I do think Medium makes it ridiculously hard to find specific things, their search function is still a joke. I have read her a few times, but I admit I don't see the point of pouring my empathy into writers who are never going to respond or read me on a selfish note (although I do feel for her obviously). Like it's one thing if I think someone is an AMAZING writer who I get value from just reading, but if something is asking constant empathy and engagement of my care feelings and it's a bottomless pit I get drained easily. As much my issue as anything I know. But I agree she is one of the more relatable "top writers".

I also wonder how many people who were making huge money have simply lost some of their readers because many of them are lbh hugely repetitive, maybe they just peaked and people moved on to other places.

I know from my own experience it's possible to grow incrementally slowly here, while seeing others really take off and consistently get much higher read rates, but I am willing to admit I don't feed the content mill what it wants either. I have also "gone viral" both on and off site, which I am grateful for, but it has had almost no trickle down effect with people reading my other stuff or becoming regular readers for the most part.

Medium doesn't really boost writers who don't fit a certain mold, there are a lucky few who seem to be able to grow their reader base outside that bubble, well mostly the damn good writers brigade to be fair. Anyway I am still pretty clueless I guess after almost a year here, always curious to learn if I'm doing something obviously wrong but also too lazy to do much about it! Thanks for the links I will check them out! 🙌🤷‍♀️