I thought a lot before posting this as I rarely comment on posts for a lot of reasons, including my own anxiety that I’m not always communicating what I feel with clarity, but I’ve seen too many posts in my feed criticizing writers, criticizing people who write long stories or stories about sex, etc. Criticizing members and non-members, criticizing Medium for not catering to their needs, criticizing EVERYTHING as of late, and some of this feedback is cogent, thoughtful, and justified, but many of these commentaries are mean.

There’s a difference between a critique that aims to make a platform better and more inclusive, and there are low-blow critiques that are petty and mean.

I wonder how this is a supportive, inclusive community when writers are being criticized simply for existing or deigning to try to get people to read their work. Why wouldn’t an author’s publicist try to get their author featured on the homepage? I’ve had two books published traditionally and I’m not rolling in it by any means, and I would be THRILLED if my publicist got more eyes on my work. Maybe these authors don’t know the ins and outs of Medium membership because their agent or publicist is managing to get excerpts or sample chapters syndicated. Maybe they’re panicking about reviews or writing their next book or whatever is going on in their personal lives to remember to purchase a Medium membership. That doesn’t mean their work doesn’t deserve to be featured or read. I didn’t buy subscriptions to every magazine that featured my work when my books were published — it doesn’t mean that I’m less of a person or a writer.

Who cares if they are a member or influencer or not — if the work is good it shouldn’t matter. I pay $5 a month to read stories that educate, inform and entertain me. I don’t care if the people who write them are members — I care that I’m getting my money’s worth. Writers don’t owe my own work anything. Medium doesn’t owe me anything.

I only care when a platform or a writer deliberately (or through negligence) harms me or my work.

Some work featured on the homepage is not to my taste and some are — quality is wholly subjective. I don’t personally prefer to read stories about sex, but I’m not going to write rants about them or get upset if they’re featured on the Medium homepage or if they’re not a member, etc. I just don’t read them and keep it moving.

I am one of the “boring” authors who happens to write long pieces that are sometimes featured in Medium publications or on the homepage. That doesn’t mean I haven’t worked just as hard at my craft as anyone else. That doesn’t mean I’m not hustling just as much as you are. It doesn’t mean I haven’t faced my share of rejection — I’ve been submitting to publications for twenty years and I get constantly rejected — as much as anyone else. All writers want is people to read their work and they shouldn’t be criticized for doing so. And people shouldn’t be criticized for being further along in their careers than someone else.

At one point in 2017, I had to pause my membership because I could not afford the $5. How we do know anything about what’s going on in people’s lives professionally or personally to make any assumptions?

If people don’t like how Medium pays writers, features writers, etc. — that is fair and legitimate, and Medium should take into account the opinions and suggestions to refine their product as it ladders to their business and financial objectives, but these personal attacks on the writers and their work or whether they’re a member or not without even knowing their situation, are just spiteful and unnecessary.

I have a lot of friends who publish books, articles, etc., and they’re still hustling. They’re still struggling to pay their bills and take care of their families. And I would be thrilled to buy their books, read their articles, etc., regardless if they pay a Medium membership.

These “famous” or “published” writers are human too. And they struggle just as much as everyone else. I wish people would remember that.