I'm lost. Not in the strictest sense of the word; after all, I know that I am sitting in front of my computer, at home, writing what I thought was a blog article. But, it turns out, I might be mistaken.
It all started a couple of weeks ago when I logged onto the Medium blog site out of curiosity. I have heard of Medium, of course; as a would-be blogger, several places I have enjoyed often reference articles written on Medium's web pages. However, it never dawned on me to set up a post site for myself on Medium because I already have a place. My goal for writing from the start has been to drive visitors to Linda's Brick Barn in hopes of attracting attention to my wife's beautiful jewelry creations.
I read some of the introductory information on Medium and signed up for the free portion of the blog platform. The platform is unique, and the business model is an exciting combination of sharing and compensation. Although I haven't decided yet if the unlimited membership is something I will pursue, I like that the company will share a portion of your individual subscription proceeds directly with writers. The writers you read will be compensated with a part of your membership fee for providing content (if I read it correctly). I'll say more about this unique sharing arrangement once I understand how it works; however, the current members who selected the compensation package are identified with a "Member-only" star.
It was interesting that the first article I read was about someone who was leaving. The individual had grown tired of the seeming company push for more "claps" (whatever that is) and "followers." Yet, for some reason, he felt "pressured" to produce. What pressure?
So I've toyed around with the website, trying to learn its processes, updating my profile, not liking what I see, and updating my profile again. I've read a few "blogs," and here is where it gets interesting; the blogs I've read are nothing like what I write. The blogs I've enjoyed over the years have all been informative, creative, storytelling, or personal experiences, so I've also tried to incorporate those things into my essays. Unfortunately, I've read very few, if anything similar, on Medium. I'll be the first to admit that my reading experience has been, so far, minimal.
Take my hiking/trip report Blogs as an example. The trip reports I write are my experience with the hiking trail, mountain ascent, or canyon rappel. Early in my writing, a website paid credits (REI) to anyone willing to provide content. Fortunately, they expended more on content designated as "guides"; therefore, many of my early trip reports are written in the "turn left, look for the blind arch," type of reports. When AllTrails absorbed the company, I changed tactics and reported on my general experience with the adventure. So the "turn left," descriptions are there, but my writing has (hopefully) evolved to read more like the journal entry it is intended to be.
When I searched for "Hiking" on Medium, the latest story was in 2021; then it jumped to 2017, where "The Science of Hiking" is discussed. So I moved my search to "Hiking Trails" and found a question and answer session about the Faerie Glen Nature Reserve. An ultimate planning guide to the Enchantments and the seven Leave No Trace Principles every backcountry hiker should know by heart. Under Hiking and Backpacking, I found four stories. What is surprising to me is the topics are generally "Tips," as in "5 Tips for..." or "Ten Life lessons learned."
Where are the stories? Where are the experiences? Life lessons are fantastic but rarely apply to anyone other than the individual who experiences them. No offense, but I want to read about lost shoes and wet matches. Thunderstorms and damp sleeping bags. Sunrises, sunsets, and climbs that take your breath away. I've debated changing how I write my blogs to better conform with the trend and quickly decided against it. I'm not sure I could write such a thing, but just in case, perhaps an alternate headline for this essay should be "6 reasons why blogging isn't what I thought (it was)."
Written August 17, 2022