Zo Hayes

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How to Pimp the Medium Algorithm

6 days ago | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Robert E. Ralph

3 reasons to start a Medium publicationA.I. bots and fake engagement users are Medium dopamine drug dealers that drain me of all my creativity. They give me what I want, views and claps. They keep me knocking on their doors with constant articles about how to get noticed on Medium, how to make money on Medium, and how to market. I want all those things. What I really want, though, is an actual read. Bots don’t read, they only overload the system with massive accounts and trends.
The Temptation of Effortless Writing

Dec 7, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Mehmet Yildiz

Navigating the Temptation of Instant Gratification in the Writing ProcessZo Hayes·FollowPublished inILLUMINATION·3 min read·--Photo by Thought Catalog on UnsplashNo yourself is sage advice. I’d take it a step further. No yourself and your temptations. What could the devil offer you today that you’d be willing to sell your soul for free? As I begin day 2 of writing my first novel, I have quickly found my weakness.
Confessions of a Social Media Cheater

Dec 6, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes

Why I Ditched Threads for BlueskyZo Hayes·Follow3 min read·--Photo by Kumiko SHIMIZU on UnsplashIn 2022, I broke up with Twitter/X for Threads. Now, I cheat on Threads with Bluesky and live in social media adultery. I’m not ready to fully leave Threads, but the growing Medium community on Bluesky is keeping me from coming home. Before Bluesky, I joined as many Facebook Medium groups as I could. I followed the clap, engage, and follow routine. It worked sometimes.
I Was a Medium Grinch, But No More!

Dec 5, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Robert E. Ralph

Why I’m Trading My Grinch Heart for a Friend of Medium BadgeZo Hayes·FollowPublished inNew Writers Welcome·3 min read·--Photo by Geoffrey Moffett on UnsplashFor over four years on Medium, I’ve sat atop Mount Crumpit. I stared down at all the fabulous Medium writers and their viral stories. How to increase your following in one month? How to make $1,000 off one Medium article? Ninety-nine percent of first-time Medium writers don’t do X. Write 2 articles a day. Clap at least 50 times on a story.
Finding Fitness Inspiration Where You Least Expect It

Feb 16, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes

Age is just a number until you’re racing GrannyIf you ever wanted to start a fitness journey, do it in February to separate yourself from the failed New Year Resolutions crowd that went hard for 30 days and are now selling their barely used workout gear on Facebook Marketplace for a discount. And that’s how I bought a Peloton. Did I need a Peloton? Probably not, but like the moth to the flame or a millennial woman to a Stanely cup, the Peloton community and live leaderboard attracted me.
Hallelujah! I Ditched My Valentine for Lent

Feb 14, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Mehmet Yildiz

A husband’s journey to becoming self-reliant in 40 daysChoosing what to give up for Lent is always a challenge. However, this year, Valentine’s Day falls on Ash Wednesday. With chocolate inflation going around, I’ll take it as divine intervention from the Almighty to ditch my wife. What could go wrong? I’ve already planned my Valentine’s Day exit stage left. As the great Kenny Rogers said, “You got to know when to fold ’em.
Are You One Buzzer-Beater Away from Evil?

Feb 12, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes

A dive into the morality of compassion and forgiveness. I can’t define evil. I imagine evil as the opposite of good, but I would struggle to identify evil within a police lineup. If someone in the line held out a sign that said, “Hey, I’m evil," I’d probably believe it was a good joke and false identity of an innocent person. Well played, evil-doer. I struggle because I don’t think anyone is pure evil. I especially don’t think we’re born evil.
From Rodeo Dreams to Parenthood Realities

Feb 8, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes

A Cowboy’s Perspective on the Journey through InfertilityDisclaimer: Conversations involving infertility can be inappropriate for some audiences. I will attempt to talk about this subject while keeping it rated G (literally and figuratively).
Should Baskin-Robbins Sponsor Our 31st Birthdays?

Feb 4, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Mehmet Yildiz

More Than Just Scoops: Lessons on Love, Loss, and Living Intentionally in the Baskin-Robbins EraAge 23 within the Culture is known as the Jumpman Year. Jumpman refers to the NBA G.O.A.T., Michael Jordan, who, for some time, absolutely dominated not only his opponents but sports in general. Decades later, infants who’ve never seen Jordan play live recognize his logo, idolize his shoes, and will still compare their generation’s athletes to Jordan’s competitiveness.
From PCOS Pup to Miracle Dog

Jan 30, 2024 | medium.com | Zo Hayes |Mehmet Yildiz

A Story of Hope, Heartache, and Second Chances“Never deny a spouse struggling with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) a puppy.”-A Smart SpousePuppies are great. PCOS/sub-fertility? Not so much. In the future, I plan to write more about my family’s journey with subfertility, infertility, and PCOS. But for now, let’s just say PCOS sucks, and dogs are way better. When we discovered that there was only a 3% chance of having a baby, my wife asked me if we could get a pet. I love dogs, but did I want one?