Keep Paying Attention: What Medium’s Writers Circle Taught Me About Other Writers

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My fellow writers,

Your kids are not the only ones fighting for your attention.

Writers here at the M-camp (Medium) want your attention, too. I noticed an increase in requests from other writers to review their posts. This is especially true for the new writers who show up daily.

Fortunately, I enjoy being a reader just as much as I enjoy writing here. Although I publish an average of two posts per month, I spend more time in this community than anywhere else online.

Sometimes, I participate in Medium’s The Writers Circle meetings. After a 15-minute writing prompt, the moderators split the writers into small meet-and-greet groups. Groups gather in separate Zoom rooms, called “Breakout Rooms.”

Although I’m not a social butterfly, it’s important for me to step outside of my head to communicate with other writers. Because it’s a way to take a break from myself and give other people my attention.

When you share your attention, you share the principles that anchor your author character. These principles include loving other writers as you love yourself, encouraging writers, and actively listening and participating in discussions.

We’re all writing with purposes that connect our lives in some way or another.

I’ve witnessed how some of us, including myself, show up in the Breakout Rooms feeling down and alone. I credit my bad luck for signing up for M-camp meetings on days when I experienced the most hellacious circumstances (grievances from my disability, sickness, etc.).

Thankfully, most of us recognize the weight that writing adds when you have other responsibilities and battles to manage. We don’t judge one another or hold a sad face in contempt.

Some of us write in isolation, so when we sit before like-minded, it’s probably the only opportunity to open up about the writing life.

Life means living it, no matter how chaotic, dramatic, or challenging. Just showing up in the middle of your b.s. for others can sometimes heal yourself. At least for the time being, because the attention is not about you, on you, or for you.

Your attention is an investment in people who will appreciate it and reciprocate like good neighbors. I can’t guarantee this claim, but it’s not the most important thing to expect anything in return since we’re all likely to borrow some sugar or eggs from each other’s posts, anyway. (Just food for thought.)

Giving your attention to someone else also gives you a break from yourself, like a mini vacation. You travel outside your normal thought-life. You gather new intelligence and ideas from various types of writers, readers, and artists.

I enjoy hearing about fascinating backgrounds. And I admire the honesty of writers who openly discuss their struggles with writing in their headspace. The most valuable insight I concluded from a couple of the Zoom meetings:

Not all negative thoughts are bad thoughts.

Whether you’re a writer struggling with finances, insecurity, loneliness, or even angst, it doesn’t mean your stories are less valuable just because others feel uncomfortable. Every situation is a worthy lesson for someone.

Therefore, pay attention to other people. Store up conversations for your audience. Don’t be greedy with your words. Feed them well-seasoned stories and testimonies.

Don’t be stingy with your thoughts and your emotions. Everyone is affected by the policies of life: change, uncertainty, loss, and aging.

Read me out loud here: Trophies aren’t just for victories.

If you knew in hindsight that all your failures led to a smarter you, you’d have each “failure” stamped in red and framed on your wall. This is why most writers keep rejection letters.

I love a good winning story, but a big, fat fail hits the chest like a shot of hot vodka. Both angles resonate with most types of people.

Your attention will inspire more writers to bless others with attention.

So, keep paying attention.

Who’s a writer on Medium that has taught you something valuable? Give them a little attention in the comments. I’ll list my two here: Ron Markley and Ajayi Olalekan. Thank you both for your attention!

Thank you for reading me.

Keep writing, keep winning, and God bless!