Maximizing Your Medium Experience: 3 Strategies for Writers
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Chapter 1: Engaging with Medium's Community
As I sip my morning coffee at 8 AM, I find myself engrossed in “Who Else Is in Awe of Their Children?” by Uvebruce. After finishing, a whimsical piece by John Loewen, PhD, about his crush on a tour guide catches my eye, compelling me to dedicate another seven minutes to read it.
Medium serves as a dynamic platform where everyday people narrate their remarkable journeys. From travelogues to insights on relationships, financial advice to self-improvement tips, the site is rich with tales of exploration, love, and wisdom. Every story holds valuable insights, but it's up to you to extract them.
Despite our diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and interests, we come together here as readers. While many of us write, we all share a passion for reading. Whether you seek to earn, learn, or find motivation, this article is tailored for you.
Here are three straightforward strategies to enrich your reading experience, enhance your critical thinking, and fuel your writing.
Section 1.1: Immerse Yourself Completely
While skimming can be beneficial at times, it shouldn’t become a frequent habit, especially with captivating narratives. Dedicate yourself to thorough reading. It’s common to become engrossed in an article only to lose focus midway; our minds often shy away from sifting through complex details. However, the real gems are often hidden among those intricate points. Overlooking them means forfeiting the true worth of the article.
Remember, exceptional writers are typically avid readers.
In my exploration for this piece, I stumbled upon Stacia M. Fleegal’s article titled “Why Good Readers Make Good Writers.” It’s an enlightening read.
Section 1.2: Make Annotation a Habit
What does it mean to annotate? According to Eastern Washington University’s Writers’ Center, annotating involves any interaction with a text that enhances comprehension, recall, and emotional reaction. Often referred to as “close reading,” this practice usually entails highlighting or underlining significant parts of the text and jotting notes in the margins.
You may have practiced this during your academic years, but I encourage you to annotate everything you read—articles on Medium, books, and magazines alike. On Medium, utilize the highlighter tool to mark passages that resonate emotionally with you. Reflect on why those sections struck a chord. This practice can reveal insights into your personal values and viewpoints.
While digital tools are convenient, I prefer to annotate physical copies by highlighting, circling, underlining, and writing my thoughts in the margins. This approach not only aids in processing the material but also makes it easier to revisit key points when drafting my own pieces.
Leverage Medium's feature to save and categorize articles in your reading list. When you encounter a standout piece, save it for future reference.
Subsection 1.2.1: Capture Your Thoughts
Whenever something resonates with you, make a note of it. I keep a blue bullet journal handy specifically for this purpose. Reading opens the door to new ideas and experiences, providing an opportunity for reflective thinking.
Initially, you may feel awkward jotting down your thoughts—trust me, I did too. Imagine conversing with the author as you read their work. Write down your questions, agreements, disagreements, and connections to personal experiences or other readings. It’s beneficial to note what the author excelled at, such as writing style, relatability, and vivid language. This will illuminate areas for growth in your own writing. With consistent practice, you'll start to notice the transformation. Not only will this deepen your engagement with the material, but it will also broaden your perspective. Over time, your journal entries may evolve into articles of their own.
Chapter 2: Embracing Active Reading
In summary, these tips can be distilled into two words: active reading. While it requires dedication and effort, active reading can significantly enhance your experience on Medium. Instead of skimming through numerous articles each day, select a few quality stories and delve into them to uncover those valuable insights. The effort you invest in your reading will be reflected in your future writing endeavors.