Monthly Reflection: Highlights from November's Writing Journey
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Hi everyone,
I thought it would be beneficial to share an update on my writing journey, especially for my dedicated followers. This will be a more casual overview, diving into the specifics of how my writing has been progressing. I'm a strong advocate for transparency, much like comparing salaries in real life or discussing work methods in theater. I believe that sharing experiences can foster understanding, so feel free to reach out with any questions about my Medium journey; it’s all open for discussion, and I hope it can be of help to others.
To set the stage, I've been active on Medium since April 2020, looking for a platform to express my ideas and connect with an audience. After discovering some theater-related posts on Medium, I decided to give it a try. My initial piece explored the intersection of theater and academia, which led to an invitation to discuss it on a local arts radio show. This kickstarted my writing efforts, leading me to contribute to various topics. Shortly thereafter, I joined my friends Dan Canon and JoAnne Sweeny in their initiative, I Taught The Law (ITTL), which aims to narrate legal stories in a more accessible manner. It’s definitely worth checking out!
In just a month, I published seven articles, some featured in publications, while others were standalone. However, due to a mixture of personal challenges, including a bout of depression linked to COVID-19 and the intense summer heat, I found myself pausing my writing for over a year. Even though I remained an active reader and contributed to ITTL, my own writing had taken a backseat. By that time, I had gathered 17 followers but felt the need to reignite my creative spark.
Miraculously, despite my absence, I gained an additional 9 followers until last month when Dan called for #LegalHorrorStories for ITTL. Realizing I couldn’t match the factual depth of others, I opted to submit fictional pieces to provide a contrast. I crafted stories like "Pending Appeal" and "In the Dark, His Nightmares Wait for Him," which drew upon real-world experiences while incorporating horror elements. This led to a positive response, and by the end of the month, I had amassed 46 new followers who showed genuine interest in my work. It motivated me to take my writing more seriously and strive for the elusive hundred followers.
Reflecting on this past month, I consider it a success. Here are my thoughts and statistics on my progress:
Objective Statistics
Number of Published Pieces — 29 I’m thrilled with this outcome! While I didn’t aim for a daily article, it nearly turned out that way. Writing 150-word short stories significantly contributed to this count, with around 20 being micro Sci-fi. Overall, I exceeded my expectations, and I plan to push for a piece a day moving forward.
Most Popular Piece on Medium
This was my third contribution to the Legal Horror Stories for ITTL. I had it ready by the end of October but wanted my friends JoAnne and Dan to review it first, as their editorial insights have been invaluable. According to Medium, it garnered five and a half hours of reading time, which is quite satisfying for a piece intended to take around seven minutes. In terms of financial success, it earned me $7.80.
Most Popular Piece off Medium
I wrote this piece the morning after watching the film, and it exceeded my expectations with 1.2k views and nearly 300 reads, making it my most successful article by a long shot. A deeper dive into the statistics shows that around 60 of those views came from Medium, while the rest were from other sources. I appreciate the recognition, regardless of where it comes from.
New Followers — 95 I take pride in this number, even though it might seem modest to some. Most of these followers are new connections, some from my comments and interactions, and others likely found me through mutual acquaintances. I’m grateful for each new follower who has shown interest in my work.
Did I Cover My Membership Fees for the Month? I did! For the first time in 18 months! I managed to earn enough to cover almost four months of fees. Previously, I had only paid for one month and a fraction of another, so I now have 13 months left to cover, including December 21. I feel far more optimistic about achieving this goal now.
Not Particularly Scientific Stats
Favorite Piece I’m torn between two pieces.
While technically written in October, it was published this month. I found great joy in crafting this piece, and although I usually write freely, I felt a bit more anxious about sharing it. This type of writing, which captures glimpses of life rather than traditional storytelling, is something I want to explore further.
I was delighted with how this story turned out. It provides a complete narrative while leaving room for readers to imagine the broader context. This was only my third attempt at this style, so I may have peaked too soon with micro science fiction, but I’m thoroughly enjoying the process. If anyone knows someone interested in the film rights, please let me know!
Favorite New Person to Follow It would be dishonest not to mention Ann James, who has been incredibly supportive and keeps me grounded. She’s undoubtedly the "Best Follower on Medium." I’ve also connected with several others this month, including Pablo Pereyra, Alan Asnen, Susan Wheelock, Giedre P., KP_the_writer, and Mousie Browne, whose interactions have been rewarding.
Biggest Surprise I was astonished to see how well a piece outside of a publication performed, particularly my article on The French Dispatch. While I aspire to earn enough to make my writing a more sustainable endeavor, my primary goal remains to communicate my perspectives effectively. It appears Medium can indeed reach beyond the conventional limits of membership. Another surprise was the noticeable increase in traffic during weekends, along with unexpected spikes in readership around Thanksgiving. I’m still quite new to this, so I appreciate the learning curve.
Something I Learned: This past month taught me about the supportive community here, eager to share advice and feedback. Engaging with fellow members is invaluable for anyone looking to develop their writing. I had never considered writing 150-word short science fiction stories until someone suggested it as a way to gain followers and exercise creativity. Now, I've created around 25 micro fictions, many of which could be expanded further.
Something I Tried: I just started this week, but inspired by others pinning their most popular pieces, I’m implementing a weekly rotation of my works that deserve more attention. This week, I pinned a piece that I believe merits greater recognition, and I’ve already seen an uptick in views since doing so.
Next Month
Goals I believe there’s still an audience for my writing, so I’m aiming for an additional 45 followers to surpass the 200 mark. I plan to publish a minimum of 31 pieces, although this may be challenging with my son home from school and our holiday travels. I’m curious to see how the holidays affect readership. Additionally, I want to rejuvenate the Many Mini Manifestos publication, and I’ve noticed other writers indexing their catalogs. I think I should do the same to help readers find what they’re looking for, whether it’s micro Sci-fi or legal horror.
Things to Try I want to continue creating micro Sci-fi stories, but I also plan to write at least one unconventional fairy tale. I have a concept for a production of Peer Gynt, where each act serves as a standalone fairy tale, and I need to refine my writing and understanding of the genre.
So that’s a wrap on November! I hope some of my better pieces continue to resonate with readers. How did your November unfold, whether on Medium or elsewhere?