Why I’m Taking a Step Back from Medium: Three Big Reasons and What’s Coming Next
I’m Not Quitting — Just Moving to a New Home! All My Medium Posts Stay, and My Future Writing Is Free. Come Join Me on Layers of Curiosity!
Hello everyone,
I’ve been posting on Medium for quite some time, and I’m grateful to all of you who’ve read and supported my work. However, I’ve decided it’s time to move on. In this post, I’ll explain why — and share an exciting look at what’s next for my content and community. In short, if you like my writing, please come join me on Layers of Curiosity!
What’s the reasons?
1. Wording Woes & Unpredictable AI Detection
As a non-native English speaker, I spend a lot of effort making sure my writing is clear. Unfortunately, Medium’s AI detection tools can be pretty hit-or-miss — sometimes flagging even straightforward, technical sentences as “AI-generated.” This forces me to constantly reword or rewrite my posts just to dodge the filters.
It’s not only technical pieces. I’ve hesitated to share personal reflections because I’m afraid an automated system might mislabel them. Instead of freely exploring new topics or writing from the heart, I end up tweaking phrasing over and over. This process sucks the joy out of creating content and slows down my real goal: learning and sharing new insights.
2. Medium’s Paywall & Membership Model
Medium’s paywall and membership system might work for some writers, but it creates unnecessary pressure for others, like me. Between raising a toddler and managing other responsibilities, I can’t always produce content at the pace Medium’s algorithm seems to favor.
That makes it tough to justify maintaining a paid membership. Over time, it became more about meeting certain metrics than sharing genuine ideas. I believe writing should feel liberating and inspiring, not like a race to keep up with a paywall-based platform.
3. Expanding Beyond Data Science and ML
While I love talking about data science and machine learning basics, they’re not my only interests. I also love experimenting with thriller or fiction, exploring new formats, like a monthly newsletter that combines learning resources, personal reflections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of my research and daily life.
My main publication, TDS, is transitioning to its own platform so the community can share content more freely, and I plan to keep contributing there while also developing my own personal site. Medium has been a great chapter in my journey, but I’m excited to move on and write about everything from technical tutorials and real-world ML applications to short stories and serialized content without feeling boxed in.
What’s Next?
1. All Content on Medium, Completely Free
One of my biggest changes moving forward is making all my articles on Medium free for everyone. I don’t want any paywalls blocking readers from the content I create. If you find my work valuable and want to support me, you’re welcome to use Ko-fi for tips or donations. You can also contribute to my “nanny fund” to help me free some time to balance parenting and writing!
2. Ko-fi Poll & Community Input
On top of being a space where you can leave a tip or donation, I’ll also use Ko-fi to run a poll and find out which topics you’d like me to dive into next. Your votes will help me decide what articles and stories to focus on in the coming weeks. Here’s a quick look at some categories you can choose from:
- Machine Learning & Data Science: I’m thinking of continuing my “Courage to Learn ML” series, along with more tutorials, real-world examples, and project ideas.
- Thriller or Fiction: Sometimes I just love to stretch my creative muscles and write short stories or even serialized suspense tales.
- Life Insights: From parenting anecdotes to old dating stories (and those “aha!” moments that happen at random), I’d like to share more of my personal side.
- Posts in Chinese: As a Chinese speaker, I’m excited to post about my experiences and reflections in my native language.
- Behind-the-Scenes: Get a closer look at my day-to-day work, whether it’s research, brainstorming, or general musings on life.
If any of these pique your interest, please keep an eye out for the poll. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts! I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or suggestion here or Ko-fi as well.
3. A Newsletter Without Limits
I’m also setting up a newsletter via Substack that won’t give me headaches about AI detection or word count. This means I can focus on writing genuinely and thoroughly, covering everything from deep-dives into data science to behind-the-scenes looks at my daily life (toddler adventures, interesting dating pitfalls included).
4. Upcoming Story Chapter
As a thank-you gift for checking out my Ko-fi page and upcoming newsletter, I’ll be publishing the second part of My learning to being hired again after a year… soon. Stay tuned for the details! This new platform setup will let me share creative works more freely than ever before.
