5 Tips for authors from an experienced curator

in Curie2 years ago (edited)

It's been ages since I wrote on this subject, but recently thought I should revisit it and share some hopefully helpful tips from my experience. I joined the platform back in 2016, just two months after it was published and instantly fell in love with it - not only for the chance to share my thoughts and creative works, but also to make sense of the content others are creating and help those who are struggling despite putting in effort.

This led me on a curation journey where I joined the Curie group and continued to dig through the content in search of gems almost every single day until now. Here I'll write some things you can incorporate into your practice if you want to get more visibility and rewards for your work as an author, and it also might be helpful if you are a fellow curator to see my thought process.


Follow the platform rules
Let's get this out of the way immediately. Nothing will ruin your reputation faster than being caught doing something that is not aligned with rules or good practices of the platform. Post original content, verify your online accounts if necessary, thoroughly source images and quotes which are not yours, don't post the same content multiple times and familiarize yourself with guidelines in specific communities before posting - to mention a few.

Engage with other authors
This is the most important one. No matter how good your posts are, if you are just dropping them and then disappearing from the blockchain until next one, you won't receive the rewards or comments you wish for. Curators and other authors look for users who engage with others.

It will hugely pay off if you are responding to comments, reading other posts, entering community contests and prompts, reblogging posts you really enjoyed that should be seen by others or get higher rewards (make sure you don't overdo it and start spamming personal feeds). Sometimes it's necessary to take a step further and connect with others by joining discord groups.

As a curator, one of my favorite ways to discover new authors is by following comment sections and seeing who's making genuine effort by writing meaningful comments. Stay away from fake, simple comments where it's easy to see you didn't even read the article.

Post consistently
It is ideal if you write regularly so that everyone, authors and curators, familiarize with your schedule and have a reason to follow you and look forward to your next publication. Find active communities where you can write on weekly topics or create an ongoing series yourself. Don't let your followers wonder where you've disappeared, if there is no reason. :)

Work on improving your skills
To really earn your rewards always have a mindset of growing and improving yourself. With rewards on the line and by following other authors, there shouldn't be a lack of motivation to strive for mastery. Whether it's your photography skills, writing style, learning the English language and grammar - there's always room for improvement. Well structured posts created with a level of expertise have a better chance to receive bigger rewards. Don't try to copy others, use the opportunity to explore and show your own authenticity.

Patience is key
Over the years I've seen too many amazing authors give up on the platform quickly or just before they get discovered. Sometimes it might take certain time for your efforts to be consistently recognized, but if you follow what I share here sooner or later curation groups will pick up on you, especially if you are, as I suggested, engaged with the community otherwise. If you are still a beginner, don't focus solely on rewards - instead build a community around yourself and your mutual interests and it will start paying off.

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Thanks for reading!

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This is truly helpful for me being a beginner in the platform who is always hungry for learning. Honestly, when I joined Hive, I thought that it is all about content writing, writing, and blogging, but after I have explored all around the community, I have discovered that community engagement is key.

Perhaps, it is a matter of valuing others’ work too. And being here in Hive is not just a short-term existence but it it a long-term goal, just like you, I am amazed that you have been staying here since the beginning, and how I wish I could also sustain here for long.

When I started here, I admit I was committing honest mistakes, but through the help of other authors and friends, I was able to correct myself, as I continually aim to improve as a blogger and a content creator.

This content has truly enlightened me today my friend, @alcibiades. Following the rules, engagement, posting consistently, and self-improvement truly matter, and I all agree with your wise thoughts.

Grateful of this content as it would help my journey here. Have a nice time and take care.

From what I've noticed you already figured out a way to succeed on this platform, @pinkchic so just keep going. Stay curious about what others are doing here - after all it's a social platform, and continue to produce valuable content. The more we give the more we get in return. :)
We all made beginner mistakes, it's a part of blogging life. What's important is to be honest and learn from them.
Thanks for stopping by!

The pleasure is mine. Perhaps it is through mistakes that we are learning, for us long as we are all humble to admit and correct them, eventually, we would grow and develop into something fruitful. Know that this piece of content from you is like a gold to me. Thank you so much for your time and attention my friend, @alcibiades, and it is nice meeting you. Have a nice time and take care.

... add at least a single image per post, the @curie logo would have worked! 😄

Obligatory. :) Realized it the moment I clicked publish haha.

Getting a curie upvote back then 2017 was a huge deal breaker. I still remember the experience on getting one from the team and I felt that it already sealed the deal in the blockchain back then.

Your point is true especially the engagement since now I had been part of some communities, engagement and leaving meaningful comments is something that most people are lacking. I had been reminding people to expand their reach and get in touch with like-minded individuals for them to grow but I guess we really cannot force them to do so. People will still post and go.

Happy to hear it was helpful! Back then it all lacked organization so new users couldn't get the hang of it and so many left. But yes now with the communities and active users and curators it's easier to feel welcomed. Engagement is very important and a natural thing I would say.

As a newbie, I find it very hard to post consistently because I'm still in the process of making the habit of writing daily.
I feel like my writing skills are not perfect.
But I'm improving, If you have any tips on how I can improve in my writing, please let me know.

This article was very helpful and I'm grateful I got to read it
And also could you elaborate a little bit on the last statement about building a community around yourself and your mutual interest?
Thanks

No need to post daily, but at least once a week would be a good start. To practice your writing skills simply read and write more. Follow authors who write in the style you enjoy, it will come naturally to you over time.
By finding and engaging with like-minded people you create bonds, you help and inspire each other, you engage in the similar challenges etc, in a way you become a community.
Glad you found the article helpful!

Thank you for the reply

I am also a "veteran" in this platform. Good tips for beginners and all users of Hive.
Best regards.

Nice to know people from back in the days still stick around. :) Thanks!

I joined Hive 11 months ago. I am far away of completely understanding this unique community. Thanks for sharing your helpful post.

No problem! You've figured it out very quickly, but of course things get better as you dedicate more time to exploring the platform.

Not so easy to get the balance between producing content and exploring the platform.

Of course, the balance is important, making sure enough time is dedicated to creating meaningful content and mastering the craft. I'm sure you'll work it out!

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This will be helpful to me! I just joined hive 3 months ago and Im still a newbie learning new things HAHA.

I have that very book in Portuguese! It seems to have been inspired by the life of `Abdu'l-Bahá.

I feel like get kick when I read your advice. I am Ina tive for long time and yesterday i just write again. It is hard to keep consistence but i Will try it. and I also remember that Curie have uovote and it is a goood chance.
Thank you remind me as a bad member of Hive. I hope can learn more and more better
Warm regard from Indonesia

Been here and first ever running across you and your post. Never have I ever been visited by this cutie. Only increase in my posting value happened when COVID happened and hive fest went virtual.

All you outlined here. Did all that but refrained from sucking up. Still value was so low. But my content was also brief and not long winded cos this platform was my Facebook replacement so no complaint on the result. Lol.

Made lots of friends. That still around. Somewhere in the roof rafters. Hiding.

I say one thing I'll confirm from this post in consistency. As in: if you're an asshole, be consistent. If you're an angel be consistent. Of you got nothing to say be consistent. Of you have something to say be consistent.

All in all the big draw in for me into this post was the book title. Gibran and the prophet. Recommended reading.

That's fair. I can be both inconsistent and unresponsive to the other communities members. I like how your post frames it: build a community around yourself.

I hadn't had this frame in mind before, so I think it might've been the piece I didn't know was missing.

This is a nice tip. Thanks for this @alcibiades . As a newbie this is on point. Needed this

An enlightening post especially for me as someone who is relatively new to the platform. I will try to practice the tips you share. Thank you! Regards.