Rejected by the Medium Partner Program?
Listen Up, Cowboy …
For and inspired by Notorious DCI’s post “I Got Rejected by the Medium Partner Program.”
A LOT of people have been rejected by the Medium Partner Program. I say that not to diminish the rejection you or anyone might befeeling, but to let you know that you are not alone.
How do I know? I was rejected, too.
I don’t fancy myself a Hemingway or any sort of expert writer, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let algorithms, people who haven’t read my writing, or bean counters tell me what my worth is. I don’t like to “should” on people, but … neither SHOULD you.
Regarding Confounding Rejection
The first thing that came to mind when I ready your post were memories of when I lived in L.A. and made my living as an actor. I don’t know if you’ve had experience in the entertainment industry, but it’s a dog eat dog business given to the whims of whoever’s in charge on any given day, especially for actors. The similarities between the way actors are cast and Medium’s “invitation” for writers and ideas is uncanny.
The Basics Casting directors send out casting calls asking for specific types of actors for roles based on any number of criteria — height, weight, age, ethnicity, blah, blah, blah. Everyone gets the same audition material. You’d think it’s a level playing field. Guess what — it’s not!
There’s the human element involved. The best actor doesn’t always get the role. The person who looks most believable for the role doesn’t always get the role. Sometimes producers have already picked the actor they want for a role in advance and the audition is simply a formality.
Actors don’t get cast because they look too much like the director’s ex, family member, or they resemble someone the decision maker doesn’t care for. Sometimes actors get cast because they DO look like the director’s ex, family member, or someone they don’t care for.
Actors don’t get cast for any number of reasons: their hair’s too long, too short, the sweater they wore is a trigger for an embarrassing memory. They don’t get cast because their voice is different, their smile is too big, their smile is too small …
My point: the reason you weren’t picked may have nothing at all to do with your writing.
- They may already have selected the writers they wanted to “test drive” in their Partner Program already.
- This may have been a ploy to create a buzz.
- They may have already reached the desired number of writers months ago and their form response may just be that a form response.
- Maybe they’re using readership numbers as a criteria the primary. Dude, there’s writers on here who get thousands of likes and their writing is nothing I’d like to sign my name to. Or I simply can’t write the stuff they do.
Just like with the casting scenario, it may have nothing to do with the applicant at all.
No one likes rejection. It sucks. It hurts. There I said it. Especially when you’ve been rejected by something you’d like to be involved with, be it a person or an organization.
BUT …
You can not let other people’s opinions determine your self worth or that of your writing. That’ll make you crazy. Literally. That will make your self-perception subject to the opinion of the last person to speak with you.
The stats in your post are nothing to sneeze at. You obviously can connect with an audience, and you’ve done it more than once, so it stands to reason that you can write. You’ve looked back over your body of work and can see improvement. GREAT! That means you’re learning and growing at your craft.
Keep writing.
Some people say “write more.”
Give it a try and write more. Me, I’m a slow writer and I have other things going on in my life that preclude me from cranking out an article everyday. I try to write an article every two weeks. That gives me time to find something to write about and time to pull it together — unless I see something that I feel needs to be addressed immediately (like your article). I have to feel passionate about what I write. I’ve written enough to know that when I write dispassionately, the post falls flat on its face.
If that doesn’t work, try something else.
Writing’s a very personal activity. You have to find out what works for you. But know that if you want to be “great,” you’re going to have to work at. Everyone that’s great at anything had to work at it.
My point is this: yes, it would nice to be crowned worthy by the Medium gods, but it didn’t happen this time. But that does not mean you’re a bad writer. If you think your talents are worth developing and you have something worthwhile to say to the world, write your ass off. Why wait for Medium to crown you when you have the power and authority to deem yourself a worthy writer?
So, “not so fast, Cowboy.” Don’t go hanging up your boots just yet. The rodeo’s not over till you say it’s over.
Love yourself.
Love one another.
