The Context

I began my writing journey on Medium on April 30, 2020, which means I've been active for just over six months. This piece marks my one hundred fifty-seventh article, and I'll submit it once I complete my revisions. The process is both thrilling and intimidating.

Throughout these months, I've experienced a mix of enthusiasm and hesitance in my writing endeavors. There have been moments when I considered stepping back. However, the supportive articles from writers I admire, like Itxy Lopez and Jessica Lynn, have reminded me of my commitment to continue.

Reflecting on my fluctuating feelings, I began to question whether the departures of some authors from Medium, citing recent platform changes as their reason, influenced my own thoughts on quitting.

Ultimately, I realized that my feelings stemmed from deeper, personal issues rather than external changes.

Firstly, my desire to quit had emerged before any platform updates. The changes may have acted as a catalyst for my existing anxieties but were not the root cause.

I once encountered a powerful analogy regarding emotional responses:

> "Many people have anger and annoyance on tap. They mistakenly think that someone or something caused their upset. But what they don’t realize is that they are pre-charged and any disturbance can set off an explosion..." — Ariel & Shya Kane, Practical Enlightenment

This insight made me recognize that I was already grappling with my own challenges prior to the recent updates on Medium.

In fact, I found the recent changes to be beneficial. While I initially resisted the new logo, I eventually adapted and grew indifferent to it. This resistance highlighted that my issues originated more from within than from external factors.

I appreciated Medium's innovative approach, which inspired me to elevate my own writing. The platform's ongoing evolution motivated me to anticipate how these changes might reshape the writing landscape.

While the updates may have highlighted my struggles, they were not the reasons behind my contemplation of quitting. The true issues were deeply personal and related to my preferences and self-treatment, independent of outside influence. Moreover, I played a pivotal role in encouraging myself to continue writing.

I hope my insights can support you as well if you find yourself feeling disheartened in your writing journey on Medium.

What I've Learned

As a newcomer to Medium, I eagerly absorbed lessons from experienced writers. I aimed to publish frequently and leveraged content from my previous books. The excerpts I shared attracted attention, leading to a few book sales—an encouraging outcome!

I discovered the advantages of scheduling posts in advance. By planning articles a week or more ahead, I successfully maintained a steady flow of content. In July, my audience remained unaware of my three-week vacation, thanks to five pre-scheduled articles each week.

However, I recently fell behind in my scheduling routine. Other commitments were minor distractions, and I found myself struggling to meet my five-article target. For the current week, I only managed to pre-schedule one article, and I have none lined up for today. I plan to submit this piece immediately after I finish writing—no more scheduling for now.

While this situation is daunting, it also adds an element of excitement.

Thus, the first reason for considering a break is:

If you're contemplating quitting writing on Medium (or elsewhere), it may be because you've lost enthusiasm for the writing journey.

For nearly five years, I've intentionally gamified my life, learning that I need to frequently adjust my self-motivational strategies to stay engaged and excited.

I now realize that I confined myself to a single approach to writing. I believed that I had to pre-schedule articles to increase the chances of one going viral. In doing so, I neglected to enjoy the process.

> "The destiny of games is to become boring, not to be fun." — Raph Koster, Theory of Fun for Game Design

Playing the same writing game for too long led to boredom, and I craved a fresh approach or at least a variation on my existing method.

This brings us to the second reason.

Restricting My Creative Freedom

Initially, I didn't recognize my desire for a different approach, but I've since gained clarity.

As both the player and designer of my writing journey, I had a vision for what I wanted to create, yet I resisted those inclinations. Over the past weeks, I've often wished to hit the "Publish now" button instead of sticking to my usual "Schedule for later" routine. I denied myself this freedom, adhering strictly to the rules I'd set.

As the architect of my self-motivational strategies, I lost sight of what I, as the player, truly wanted.

While scheduling worked well for me in the past, and many successful writers endorse it, I neglected to recognize that I could combine both approaches—scheduling articles and publishing them immediately when inspiration struck.

The recent changes on Medium and the publications I contribute to have illuminated the need for me to adapt my writing strategy. I welcomed the external prompts for change, as they were overdue.

Additionally, I had been hesitant to write about my experiences on Medium due to fears of curation. I thought that such articles would be less visible, resulting in a loss for my writing journey.

However, this perception stemmed from the designer's desire for success based on arbitrary criteria rather than the player’s genuine interests. Although I’ve heard that Medium articles are popular, and I enjoy reading them myself, I hesitated to share my experiences due to concerns over curation.

I recently realized that my last article was curated on September 15, and none since. This led me to ponder, “If our stories don’t get curated anyway, perhaps we should write about Medium? I genuinely want to share my experiences!”

This realization helped me recognize another wish I had suppressed, as well as others in different areas of my life. Acknowledging this desire opened the door for me to explore other suppressed wishes.

I realized that I could manage my other commitments while still pursuing what I love. I didn’t need to achieve a specific income before writing about Medium. Why impose such a demanding rule on a pursuit I enjoy? I might never earn as much as others here, but that doesn't diminish my enjoyment of being part of this vibrant writing community.

This topic deserves further exploration, but briefly, I found solace in Medium during the lockdown. While I couldn't meet fellow writers in person, I connected with many through the platform daily, feeling a sense of belonging within this wonderful community. The responses and engagement I received affirmed that my writing held value, and I discovered countless inspiring stories from others.

Final Thoughts

If anything, the recent changes on Medium and the absence of curation prompted me to recognize two things I had long denied: my desire to explore new writing avenues and my inclination to break free from self-imposed restrictions.

As long as I continue to write with enthusiasm, I am already succeeding.

So, if you're contemplating a break from writing on Medium or elsewhere, don’t attribute these feelings solely to platform changes. They may just be triggers. Reflect on your deeper motivations. Are there unfulfilled desires for new or unconventional approaches to writing?

Consider adjusting your creative strategy, not permanently, and continue crafting engaging self-motivational experiences for yourself on Medium.

P.S. A Major Update

Before finalizing this article, I revisited my understanding of "curation jail," following Casey Botticello’s guidance. To my surprise, I discovered that my recent stories were marked as “Chosen for further distribution.”

This realization brought relief, as my work continues to receive curation, even without email notifications.

I’m grateful for this development, as fretting over curations detracted from my enjoyment of writing and sharing my experiences with you.

Thank you for reading!

If you found this article insightful, you may also enjoy the following:

• How to Be Aware that You Are Your Own Anthropologist

  When you turn your life into games, start by being your own anthropologist.

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• How to Turn Something or Anything into Games

  Self-Gamification is a lifestyle.

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• What Are Self-Motivational Games and Their Types?

  The multidimensional relationship between the result of turning something into fun games and its source.

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