The Best of the Writing Cooperative in April

Plus, here is an update on my participation in Medium’s Boost program and how not to approach an editor.

Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

In March, Medium invited me to participate in the Boost Beta Program. I take the responsibility to nominate stories for boosting very seriously. Throughout my participation in the program, I’ve been able to nominate some amazing stories and, in turn, see them boosted throughout the entire Medium network.

Unfortunately, whenever Medium releases a new feature, a particular element of people will immediately try to game the system. Since joining the beta, I’ve received a few emails requesting that I boost their stories or enter into some kind of boosting relationship. These requests insult my integrity and mark you as a scammer.

As an online writer, you want to expand your audience. I get it. However, sending an unsolicited email telling an editor that your story (not even published in the editor’s publication) is impressive and deserves a boost is the exact opposite way of going about it. Don’t do it.

I can’t speak for Medium or any other editor, but this kind of behavior directly contrasts with the intent of the boost program. Everyone wants a magic bullet to build their audience, but there’s only one way: consistently write well.

Next month I’ll surpass 100,000 followers on this platform. It’s an amazing feat and one I’m proud of for two reasons: 1) 100,000 of you are interested in what I have to say, which is insanely humbling, and 2) it came organically; I didn’t growth-hack my experience, write for SEO, or chase fads. Instead, I began writing here in early 2014, built a publication and audience from scratch, and wrote about what interested me for over nine years.

Building an audience takes time, but it’s worth it. I enjoy the conversations arising from my articles and the emails I receive. Just not the ones begging for boosts.

You’re Invited!

Register Now

I’m co-hosting a special FREE webinar with our partners at Fictionary!

Join Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor Shane Millar for this fantastic webinar on How to Structure Powerful Scenes. The webinar is on May 11, 2023, at 11:00 am EST.

In this webinar, you will discover:

  • Why every scene needs a strong entry hook
  • Why every point of view character needs a compelling goal
  • Why getting your scene middle right is so important
  • How to satisfy readers with a great scene climax
  • How to pull readers through to the next scene with an unforgettable exit hook
  • After attending this webinar, you’ll know the secrets behind structuring a powerful scene!

Register Today

Note: An email sent to The Writing Cooperative’s writers incorrectly said the date was March 11. Sorry about that.

Justin’s Picks for April

Here are my favorite stories published in The Writing Cooperative this month. Check out my list, collecting all the publication’s Best Of articles from the last few months.

Ed Sheeran Was Right by David O.

I write songs as a fancy hobby. And in over 15 years of having this hobby, I have about 50 songs. (Although not released anywhere yet. Just started focusing on that recently).

Writing About Your Past? Remember, It’s Not Therapy. by Deya Bhattacharya

A few weeks ago, I got the germ of an idea for a story based on something difficult I went through during my school years. Up until recently, I couldn’t think about it without feeling mad — now, finally, I’m distanced enough from it to see the situation objectively and even see the funny side of it.

What A Tour Guide In Mexico Taught Me As An Online Writer by Raymond M.E. Aguirre

Although data-driven writing is essential, it’s not all that writing should be. Writing is, above everything else, about creative expression.

“Know Your Algorithm” is the Modern Equivalent of “Know Your Audience” by Walter Rhein

Everything from the articles and books we read, to the movies and programs we watch, to the music we listen to has gone through a gatekeeper process and then entered into a distribution channel. We accept that an effort has been made to filter out ideas that might be detrimental to society. But we must always question whether the process at work is effective, or whether it might be filtering out beneficial ideas along with the bad ones.

What Nude Dining and a Viral Article Have in Common by Amy Lee Kite

Writing a news story about a nude dinner event was the perfect reminder for me to strip down and let that confined, rule-following nature go. It had been easy for me to cover news stories about local restaurant openings and summer music festivals, but a story about diners sitting around a table naked was definitely outside of my comfort zone.

How To Start And Grow Your Email List As A Writer by Alex Baia

There are a hundred ways to market yourself as a writer, and not all of them are terrible. But I contend that the least terrible marketing activity you can do as a writer is to start and grow an email list.

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The Best of the Writing Cooperative in April was originally published in The Writing Cooperative on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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Author: Justin Cox