Substack is not as culturally and politically biased as Medium. Medium's bias regarding things cultural and political is pronounced. If you're not a member of the ESG/DEI cultural Marxist amen corner, then you're probably better off starting out on Substack as an author if you’re rather thin skinned. Otherwise, Medium is a good proving grounds. I suspect that if it gets more general readership “eyeballs”, it’s because it’s cheaper to read, and there are more post-modernists and cultural Marxists looking for validation online. If you can succeed in Medium’s amen corner without being a card-carrying member, then you’re ready for Substack.
What pisses me the most right now is the algorithm. It wasn’t bad at all before.
But now?
It’s bad. I mean... really bad. It only recommends the same articles by the same people. There’s on article there that I haven’t opened in 5 months. Yet I’m still being recommended that!
And with the earnings thing, a lot of people are pissed. You’re right... the platform is a sinking ship.
That reminds me something I read in Winter of The World by Ken Follett:
“A man thought he could fly, so he jumped off the top of a ten-story building, and as he fell past the fifth floor, flapping his arms uselessly in the air, he was heard to say: ‘So far, so good.’”
"When Seymour Hersh wrote about the United States sabotaging Russia's Nordstream Pipeline, he didn’t publish it on Medium. It was on Substack. The same goes for Matt Taibbi’s expansion on the Twitter files."
Medium is a platform that embraces all. The good, the unknown, and a host of other writers that have little to no experience but need a platform to gain traction.
Substack... you'd better know your shit. It is the real deal for journalists, professional writers, and those who are already established or bringing their readers with them. There is an art to gaining traction on Substack. I have no business being on it as a writer except that's where I'm starting, with zero readers, little experience in online writing, and no degree or higher education. Slow and steady. I'm committed for 52-weeks. I have 65 subscribers and 3 are paid. I solicited no one.
I took Tim Denning's class on how to build an email list - that's how I got on Substack. I took his Medium course, his LinkedIn, and Twitter too. Nothing hit like Substack. I'm writing what I want with those who are interested in mind. I don't have to "try" like on Medium, or act like an pompous ass on LinkedIn... Twitter (X) I'm using for learning to write short sentences and messages. I started there and moved to Substack. I don't have much for Medium, but love reading some of the articles. I've been encouraged to write on Medium, but like you said, what's offered on there I can pretty much find anywhere... still unsure it is worth it to me right now.
I'm following what you write no matter the platform because I like and admire your work. Thanks for a great read, as usual.
I had the same thoughts! I love the look/feel of Medium, but I feel like they are running it into the ground.
Yea the UI is second to none! It needs a few standout writers who are willing to break the mold.
Another insightful article! Keep 'um coming!
Substack is not as culturally and politically biased as Medium. Medium's bias regarding things cultural and political is pronounced. If you're not a member of the ESG/DEI cultural Marxist amen corner, then you're probably better off starting out on Substack as an author if you’re rather thin skinned. Otherwise, Medium is a good proving grounds. I suspect that if it gets more general readership “eyeballs”, it’s because it’s cheaper to read, and there are more post-modernists and cultural Marxists looking for validation online. If you can succeed in Medium’s amen corner without being a card-carrying member, then you’re ready for Substack.
What pisses me the most right now is the algorithm. It wasn’t bad at all before.
But now?
It’s bad. I mean... really bad. It only recommends the same articles by the same people. There’s on article there that I haven’t opened in 5 months. Yet I’m still being recommended that!
And with the earnings thing, a lot of people are pissed. You’re right... the platform is a sinking ship.
That reminds me something I read in Winter of The World by Ken Follett:
“A man thought he could fly, so he jumped off the top of a ten-story building, and as he fell past the fifth floor, flapping his arms uselessly in the air, he was heard to say: ‘So far, so good.’”
"When Seymour Hersh wrote about the United States sabotaging Russia's Nordstream Pipeline, he didn’t publish it on Medium. It was on Substack. The same goes for Matt Taibbi’s expansion on the Twitter files."
Exactly.
Medium is a platform that embraces all. The good, the unknown, and a host of other writers that have little to no experience but need a platform to gain traction.
Substack... you'd better know your shit. It is the real deal for journalists, professional writers, and those who are already established or bringing their readers with them. There is an art to gaining traction on Substack. I have no business being on it as a writer except that's where I'm starting, with zero readers, little experience in online writing, and no degree or higher education. Slow and steady. I'm committed for 52-weeks. I have 65 subscribers and 3 are paid. I solicited no one.
I took Tim Denning's class on how to build an email list - that's how I got on Substack. I took his Medium course, his LinkedIn, and Twitter too. Nothing hit like Substack. I'm writing what I want with those who are interested in mind. I don't have to "try" like on Medium, or act like an pompous ass on LinkedIn... Twitter (X) I'm using for learning to write short sentences and messages. I started there and moved to Substack. I don't have much for Medium, but love reading some of the articles. I've been encouraged to write on Medium, but like you said, what's offered on there I can pretty much find anywhere... still unsure it is worth it to me right now.
I'm following what you write no matter the platform because I like and admire your work. Thanks for a great read, as usual.