These books were written by Medium authors and their titles are way better than this one — About a month ago I asked several hundred Feedium members if they had ever written and published a book. And, if they had, I would start compiling a list featuring their work in an article that looks a lot like what you’re reading right now. Behold, the wonderful published creations…

22 websites that are actively recruiting new writers — Freelancing is getting more popular every year, and only in the U.S., it is expected that by 2027 the workforce majority will consist of freelancers. According to Upwork, the five biggest reasons motivating people to start their freelancing career are the desire to become their own boss, the ability to…

I made a web tool that lets you spy your hidden literary style — This story is behind Medium’s membership paywall, which means the writer earns through our Partner Program. To become a Medium member, click here. Back in 2016, Adam J. Calhoun wrote a fascinating Medium post in which he showed off something quite cool: What novels look like if you strip away…

When in doubt quit and embrace failure — “Finding your voice” is the general consensus of finding success as a writer and I looked everywhere for mine. How To articles, lists to make life better, motivational speakers, get-rich-like-me articles, masterclass videos (just the trailers,) CBD oil supplement ads, CBD oil, slang dictionaries, thesauruses, popular Instagram posts, Facebook and…

I define success by love and continuation. — I went through a dark age at the beginning of my writing journey. I felt blind, alone, bumbling along, trying to find my voice and audience. My writing wasn’t great. My income was non-existent. And I was loving it, not in a glutton for punishment kind of way, but because…

You have to make an impressive exit or your story won’t swing — Everyone who watches Olympic gymnastics knows that even the finest performance of a double salto tucked with two full twists won’t win the gold if the gymnast doesn’t stick the landing. (See what I did there? I introduced the idea of ending a piece of writing without breathing a word…

I have to admit, I’m a little jealous — Meaningful work. I often wonder if what I do is meaningful. I saw your work today and it’s so beautiful. The way you craft words into lyrical prose and use metaphors that surprise me. I would have never thought of that one, but it’s perfect. How do you link those…

What your editor wishes you’d do — As a writer and editor for over 12 years, I’ve read a lot of drafts. I find myself giving the same editing advice over and over. One of my passions is helping new writers where I can, but many editors only want to see the highest quality of writing in…

Learn from the best and be inspired — Personal Essay fads have come and gone in the writing world. In 2017, The New Yorker published a piece titled The Personal Essay Boom is Over: three years later, they’re more popular than ever. In a world where we often feel disconnected— even though social media promised to make us…

Should you write them anyway? — There are whole aspects of my life I can’t write about. Not always because I don’t want to. Perhaps, at least in some cases, because I don’t need to. I’ve also been told not to tell some stories. When you’re a writer instead of an accountant, a nurse, or a…

What to do when you get ghosted — You finally build up the courage to pitch your article to an editor: a mix of hope, excitement, and fear registering in your chest as you click that little send arrow...then you wait. And wait. You check your spam folder. Perhaps their glowing acceptance email was misplaced? Nothing. Editors regularly…

Rejection doesn’t mean you’re a terrible writer — If you’re getting more rejections than you’d like, it’s easy to feel discouraged. You start to spiral into doubt: perhaps my writing is terrible? You compare yourself to top writers and feel like you’ll never reach their level. Honestly, maybe you won’t. There are some truly gifted writers. Does that…

Christie Tate discusses hate mail, advice for new writers, and the realities of success — To be published in The New York Times is a dream of many writers. For Christie Tate, it became a reality. She soon found out that writing success is not all literary agents and accolades! I chatted with her about her experience being published in Modern Love, her new book…

There are parts of life you don’t need to edit out — Other people’s lives are spread out in black and white across my bed, ready for editing. Pen in hand, I select the closest story. My oldest daughter leans in to read over my shoulder. At 14, she’s developing into a mini version of me — same shoulders; same pear-shaped curves…

This is what readers want right now — Are you hoping for a formula to produce a viral article of your own and make a ton of cash? Let me be honest with you up front: I was paid a standard rate upfront for this article. I didn’t earn any extra per read. I would’ve been paid the…

Pay attention to the things you can drop on your foot — What do cats, washing machines, and sandwiches have in common? They are all things you could drop on your foot and, according to Writer and teacher John Maguire, the key to good writing. But what does that mean exactly? Every week I talk with new writers who want to tell…

From someone who’s been writing for over a decade — There have been a lot of changes on this platform recently and, I know, it’s uncomfortable. Good or bad, it has scared a number of writers. Some have left; others are thinking of leaving. Fair enough — change is hard and when it happens we do need to weigh up…