A great article, Carlos. Your point about "creative control" and the Boost program really struck a chord with me. I hadn't considered it that way before. I've been boosted 21 times, and while I appreciate it, honestly, it caused more frustration than anything.
It made me question the criteria for getting boosted. Why one poem and not another? It felt like focusing on getting boosted rather than just writing for the joy of it. You pour your heart into a piece that doesn't get boosted, and the mental strain of constantly wondering "why not this one?" It became like an unhealthy obsession. It's like a drug, once you get a taste for it...
I think there are so many things that create noise. Obviously, it is not only the boost or virality. It is hard but we need to keep digging deep into ourselves and follow the topics we do want to talk about. I totally get the drug comparison. It is so easy to fall for it.
I don't know if it's polite, but I'd like to sneak in here too. Frustration. That's the word. Imagine the frustration of a nominator who, for almost a year and a half, has nominated the same brilliant writers, the same poems of rare quality, with extreme rigor and application, and then suddenly sees his work totally rejected and is told: This is how the system works, everything is normal. The result is not only frustration, but also exhaustion and sadness. It's a shame it has to come to this. This love of writing and stories and ideas that we all share should never lead to these tensions. I don't think there will be any here, and we all deserve some fresh mountain air. 🍃
I don't know how you do it. I think that it is totally frustrating. If as a writer you try to get your work through and understand why they like and what they don't like it. It must be ten times more frustrating to care for an entire community of writers who you want to success but are not getting the acceptance from the program. A bit of fresh air will do us all some good! :)
What a rich wonderful expression of your thoughts and opinions. I totally agree. I don't write for the boost and I don't get boosted. i write for my love of this new experience for me and to be read by the lovely gifted writers and poets I can now call my friends.
I am sure many others are the same.
Thank-you for sharing your thoughts. Wish I could highlight.
He may be a man who rambles and looks for trouble, but what I see most is a man who speaks from the heart, who is clear and expresses things without worrying about the backlash. Too few people dare to talk about things that make people angry. So it's to your credit that you do!
As you can imagine, I agree with everything you say, but that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is the message you're getting across: strive to express your art, write without worrying about anything. That's how writing, stories and poems touch the most hearts.
I could write an encyclopedia on the subject, but that would be boring. So thank you again for this essay, dear friend! And thanks for the mention. I'm not the only one responsible for what Scribe and our whole community of writers and readers has become over the years, you all have a lot to do with it too. I'll never forget it. And I can't wait to have a beer with you! 🍻
Thank you so much, Thomas. I appreciate your kind words.
Nope. No credit to me. You have been such a fierce steward of our community and I think you have given many people, myself included, the confidence to stick to it. I can't wait for a beer with you!!! I have to make my way to Paris soon!!!
A great article, Carlos. Your point about "creative control" and the Boost program really struck a chord with me. I hadn't considered it that way before. I've been boosted 21 times, and while I appreciate it, honestly, it caused more frustration than anything.
It made me question the criteria for getting boosted. Why one poem and not another? It felt like focusing on getting boosted rather than just writing for the joy of it. You pour your heart into a piece that doesn't get boosted, and the mental strain of constantly wondering "why not this one?" It became like an unhealthy obsession. It's like a drug, once you get a taste for it...
I think there are so many things that create noise. Obviously, it is not only the boost or virality. It is hard but we need to keep digging deep into ourselves and follow the topics we do want to talk about. I totally get the drug comparison. It is so easy to fall for it.
I don't know if it's polite, but I'd like to sneak in here too. Frustration. That's the word. Imagine the frustration of a nominator who, for almost a year and a half, has nominated the same brilliant writers, the same poems of rare quality, with extreme rigor and application, and then suddenly sees his work totally rejected and is told: This is how the system works, everything is normal. The result is not only frustration, but also exhaustion and sadness. It's a shame it has to come to this. This love of writing and stories and ideas that we all share should never lead to these tensions. I don't think there will be any here, and we all deserve some fresh mountain air. 🍃
I don't know how you do it. I think that it is totally frustrating. If as a writer you try to get your work through and understand why they like and what they don't like it. It must be ten times more frustrating to care for an entire community of writers who you want to success but are not getting the acceptance from the program. A bit of fresh air will do us all some good! :)
What a rich wonderful expression of your thoughts and opinions. I totally agree. I don't write for the boost and I don't get boosted. i write for my love of this new experience for me and to be read by the lovely gifted writers and poets I can now call my friends.
I am sure many others are the same.
Thank-you for sharing your thoughts. Wish I could highlight.
Thank you so much, Paulette. One thing I will always be grateful to Medium is the amazing community of friends I found there.
It's clear that without Medium we wouldn't be where we are today. It's good to recognize that. 💚
That's right. ;)
He may be a man who rambles and looks for trouble, but what I see most is a man who speaks from the heart, who is clear and expresses things without worrying about the backlash. Too few people dare to talk about things that make people angry. So it's to your credit that you do!
As you can imagine, I agree with everything you say, but that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is the message you're getting across: strive to express your art, write without worrying about anything. That's how writing, stories and poems touch the most hearts.
I could write an encyclopedia on the subject, but that would be boring. So thank you again for this essay, dear friend! And thanks for the mention. I'm not the only one responsible for what Scribe and our whole community of writers and readers has become over the years, you all have a lot to do with it too. I'll never forget it. And I can't wait to have a beer with you! 🍻
Thank you so much, Thomas. I appreciate your kind words.
Nope. No credit to me. You have been such a fierce steward of our community and I think you have given many people, myself included, the confidence to stick to it. I can't wait for a beer with you!!! I have to make my way to Paris soon!!!