thejade-tigress-blog

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I wrote something...and I’m glad I did.

So...days after I signed in to Medium with full membership, I very slowly started to receive followers. It was a little weird at first because it got me thinking: “How much of my profile can they see? I haven’t published ANYTHING. SO what’s the deal with that?” 

So, I checked out the profiles of the people that are following me. Turns out they were just trying to gain more followers for themselves, advertising for their own profiles and works on Medium. 

Now to my unpublished first piece of writing. I had no idea where to start, but then I realized that my being in San Francisco alone was a good place. I wrote to myself. A surge of emotion that only made sense to me. I enjoyed writing this letter because it forced me to face myself. It’s an incomplete letter because my time here in San Francisco is not yet done. 

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FINAL THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS?

So, for the first time ever.....

I’ve written to a writer. I know, I know. I was supposed to write a piece of my own, but I was drawing a blank after blank after blank. Severe writer’s block. So, as my own personal contribution to my chosen writing space, I wrote a personal note to the writer of a piece on conquering fear about how I’m finally beginning my adult life, in a new city, new university, and how I am terrified. So I highlighted in the text, “Screw it, let’s just do it.” (Not how I would phrase it, but it gets the same message across). 

Medium most definitely checks off all of my boxes: 

Interactive (check): Medium allows its users and producers to send messages to each other, highlight phrases, comment on them, and send a note to other writers; Adventurous: out-of-the-box thinking (check): Medium has so many different topics that writers can address, audiences can read, learn, and apply it to everyday life; Insightful (check): Medium gives the perfect platform produsers to really get to know how people think and relate to each and every story or at the very least learn something; Censored/Limiting (to some degree, although my thoughts on that were based more on morality, and conscientiousness. Check): Users must reach the terms of agreement, and the privacy clause; Accessibility (to some degree. Check): There is a short free trial period, but after that u can choose to pay a $50/year membership fee or the $5/month fee. I can promise it is worth the $5/month.Therefore, I give Medium.com an A. Up to you to decide if it’s the place for you. 

IS THIS A TRUE WRITING SPACE? By my standards,                                 ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY! 

Will I continue to use this website in the near future? Hell yes. If I can finally come up with some meaty, authentic, brain-stimulating material to blow all of your minds with. Or maybe I’ll also use it as a space to vent or something, I don’t know yet. We shall see what happens. Stay tuned in the next month for my very own piece on Medium.com.

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criteria #5: INSIGHTFUL, maybe even EDUCATIONAL, or RELATABLE. OOOOH MAYBE THERE’S A SURPRISING LESSON TO BE LEARNED

I don’t know about you guys, but it can be really difficult to stay engaged in something I’m reading when I’m not almost immediately sucked in. I will read something that, at that moment, I can most certainly relate to.

 For example, sometimes, in school, someone you know may be having a hard time, in school, learning or retaining information. Reading about techniques may sound like a complete bore, but if they really want the help, they will have to make the effort.

As students, we tend to learn best from each other, because we are at the same level, and it is also easier to learn from experience, whether it’s your own, or someone else’s. Real life applications are always the best. 

Insight:

We get a look into how other people have dealt with their personal and work-related issues. We see the inner-workings of each writer’s mind, how they process information and mold it into a way that their readers can understand.

Ideas: 

We even get to see how a small idea became a start-up, then evolves into a business and the next thing you know this person is a bonafide entrepreneur at 23. 

Relatable: 

Can I see myself in this person’s shoes? Have I been there before? Will it happen to me? Do I want that to happen to me? Can I resonate with the information that I am receiving? 

Up to you.

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criteria #4: ACCESSIBILITY

Now, as I have stated in my previous posts: short free trial period, $5/month membership is necessary to enjoy all other features (well worth it because the membership is where all the fun begins): sending messages to other writers, commenting on stories, highlighting text, bookmarking stories, customizing lists, so on and so forth. You can of course, at any time, unsubscribe from your membership like I will be doing very soon.  

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criteria #3: CENSORSHIP? SWAYZE SAID IT BEST:

That’s right, Patrick! The universe shall hear your thundering cry. 

No one likes to be told what they can and can’t say. Most would even argue that it’s an infringement on our freedom of speech. That is what makes a writing space.

I say, “ Hell yea it’s violating my freedom of speech! Sometimes a girl just needs to vent.”

What exactly is a writing space you might add? A writing space...

In a writing space, you are given a ginormous opportunity to say--in written word or spoken word, privately or publicly--exactly what you want to say, and how you want to say it. You are the producer of your own original content, as well as, a user of an already established network. “PRODUSAGE” look it up! (caution: your mind may or may not be blown). A writing space allows for the “produsers” to engage in open dialogue for open-minded people (or narrow-minded people who want to open their minds to new and inviting possibilities *insert smiley face here*); to educate their audience on topics they are knowledgeable about; to even just be a place where you don’t want to think about serious topics and laugh your asses off about the fact that you may have a paper/story due very very soon and you still haven’t started because your mind blanks every single time you see that blank screen just mocking you, provoking you. 

Now, the answer to the big question in bold: If you are going to write on Medium, have the decency to be courteous, honest but respectful. There is a vast world of positivity, knowledge/insight, and just overall fun on this website. Read. Write. But, I guess the only thing I can say in terms of censorship and limitations is: the $5 monthly membership fee (of course) and terms of service: all the legal info you need to know right here. Take the time out to read it, I recommend doing so: https://medium.com/policy/medium-terms-of-service-9db0094a1e0f

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criteria #2: A Literary Adventure

My reason for wanting “adventurous” as one of my criteria is: I want “out-of-the-box thinking”; does it change the way I think/see myself, see the world; does it allow me to personally discover myself (yes, I can be cliche but that is how I feel). I value a writing space that stimulates my mind, and makes my brain buzz with thoughts of anything and everything (i.e. from time management to dating to sex to personal growth to finding better learning techniques to embracing fear). One thing about me is I don’t like to be bored out of my mind/bored to pieces (whatever clever phrase you want to use to describe how bored you don’t want to be. Here is another one of my favorite stories:

https://medium.com/mind-cafe/the-eight-step-process-to-conquering-your-fears-f984f25aacf7

CONQUER YOUR FEARS FRIENDS!!!

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criteria #1: IS IT INTERACTIVE? GIMME THE DEETS, WHAT ELSE CAN I DO HERE?

Though I must stress that becoming a member is key here. After a short free trial period, it is $5/month to continue using all of Medium’s contents and features. I did just that. And after doing so, I have discovered some new features on Medium that got me really excited about using it ( worth the 5 bucks for 10 days folks, even longer if you choose).

AUDIOOOO!!!: 

Audio, Robert Downey Jr. you beautiful man, audio. You don’t want to read with your EYES? 

You can read with your EARS people! Select a story and professional voice actors will read TO you! Love it. 

HIGHLIGHT/BOOKMARK TEXTS: You can bookmark stories you’ve read and loved and/or stories you wish to come back to and read simply because the title caught your eye. 

You can highlight sentences/quotes, or even entire paragraphs if you resonate with what the writer is saying and you feel like, “Man, I could really use this quote. Remind myself that my time is important and valuable.” You highlight it, why not respond to it, comment, question it. Maybe write a private personal response to the writer themselves, now that really caught my attention. You’re not separated from other “produsers” on this website. DIRECT CONTACT!!!! I mean seriously.

(beaming)

CUSTOMIZE IT: You can customize your topic list(the genres in which you wish to dive), the “people” (writers) you wish to follow, as well as the publications ( ex. Mind Cafe: where their goal is “to teach the majority of readers how to live a better, happier life.”) There is no definitive way to live life, you just have to put yourself out there. Stop trying to do everything the easy way, stop searching for external entities to blame and take responsibility for yourself, for what you choose to spend your time doing.

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POST #2

Writing exactly what is on your mind is difficult because a majority of the time it’s hard to put into literal words what exactly is on your mind. Tom Vellner’s article Just 19 Hilarious Tumblr Posts About Writing, an entertaining and inviting way to expose every insecurity every person has about writing. It’s simply just real posts from real people making public what everyone thinks at one point or another. It gives perspective in that we can see what other people are feeling about the different levels of effort people put into writing. 

Each post is definitely hilarious and true for everyone who had trouble putting words onto paper or Word doc. This article also allowed readers to comment on and express how true each post is for them. But, it is also always great to know that we are not alone when we are completely stumped when it comes to writing. 

Oh, how procrastination (Youtube, Netflix, posting about having to write, anything other than writing,etc.) haunts us all when it comes to having to do something productive.

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POST #1

So, Tumblr, my very first post is going to be a review of a very interesting writing space called Medium.com. I’m choosing to review this site because: 

A. I’ve never used, nor heard of this site before and felt that it would definitely get me out of my comfort zone, to write more, and write about topics I’ve never thought to write about before.

B. Once I started using this site, I enjoyed discovering new stories and getting inside people’s heads. 

C. As a member, you are a user as well as a producer. This writing space is insightful, interactive, adventurous, customizeable, and uncensored. It’s an open space to really show your voice, and connect with readers and other writers. 

While reading this article, so many thoughts bubbled up to the surface. I thought about how the fact I attend a four-year university in another city hours away from familiar territory, basically alone. I have to take responsibility for EVERYTHING I do; I have to run my own errands (without a car), figure out where I’m going to get the money to do so; keep track of class assignments, or special events, TIME, expenses. But, I also have to remember to take time out for myself, my mental and physical well-being, and keep in mind that having fun, childish moments are ok too. I enjoyed reading this story because it is ALL SO VERY TRUE, and RELATABLE; I breathed while reading this ( like deep breaths because I didn’t feel alone). I’m definitely enjoying Medium.com because I’m already feeling a sense of reassurance. 

Still figuring out all of the criteria/expectations I want in a writing space.