I am Finally Back on Medium

Making a Comeback: Overcoming Setbacks in Writing

I am back. YES. After a 9-month hiatus on Substack, I am finally ready to make a comeback writing on Medium. During the past nine months, I took a break from the platform to explore my passions and hone my writing away from the distractions of Medium’s infamous algorithm. The decision to take a break was not an easy one, writing had become a significant part of my life, but on Medium, I found myself feeling burnt out and uninspired, blindly chasing after views and reads. I knew I needed to step away to regain my creativity.

During the period away from Medium, I took my time to re-evaluate my writing, researching and experimenting with different writing styles and formats on Substack, hoping to find the style I am most comfortable with. I have explored different themes and allowed myself to write without the pressure of deadlines or audience expectations. I finally derived a writing system that motivated me to write sustainably.

As time passed, I began to feel a renewed sense of purpose and clarity about my writing. I discovered how I like to tell my stories and realized that I prefer to share my everyday insignificant tales beyond the usual boring tips and advice on self-development.

As a writer, I have always assumed that readers are drawn to my work because of the information I provide in my articles. After all, isn't that the point of writing? To convey a message, inform, educate, and entertain. But there's something else at play that's just as important, if not more so. I am a slow learner, and it has taken me a long time to realise this important aspect of writing.

The truth is when readers read, they are not just looking for information. They are looking for a connection. They want to feel something, whether it's excitement, inspiration, empathy, or just a sense of familiarity. And that's where the vibes come in.

Vibes are hard to define, but they're essentially the energy or aura that emanates from your writing. It's the words you use, the language you employ, the kind of story and the way you tell it. It's the personality you convey, the attitude you adopt, and the emotions you evoke. It's the sum of all these elements that make up the unique vibe of your writing.

The power of vibes can be seen in all forms of writing, from novels and poetry to blog posts and social media updates. Even in the shortest and simplest of messages, there's a vibe that the reader can feel.

Of course, that's not to say that information isn't important. It absolutely is. Readers want to learn, to be informed, to be challenged. But it's the way you convey that information that matters just as much. If you can deliver your message with a vibe that resonates with your readers, you'll be much more successful in engaging and retaining them.

Vibes are incredibly powerful. It's what sets you apart from other writers, what makes your work distinctive and memorable. It is what draws readers to subscribe to your work and keeps them returning for more. But good vibes need a well-connected medium to reach new readers, without which there is little growth. So it is time for me to progress to the next phase, to expand to more mediums to reach new audiences and seek out new growth.

Substack and Twitter are platforms that I currently use, but they are not enough. I need to venture into more routes to find and connect with new readers. Medium is the natural choice as it is the most popular platform where the majority of the writing community hangs out.

So here I am, excited to connect with Medium once again to meet new friends and old. While I am happy to be back, I won’t be the old Winston blindly chasing after views and reads. This time round, I will take my time to experiment with my writing on the platform.

If you are interested in finding Coffee Times on Medium, follow me via link.

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Coffee Times is about delivering the right vibes fused with relatable experiences, insignificant moments and taken-for-granted things. Start investing in yourself and associate with the right vibes to make the most out of your everyday life.