The best writing on the web is on Medium (and I mean it)
Okay, okay, Substack is a close second, but Medium still scores because of its amazing discoverability
Everybody knows that Medium is the best place on the web for writing. I know it, you know it, and even Emily Dickinson herself would agree. That’s why the best stories and finest writers are here first, before they go anywhere else. Just look at what Substack, Vocal Media, Patreon, Wattpad, Amazon KDP, Steemit, Newsbreak, and Gumroad, have in comparison.
I am a big fan of non-fiction. I am also a huge pleasure-seeker of eye-grabbing headlines. Here is where my Medium timeline of the writers I follow is so enticing that I end up spending more time than I‘d like. My friends have started jokingly calling me “the man who fell into an article.” My favourite writers on Medium don’t even know that they’re luring me into spending more time with them than I should. Many times, I have to tear myself away or use a tool like Pocket or Instapaper to save it for later reading.
The biggest advantage of Medium over Substack is its discoverability feature. When I subscribe to a writer from a particular genre, I get recommendations from Medium on writers with similar leanings. The algorithm is recording your preferences all the time, and appealing to your sensibilities every time it recommends something. Most times, it’s bang-on, like YouTube.
Now, you might wonder if the phrase ‘the best writing’ is subjective. Of course, it is. But, having been in the business of writing and journalism for over two decades, I stand by it. Now test it yourself. Pick any genre, and you will find your topic, and will follow your tribe.
Have you ever fallen down a rabbit hole of Medium headlines? They’re just so compelling. Medium is a crash course in writing riveting headlines. Scroll through the headlines in your Medium timeline, and you will immediately agree. Much of their selling point lies in making bold statements or reversing an age-old argument. While there is a pattern, it still works all the time. After all, it’s up to the writer to convince you that their contrarian view is as relevant, even if you don’t completely agree with them.
So who are the writers I follow on this platform? Click on this link to find out. For example, two authors merit special attention: Sean Kernan, “that guy from Quora”, and Tim Denning, “the Aussie blogger with 500M+ views”.
But I have one problem. And it’s not to do with Medium or its alternatives. I don’t have the time to read the works of all the wonderful writers I follow. The same goes for OTT platforms and podcasting channels. Reading is still a luxury reserved only for those who have the time. As Tim says, you are bankrupt if you are busy. And the sad truth? We all are, at some point.
So how do we find time to write, read, and assimilate everything around us? There has to be a plan. YouTuber Ali Abdaal is a productivity guru who is finding ways all the time to listen to more books, and also review them on his channels. That’s one big achievement. And I try to inculcate some of his tips to expand time. Such as watching videos and podcasts at 1.5x speed.
So how am I navigating the busyness? Through serendipity. If YouTube recommends a video based on my previous viewing, it’s on point. And I watch it. So much so that I have no time to watch the stuff churned out by the many OTT platforms I subscribe to. The same goes for reading. I am subscribed to a lot many newsletters that drop into my inbox every day. Depending on my mood and the genre, I immediately read the ones that pique my interest.
How are you navigating your busyness? I would love to know in the comments.
