Chapter 1: Greetings, Medium Santa!

Dear Medium Santa,

Hello and ho, ho, ho! It's a pleasure to be reaching out to you this December. Since I’m relatively new to this writing journey, I joined Medium shortly after last Christmas, just in time for the New Year.

On January 1st, I felt thrilled to be part of this community. As I delved into the platform, I sought out articles that could guide me on how to write engagingly and stand out. Initially, I spent more time absorbing content than creating it. I remained open to learning and eager to improve, never assuming I had all the answers.

Along the way, I encountered remarkable individuals. The friendships I forged in the comments section of various articles boosted my confidence and motivated me to entertain a wider audience. By supporting other writers, I cultivated connections and camaraderie.

For me, Medium Santa, the friendships have been the highlight of this writing adventure. I cherish the interactions in the comments, and I find joy in offering advice and assistance to others. I no longer feel like a novice.

Although I still consider myself early in my writing journey, I’ve gained valuable insights and made substantial progress. I’ve amassed a following of over 6,500 readers and writers, earned 50 Top Writer accolades, and improved my self-esteem and mental well-being through writing.

While I appreciate these achievements, I yearn for more, especially during this festive season. Therefore, I have a few requests for not only myself but for my fellow Medium writers as well. Here’s what I hope to see on Medium in 2023.

Chapter 2: A Request for Compensation for External Views

Offering remuneration for external views could significantly enhance the experience for many Medium writers. Implementing ads within articles or blogs aimed at non-members could generate revenue that compensates for the external views we receive. This could also incentivize non-paying readers to become subscribers, opting for an ad-free experience.

Based on my observations, we earn approximately 2.4 to 2.6 cents per read minute. After publishing over 430 pieces in 2022, my highest earnings in two standout months just exceeded $1,000.

While I’m grateful for my success on Medium, it still pales compared to my content writing endeavors elsewhere. I would love to dedicate my full attention to Medium, and even a modest payment of 1.5 cents per external read minute would transform our experiences.

This video, "Dear Santa - Sean Morey," encapsulates the spirit of holiday wishes and could resonate with our desires as writers.

Chapter 3: Enhancing the Commenting Experience

The current commenting system on Medium could use some improvement, Santa. Presently, we can only type short responses or paste emojis from other platforms. Could we enhance this feature? Enabling users to upload images or GIFs in comments would foster encouragement and connection. Additionally, incorporating a wider range of emojis directly into the interface would be beneficial.

In "OneRepublic - Dear Santa (Official Music Video)," we see the joy of connection and community that we hope to foster through improved commenting features.

Chapter 4: Revamping Profiles and Publications

I believe that the appearance of our profiles and publications could be greatly improved. As someone with decent tech skills, I've struggled to enhance the aesthetics of my page and my publication's landing space.

A more user-friendly approach, including tutorial links for creating visually appealing pages, would be immensely helpful. If you could make this happen, Medium Santa, we would gladly leave out cookies and milk for you!

Chapter 5: Monthly Contests for Engagement

Introducing monthly contests with prizes could elevate the Medium experience. This is an area where Medium could gain an edge over competitors like Vocal. Themes or categories for these contests could be set, with judgments from Medium staff or top writers. I’m excited about the prospect of participating in such engaging activities, and the prizes don’t need to be extravagant—everyone enjoys a bit of friendly competition!

Chapter 6: A Simple Wish for Christmas

All I truly want for Christmas is to see an increase in views—not just for myself, but for all my writing companions here on Medium. The more we collectively enhance our platform, the more readers, writers, and users we will attract.

So, Medium Santa, I've been a good writer this year. Please consider my requests and those of my fellow writers, and we will surely put forth our best efforts in 2023. Here’s to camaraderie among writers and the joy of the holiday season!