Uncover the Surprising Truths Behind These Common Questions – Answers You Won’t Expect!

Last week, I asked for whatever questions you all might have. I did this in the spirit of Medium Day since I wasn’t attending. There were way fewer responses than I thought would come in based on similar previous requests.

Now, this could be a statement on my popularity, on the impact of The Writing Cooperative publication, or Medium’s network effect, which hasn’t been as strong for me as in the past. I don’t know.

At the end of the day, that’s not what matters. It’s easy to get caught up in the metrics, but that’s not why I do things. As I have said over and over again, I write to connect with you all and if that means only one person responds, it’s a win.

Anyway, here are the questions you all had and my answers to them:

How can I become a writer for The Writing Cooperative? (Asked by two people.)

Click the “Contribute” button on the publication homepage for all the details. Or, click here to save a step.

I have a question about etiquette around sharing articles. Is it inappropriate to share a free link to someone’s article that I’ve enjoyed on Medium on my social media. Or do you think it’s better to only share paid links? — Helen

Helen responded again realizing that Medium removed the “friend link” feature, but the rest of her question is still valid. Readers should always share links to things they enjoyed reading. It helps the writer expand their audience, which is never a bad thing. Share away!

I am almost through a 10 chapter novel and I would like to find a reliable beta reader or two. I posted on my FB page but apparently at least one person was afraid it was a scam. He claimed that the request for beta readers is often a scam! Seems odd but then what isn’t these days. I know there are groups that beta [read] in exchange for similar service. Yet I am so involved with getting this novel completed, read by a few [discerning] readers, and revised, copyedited and published, that I can’t spare a minute. (I would do it when this project is finished.) Any suggestions? I also can’t pay, so [professional] editors are…