Has it not occurred to you that people who are good writers tend to enjoy the work of other good writers? That doesn’t mean non-writers are not ALSO reading our work.
It’s really idiotic, when one has built up a stable of solid writers and a reputation as a place where good writing can be found, to decide to rip things up. We are all just moving to Substack instead because we can make more money there. I’ve vastly reduced my output here. There’s no need for me to work for free.
One of my stories here has probably brought in HUNDREDS of paid subscribers. I wrote it last July and it still gets hundreds of reads each day. I have no way of knowing how many people that piece spurred to join, but I’m sure it was a lot. I assure you, my work isn’t enjoyed only by other writers, and I further assure you the thousands of comments I get aren’t fake engagement. Medium is shooting itself in the foot when it pushes its best writers out the door.