a safe spot for the first time in their lives. I think I learned as much as I taught. After working alongside people with addictions, refugees from war-torn countries, ex-prisoners, abused Moms, and those with many mental health challenges, I became a much better and loving man.
Before that job, I had worked in academia, mainly as a researcher in archives, museums, and research institutes, and as a lecturer at University.
So, why did I become a writer?
I have always wanted to write. Since childhood, I have yearned to write. But life got in the way for 40 years and more. Then something, or should I say somethings, happened all at the same time. And a gate opened.
A somewhat minor life-long disability suddenly turned into a significant issue. And so long-term disability led to early retirement. At the same time, divorce came along. Add to that, a 35-year membership of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, commonly known as Mormons, came crashing down after a long and mentally challenging period of reflection.
Where am I today?
1 — I have written 100 articles on Medium.com
2 — I have written hundreds of small commentaries on social media
3 — I am writing a personal memoir based on my short stories entitled, The Cage
4 — I am writing two biographies, Reuben John: A Survivor and Sydney Jones: A Train Driver's Life.
5 — I am about to start research and write a book relating my life experience with Borderline Personality Disorder entitled Chains: Fighting BPD
6 — Lastly, I have a book for publication entitled, Break Free, dealing with the challenges and hidden dangers of belonging to a religious cult, Mormonism. Escape is not as easier as you would think after a lifetime of being controlled.
What Have I Learned About Writing and Medium?
1 — Read more than you write. At least initially. You need to write at every opportunity to develop your style and learn from your mistakes; however, reading is essential.
2 — Write passionately. Edit harshly. Most of what you write is crap. I'm still learning to deal with that truth. And don't spend all your time editing as you go along. Just write. Write some more. And then some more.
3 — Concentrate on writing about topics you know something about and what you are passionate about. I decided to toy with that idea at the beginning and still do. I have written about many topics on Medium. As I start my second 100 articles, I have learned what I know, what the readers want, and what pays. It is time to funnel down.
4 — Don't expect to get rich writing Medium articles. No matter what crap you read, you are NOT writing purely for financial gain on this platform. If someone tells you that you are, they are lying. Medium will enable you to write for the public, gain writing experience, gain a readership, and give you the confidence to eventually write elsewhere. Medium is also an excellent place to develop friendships and networks.
5 —Today, you cannot be just a writer. Of course, you need to catch your reader's attention without clickbait. I hate clickbait so much that if I am drawn to an article, and it's not what it purports to be, I will never read that writer again. Your headlines and subtitles are vital, both for you and your readers. After all, there are millions of Medium articles. You can't read them all.
You also have to design your pages. Your readers do not want to see a massive block of words. Visuals are also important. Choosing eye-catching and relevant images for your articles is also vital.
6 — Be open to constructive criticism from your peers and your readers. At the same time, remember you can't please all the people all of the time. Writing for the public means it's public. People can genuinely care and assist you and your writing; however, people can also be asses or even have a bad day. It's not personal; they don't even know you, only what you have written. So keep on, keeping on!
© Stephen G. Arrowsmith 2022
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