The Fast Reader’s Dilemma
By: Daryl Bruce
Tags: Medium Writers, Stories, Writing, Reading, Funny

Well, here we go! Monday was the day when stats took on an even more addictive quality by showing writers our earnings daily. Like many of you, I’ve been hitting refresh constantly waiting for the new stats figures to take hold — I have taken appropriate breaks to sleep, eat, and go to the washroom. If I wasn’t before, I’ve now become a stats junkie in need of a constant hit.

Earnings are now calculated from the amount of time a reader spends on each story. While this may prove to be a fairer model than the previous claps based one, what does this mean for fast readers?

According to Medium, the new system does more than simply track how long a writer stays on a particular story, it allegedly monitors how often you scroll, and how long you stay in one particular spot.

In essence, it knows if you’re actually engaging with the story or if you’re just sitting there twiddling your thumbs or picking your nose. I also think it may know if you’re being bad or good and forwarding a report to Santa.

I am a quick reader and I get through many stories on Medium in half the posted reading time. While I do completely read all stories I clap for — I’ve never been one to clap and dash — I’ve often wondered if I stick around long enough for it to count as a read.

So, what can we fast readers do if we want to ensure a writer is being fairly compensated?

Slow down

This is probably the most obvious solution. Sit back and take your time while reading a story. Kick your feet up, take a sip of tea/coffee/or alcoholic beverage between paragraphs, respond to a text, trade jibs with your partner, etc.

My speed reading goes back to my school days. My legendary procrastination skills meant that I would hold off reading assigned work until the last possible second, and magically pull an essay out of my backside just in the nick of time. Reading with speed has stuck with me ever since.

I have found that when I slow down and read at a more casual pace, I end up absorbing more — imagine that!

So, when reading a new story, remember this is not a race! Perhaps one of the benefits of the new system is that we fast readers might learn to slow down and enjoy the process a bit more.

Engage with the story

Okay, I’m a big lover of highlighting. You should see my university textbooks! They are alive with vibrant splashes of yellow, orange, and blue — I love shiny things. My classmates would make fun of me until I aced a test or the final exam, and then they were in awe of my abilities — well, not really.

My love of highlighting extends to Medium articles. If you write something I agree with, that I think is clever, or that I wish I had come up with, I’m going to highlight it.

Stopping to engage with the story you’re reading through highlighting or clapping is a great way to moderate your reading speed. I know I get a thrill when that hallowed green circle appears informing me that someone has highlighted something I’ve written. I get all warm and tingly and have a Sally Field moment: “You like me, you really like me!”

A slow scroll

Can we get real here? You know sometimes you click on a story that has an amazing headline and then you’re kind of “meh” after reading the first paragraph or two — don’t judge me because I know you do the same thing! I don’t want to be one of those jerks who are only on the story for a minute — I don’t roll that way.

These types of stories are like going on a date with someone who is really attractive but has the personality of a walnut. So, you decided that you’ll be nice, pay for your half of the meal — maybe get a few good consensual feels in — and then head home never to meet them again.

If you’re not taken with the story you’re reading, just scroll through it slowly. Treat the article like it’s that co-worker who goes on and on about their kids. You couldn’t care less about the fact that her son is a prodigal child because he used the toilet on his own for the first time — you kindly avoid mentioning that the kid has to be about ten now — but for the sake of office peace you smile, nod, and just process enough of the conversation to you get the gist of what she’s saying.

Use the opportunity to note why the story didn’t grab your attention like the headline did, so you can avoid the issues in your own writing. Turn a negative into a positive learning experience.

I guess what I am saying is, if you’ve shown up to the party, stay long enough to make the host happy and then run out of there (and fill up a Tupperware container of appetizers when no one is looking).