Behind The Editor’s Wall: Secrets They Don’t Want You To Know

The digital world of writing is a curious place. We’re told it’s a collaborative space, a community where writers lift each other up. Medium, in particular, is a platform built on this promise — a haven for thinkers and creators to share their voices. So why is it that for so many of us, the process of getting published in a major publication feels less like a cooperative effort and more like an endless battle against an invisible wall?

I’ve been writing for a while now, and like many of you, I’ve poured my heart and soul into articles, only to have them returned with the same cold, impersonal message: “Your story did not meet our guidelines.” It’s a phrase that has become a mantra of rejection. It’s the editorial equivalent of a closed door, and frankly, it infuriates me. It’s a perfect example of what is wrong with the current editorial process. The message offers no insight, no actionable advice, and no reason to believe that the system is there to help, rather than to exclude.

Writing for writers, I’ve come to believe, isn’t about teaching grammar rules or sharing success stories. It’s about empathy. It’s about understanding the struggle, the self-doubt, and the sheer effort that goes into every single word. So when a publication that is meant to serve as a resource for writers tells you to “follow the guidelines,” it feels like a betrayal of that very purpose. Guidelines, I believe, shouldn’t be a gatekeeping mechanism. They should be a guiding light.

Of course, I understand the need for boundaries. Creativity thrives on constraints. A blank page can be paralyzing; a set of parameters can spark new and exciting ideas. But there is a fundamental difference between a constraint that inspires and a rule that rejects. A good guideline should serve as a compass, not a stop sign. It should push a writer to think differently, to mold their unique voice to a publication’s aesthetic without sacrificing the core of their idea.

The problem, as I see it, is that most publications view their role as simply curating content, not cultivating talent. They are passive filters, designed to accept only the articles that arrive fully formed and perfectly aligned with their aesthetic. But what about the articles that are 90%…