Self-Reflection After 4 Years of Being a Medium Writer
Making all my Medium articles publicly accessible — How my mindset evolved over time — Which one was my most successful article ever — More…
Today is July 25, 2024, marking exactly four years and one month since I published my first article on Medium. That article was featured in “The Startup,” back when unique styling in new articles was more tolerated than ever, and the platform’s regulations were not as strict as they are today. It was about developing a genre-based song recommender program using my own Spotify dataset (which incidentally became one of the most popular music datasets online, maybe I could tell its backstory in a future article). The number of claps I received felt like instant reward, showing that my work resonated well with others.
Today, I’m a Medium writer with more than 40 published articles in total. Now, I want to take a moment to appreciate my past progress and express my gratitude towards others, who shaped me to who I am today and inspired me in the most unexpected ways. As a thank you, I want to return the favor by telling more about myself and my Medium journey, answering a list of questions. Are you ready?
Why Did I Make All My Medium Articles Publicly Accessible?
It was a tough decision to make all my articles public and remove them from behind the paywall. It’s not that I don’t want to earn money, but I came to the realization that many people that I know don’t have a Medium premium membership. This means my articles have been hidden from them the entire time, unless I granted them access via friend links. In fact, by removing those barriers, I feel a sense of liberation. As a matter of fact, I want my thoughts to be free and accessible to everyone, not hidden behind a scary paywall. With all due respect, Medium.
How My Mindset Evolved Over Time
In retrospect, when I sometimes go through my earlier articles, I wish that I had explained my ideas better. There are times when I cringe at my past work, noticing inconsistencies, odd remarks, and word puns that no one understands. I name a few examples:
- Words & Parallel Universes: Yes, words in partial orders are equal to languages in linear orders. But who gives a freak? How does it help me achieve my personal goals?
- NQDM — Modern Progress Bar: Questionable if it’s really the best way to demonstrate the usefulness of a progress bar.
- Reflag — Flags, Redefined (C): An article which reminds me of the time when I thought one could utilize Medium as the platform to document simple projects.
Sometimes, I didn’t know how to present the topic well, and other times, I lacked the technical background to explain it thoroughly, relying on funny analogies instead. For this, I consider two articles of mine, which I once wanted to rewrite:
- How Understanding Trade-Offs Made Me Realize: Back then, I was sort of aware of the underlying real-life principles such as “There is a trade-off between efficiency and readability”. But, I had no clue about the game theory, so I lacked the ability to use the correct terms.
- Transfer Learning: A Gentle Introduction: Aside from the fact that I’m very proud of this article, I still think I wasn’t fully ready to write on a huge topic like this. Trust me, it’s a way more complex topic than just reusing parametric information across different models.
It’s even more embarrassing when I recognize my strong dependence on AI to write for me in the past. In fact, it’s easier to spot than you might think. Especially if you know that I’m a non-native English speaker. Staying eloquent and fluent in English writing and speaking is a difficult challenge, and AI helps me formulate my sentences better. But I strive to be consistent in practicing without AI assistance, and I know it will pay off in the long run. For instance, in many of my latest articles, I’ve made a conscious effort to use my own words, because authenticity is what truly matters.
Which Was My Most Successful Article Ever?
Choosing my most successful article is challenging as I’m proud of all my progress. However, the article I’m currently most proud of is my latest one, Memory in Different Contexts. It’s not just the intriguing topic or the number of positive feedbacks but also the connections I found across different domains. Apart from that, three of my article series are — in my humble opinion — worth reading:
Why Do I Still Write Articles?
I often ask myself if writing articles is truly what I want to do for the rest of my life. Is it worth it if only very few people read and appreciate them? Who am I writing for, if not for myself? What’s the point of publishing them?
For more context on the “how” and “when”, feel free to check out my introduction article. But there’s still the underlying question: why?
Firstly, writing is not just an excellent practice for a future academic career, but also a good hobby to cope with stress and overthinking. It’s a form of self-reflection and a way to get into flow state.
Secondly, the best way to understand me is through my thoughts and ideas. While I regard my grades, job title, or Instagram photos as just labels, my writing offers genuine insight into who I am. By making my personal knowledge base accessible, I invite you to truly get to know me. Cliché, but true.
Thirdly, I believe that high-quality information should be free and publicly accessible. Sharing is caring, and it’s the only way we grow as a community. So, this is my way of contribution.
All in all, I’m very grateful for the person I’ve become, and Medium has undoubtedly played a key role in that journey. I love what I do, and I’ll keep doing it for as long as I can. Peace out!
