Nachos

This brief haiku about nachos gained a bit of traction, with many readers enjoying the prompt and contributing their own creative takes. It was never curated under Food. Not once during its existence.

Allergens

This article combines food (cheese) with a discussion about allergens, published in Michael Burg, MD’s Doctor Funny. It features three limericks that detail my unfortunate allergies to plant reproduction and dairy.

Although this piece didn’t achieve viral status, Michael’s challenge garnered attention, potentially leading readers back to my work. It was never curated under Food. Not once.

Le Tourtière

The final poem mentioned in my email is a haiku about tourtières, a traditional Quebec meat pie that recounts my elementary graduation trip to Montreal.

This piece didn’t go viral either. Instead, it provided satisfaction like a hearty but unassuming pie, offering a comforting experience that leaves you wanting to nap for ages. It was never curated under Food. Not at any point.

Now, let’s examine the underlying pattern here.

My pieces were never curated in the realm of Poetry. In fact, they were not curated at all.

Yet, they played a crucial role in my journey to becoming a Top Writer. This observation challenges the common notion that striving for curation is the primary route to achieving Top Writer status.

What stands out when reviewing these articles is their virality. Specifically, reader engagement with topics like nachos, allergies, and pies seems to be a common thread. Regardless of their viral status, all of these pieces received a fair number of responses.

Could this engagement be the key to achieving Top Writer recognition?

While my sample size is limited, I can confidently dismiss the idea that curation is a direct pathway to Top Writer status.

This serves as a reminder when considering advice pieces that suggest a link between the two. They may correlate, but they aren’t the sole method to attain this status.

Formatting Poetry: New Guidelines on Whether to Hit “Enter” or Not?

This first entry isn’t a poem; rather, it’s a discussion about poetry. I’ve noted that articles examining the craft of poetry tend to have higher curation rates than poems themselves, which can be perplexing.

I suspect that curation might involve a bot-driven process, which favors longer pieces. This theory is supported by the fact that my poetry collections (e.g., multiple poems) often perform better than standalone works. Pieces with lengthy explanations or analyses are more likely to be curated.

This article is curated, reinforcing the idea that curation can indeed relate to achieving Top Writer status. However, it’s not the entire truth.

Nachos

Sound familiar? This piece also contributed to my recognition as a Top Writer in both Food and Poetry. It’s remarkable how one simple cheesy snack can wield such influence. As previously mentioned, it is not curated.

to my deceased orchid

Finally, a poem dedicated to my deceased orchid, which humorously highlights my struggles as a plant caretaker, somehow earned me Top Writer status in poetry. It was not curated. Nevertheless, it garnered a significant number of comments.

Throughout this analysis, it seems the magical engagement number is at least seven. Seven readers enjoyed my musings on nachos, allergies, and my plant care woes, which ultimately helped me achieve Top Writer status.

I love this realization. I appreciate what I’ve learned from this experience. I’m genuinely thankful that my chaotic, food-loving nature has led to my recognition as a Top Writer.

I express gratitude for productivity writers who compile ultimate hacks and for investigative writers whose extensive research enriches their articles. Some days, I resonate with either of these styles, but they’re not my primary mode of writing.

Above all, I’m grateful for readers like you, who provide space for me to share my quirks and the stories that bring me joy, simply because they make my life wonderfully absurd.

When I first started exploring Medium, Roz Warren’s humorous pieces brightened my days. I often paired her articles with more serious readings to balance the heavy content.

While I may not possess Roz’s innate humor, I lead an incredibly absurd life that resembles a mundane version of a Series of Unfortunate Events. I’m delighted that the snippets of my life I craft into poetry and food metaphors have brought joy to others.

Prompt Reflection: If you hold Top Writer status in specific categories on Medium, what are they? What do you believe makes your work stand out on this platform?

If you’re pursuing Top Writer status, what aspects of your work do you think shine the brightest? What resonates with your readers? What would you like to emphasize more?

Feel free to tag me in your responses or submit to The Brain is a Noodle, so I can promote your pieces on Twitter!

Hi, I’m Lucy Dan (she/her/?) and I’m considering new writing projects. I have a theme of food and poetry and food poetry (yay!), but I’m eager to explore other interests in a series format. Could I delve into a series about wax seals? Or perhaps podcasts?

Should I hop down this rabbit hole? ?

Is This Why We Write?

Day 6: What dwells within the unconscious mind?