The next storm is always round the corner. That's a good way of looking at it - the weather is always changing on Medium but the climate is lovely. Things are constantly changing and as long as you're on board with the ever changing nature then that's fab. You're five Medium years older than me - that's insane(!) But it's great that you're still here and you're building something awesome with a niche in the market. I don't code and I don't talk about my sex (see the pinned story) but I'm a big fan of diversifying the workforces across society.
As for my antipathy towards publications - it's nothing personal about any one publication. I think Medium tends to lean politically left and progressive - and the in-house Medium publications were bad at creating nuanced discussions and curating the centre ground. That was when my opinion of publications was formed - and is potentially unfair. For the most part though, it's personal preference. This article is in my own publication (The Arctic Circular) to which I am the sole contributor and editor. It allows me to schedule pieces to go out and keep a fairly constant trickle of work without getting bogged down in any one thing.
Plus every publication comes with its own house style, there's usually a page of rules about what they will and won't accept. That's fine and that's conventional publishing I guess to an extent but it's this which doesn't appeal. I have enough of submitting things for approval in my other writing life (scripts/screenplays) so I don't enjoy the writing to someone else's brief. When I do contribute to other people's publications (and I do from time to time) I'm far more likely to regularly contribute if the editing process is minimal and the editor puts it through on a nod. In all honesty, I think Medium has got it wrong with publications. I think publications should be head-hunting the writers it wants, rather than letting writers submit to publications. I think the default setting should be everyone is a citizen journalist and publications pick the best of the bunch to push harder and faster.
As an aside, I'm also a bit controversial and outspoken from time to time - that can get editors a bit jittery. The off-hand sarcasm means I'm unlikely to be boosted but it's part of the Penguin style of engagement. I imagine if this piece was sent to a pub, they'd want me to remove the snarky asides about people like Umair Haque and Tom Kuegler. Editors worry more about offending people or being associated with offending people than I do - and this is probably a good thing.
Am now off to read your piece from 2018! Back around the time of my birth! :o)
