TOTALLY TRUE. NOT SATIRE.

Justin Bieber Kickstarted My Medium Career

And Keanu Reeves Helped Keep Me on Track

This photo has nothing to do with the content, but I think the pretty colours are eye-catching. Image by from freepik.com

It was early 2021, and I had been on Medium for two months when the most amazing thing happened. Justin Bieber followed me.

I had published a couple of pieces, and then, when no one read or commented, I stopped. I had failed to learn the Medium rules of engagement. But the notification galvanised me. I felt inspired to write something now that I had a big-name follower.

I wasn’t sure why Justin Bieber would follow me, but I had the proof. Behold!

Photo of my Medium notification, by author. Sorry, it was before I had learned how to do screenshots.

I told my whole family and all my friends that Justin Bieber was following my writing and sat a little straighter at my desk. I was a bit puffed up, now I think about it. I resolved to take my writing seriously and put a bit more effort in. It was the start of my Medium journey.

This week, I got another famous follower. I did. Look!

I have learnt how to do screenshots. Screenshot by proud author.

I am autistic and tend to believe everything I am told and everything I read. I honestly DID think that Justin Bieber was following me. But ever since I got scammed on Medium, I have been more alert. It was the four followers that caught my eye in this latest notification. I feel sure Keanu Reeves would have more than four followers.

There are lots of spoof accounts, and I am sure many of you would like Medium staff to do a better gatekeeping job. But I am glad the fake Justin Bieber was allowed to stay long enough to follow me. I may not be here otherwise.

Important Questions

Would you write differently if someone famous was following you? Would you up your game? Would you hold onto your work that bit longer and edit, edit, and edit again before publishing? Would you hunt down an even better photograph? Would you spend time thinking up the perfect attention-grabbing headline? Would you polish your piece to perfection?

This year, I am going to imagine that Barack Obama follows me. I am going to imagine that my favourite authors follow me. I am going to imagine the top publishing houses follow me. Because every article we publish should be the best it can be. You never know who might be reading, and every reader deserves the best we have to offer.

PS: if you are the head of a major publishing house and you are reading this, I can do better. I can. I just need a bit of money upfront.

EDIT: Toni The Talker has done a great job in the response column of calling me out on this. As she states, heartfelt engagement from loyal followers is worth more than any number of famous readers. So please accept my sincere apology for not making it clear that I adore every single reader. That includes you.