I couldn’t agree more, Doc. The number of people who subscribed through me to medium was well over a hundred at one time. I started out with over $100 each month from that alone. Now I start out with less that $50, so over half of those subscribers have left, and I’m just one person. I’m not bitter they stopped that credit, but it can’t just be my subscribers that are leaving. If that many who subscribed through me have left …
All you have to do is spend some time browsing the offerings to see the quality of writing has dropped significantly. It’s not that I’m against poor writers publishing their stuff; like everything else, you get better at writing by writing. You also get better by reading good writing, and that’s getting harder to find here.
Frankly, I don’t think the goal was ever to promote better writing. I think it was always about the bottom line, and as I said, when greed is the motivator, quality always suffers. Further, I don’t appreciate being treated as if I’m an idiot. Don’t tell me the new plan is going to make everything better, then cut my pay by three fourths right off the bat, and don’t even get me started on “boosting”! Whatever it used to be called, nearly every article I wrote was promoted. Since the changes, I’ve had a few of the political articles I wrote boosted, but none of the spiritual ones. I have never tried to figure out the system and how to make money, which is fortunate, because there’s no transparency if I wanted to do so. I do not have trust or confidence in Medium anymore, and I’ll be reading your work on Substack ASAP to see if that’s a possibility for me. It’s never been about the money for me, but when I make 80-90% less now compared to a couple years ago, I notice! It’s not my writing that’s changed.
The only reason I’m still writing here at all is because I love my followers, but I’ve already told them I’ll be phasing out or at the very least, reducing the number of articles I post here. It’s a shame, really. I used to really enjoy writing here, but while my followers are top notch, the company undervalues and undercuts the very people who made them successful to begin with, and I’m not one to stick around for that kind of disrespectful abuse.
Sorry, Doc, I’m sure that was more than you wanted to hear. I bought both your books on Substack. I hope you’re doing well there, and I want you to know I’ve always enjoyed our shared commentary and your support. Many blessings to you, and Happy New Year.
