Watch the event recording and hear each spooky story read aloud.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a story for Spooky Storytime! Each tale offered something truly spine-tingling and eerie.

Congratulations to our winners: Riya Chakraborty, Samantha Almeida, Barbara Carter, LilWifey, Natalie Ann Morman, and Lily C. Fen! Your stories were selected to be read aloud for Spooky Storytime.

Join us on Thursday at 12 pm Eastern for Spooky Storytime for live readings from the authors!

Here’s the event lineup:

1. A Spooky Lockdown Night in Rouen, 2020 by Riya Chakraborty
2. Thirteen Before Midnight by Samantha Almieda
3. Was What Happened a Dream or Something Else? by Barbara Carter
4. It’s Halloween by LilWifey
5. Haunted by a Decision by Natalie Ann Morman
6. The Mystery Letter — Spooky Storytime by Lily C Fen

We hope you’ll join us and support our writers!

Announcing the Spooky Storytime Winners was originally published in The Medium Handbook on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Calling all writers…if you dare. We’re hosting our first-ever Spooky Storytime on October 29th, 2026 at 12pm Eastern on Zoom, and we want to hear your scariest, strangest, most delightfully unsettling stories. Sign up here!

What is it?

Spooky Storytime is an hour-long event open to writers and readers, where six selected writers will read excerpts aloud from their spooky stories to our live audience on Zoom. Think nostalgic campfire vibes.

Want to read your story aloud? Here’s how to enter:

1. Sign up and attend either the October 1st or October 15th session of The Writers Circle. Sign up here.
2. Respond to one of the Spooky Storytime prompts we share at the Writers Circle.
3. Publish your spooky story on Medium with the topic tag “Spooky Storytime” by October 19. Here’s how to add topic tags.

Submission guidelines:

• Stories should be 5 minutes or less and a max of 750 words. (Long enough to spook, short enough to keep the room on edge.)
• Stories must meet our Distribution Guidelines.

We’ll review all qualifying stories and notify selected writers by October 23. If you’re selected, we’ll send you the next steps for the big day.

The reading takes place live on Zoom during Spooky Storytime on October 29, 12 PM Eastern and is open to everyone, whether you’re reading, listening, or just there for the chills.

Sign up now for Spooky Storytime!

Something Wicked This Way Writes was originally published in The Medium Handbook on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Sometimes writing can be hard. You fall down research rabbit holes. The blank page stares back. And publishing your innermost thoughts to the worldwide internet can feel… exposing, to say the least.

TK is our answer to life’s writing obstacles, big and small. Our distraction-free social writing app lets you keep your writing private, or share it with those you trust. It’s not about streaks, or word counts, or amassing followers. It’s just about writing for the love of writing.

As we get closer to opening up TK to everyone, we’ve gotten some questions about who it’s for, how it works, and how to get access. And who better to show you than the writers actually using it?

Our TK ambassadors share how and why they use TK.

Here’s how our ambassadors use TK

When we asked why they use TK, several ambassadors said the same thing: staying in one place.

“I can write with zero nudges from red squigglies and grammar suggestions. I can proofread it quickly in app. … From a note in the woods to a final draft, I can stay on one app. That’s real nice.” — Andrew J. DiMeo, Sr., PhD

“I never have to open another tab to go to Google or check another website to get a definition or information. I have everything I need from the note and I have an assistant I can talk to any time.” — Kainos

Others mentioned how TK gives you a home for your messy thinking, half-baked thoughts, or personal journal.

“TK is a dedicated space for the messy middle of thinking. In a landscape where technology can generate quick answers on demand, TK encourages us to slow down, sit with half-formed ideas, and discover what we actually think through the process of writing.” — Brit Taylor

“I can voice dictate entire drafts now, and edit them afterwards with voice commands. Then, I’ll export the story to Medium and hit ‘publish.’” — Lindy Vogel

Ultimately, every writer uses TK differently. Lindy Vogel organizes story drafts and collaborates with writers from her publication Sweary Mommy. Derek Reinhard mines his Medium stories for new ideas. Writers use TK to build book outlines, organize their work notes, or maintain a daily journal practice.

But most of all, TK is a quiet writing community that encourages you to keep going.

“TK lets me stay in flow while writing, and then smacks me around like a cagey editor after the fact. But, then there is also the private little cozy corner of the internet community in TK, who let me be human with other humans around our writing. And if push came to shove, I'd be willing to sacrifice my AI buddy to keep the cozy humans.” — Thomas Knoll

“TK is a community of interesting people, mostly Medium writers. I've used the app for three months now. As a result, my writing process has become more enjoyable, more interactive. The words are coming easier. And when I don't feel like writing, I read other writers' public TK posts instead of doomscrolling on social media.” — Elaine Medline

“TK feels a little like being handed the keys while the house is still being built. You get to explore, experiment, occasionally wonder what a button does, and somehow become part of shaping the place while you’re using it.” — Annette Couchenour

We’re opening up TK to users for free, on an invite-only basis for now — if you’re interested, check out our TK ambassadors on Medium to find their invite links.

More about our TK ambassador program

TK Ambassadors is a small invite-only community of writers who use TK often. We believe writing is easier when you’re not doing it alone. And that’s the reason we started our Ambassador program, so new users can learn from real writers about what works. Their feedback has helped us shape the app for writers like you.

Each month, the Ambassadors share how they’re using TK, what they’re learning, and how the app can improve. Follow them to keep up with their experience.

Thank you to our Ambassadors Lindy Vogel, Derek Reinhard, Andrew J. DiMeo, Sr., PhD, Kainos, Thomas Knoll, Elaine Medline, René F. Najera, MPH, DrPH, Brit Taylor, Cheney Meaghan, Annette Couchenour, Vincent Halles, and Do Capozucca for helping new writers join us on TK.

FAQ about TK

How do I get TK?

TK is still invite-only, or for Friends of Medium. The easiest way in is an invite from a current user. Ask any of the Ambassadors above, or a friend who’s already writing on TK.

Does TK write for me?

No. TK’s AI is more like a writing coach than anything else. It’s there to prompt you to write, help you get unstuck, ask questions, and develop an idea, not generate your writing for you.

Can I use TK on mobile?

Yes, TK has iOS and Android apps, so you can pick up a note wherever you left off.

Can I bring in writing I’ve already done elsewhere?

Yes. Import from Medium, Apple Notes, Bear, Markdown files, or Obsidian using the Import button under your profile picture.

Who can see what I write on TK?

By default, just you. Share a note or open a Library to a small, trusted circle only when you’re ready. TK isn’t a public platform.

Can I publish a TK note to Medium?

Yes, if you want. Once a draft feels ready, send it to Medium and publish from there. Several of the ambassadors above do exactly that; others prefer to keep all their TK notes private.

How 12 writers are using TK to write more (and what they've learned) was originally published in The Medium Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Update: Due to some schedule changes, my colleague Carly Rose Gillis will host the Medium 101 webinar at 9 am Eastern. You will be in good hands!

Hey there, Medium Day is coming up, Friday, September 18th from 8 am to 8 pm Eastern. It’s going to be a full day of sessions featuring writers from the Medium community, including sessions hosted by me.

Here’s what I’m hosting:

Start the day with writing. I’m leading a Morning Pages Writing Session at 8 am Eastern. Enjoy some calming music, a few suggested writing prompts, and time to focus on you and the page.

If you’d like to learn more about Medium, including getting started tips and basics for beginners, check out our Medium 101 session @ 9 am Eastern. You’ll watch a demo video from Zulie @ Medium, and I’ll answer your Medium questions live.

And to wrap things up? Join me @ 8 pm Eastern for the Closing Ceremony and Editor Awards. Thanks to your nominations, I’ll be presenting awards to five editors who’ve made a real difference in this community. I’d love to see you there.

We have over 100 free Medium Day sessions running all day. Most sessions are only 30 minutes, so even if you only have a short break, there’s time to learn something new. Come out to support the amazing writers on Medium.

Sign up here!

For the first time in more than 50 years, Haiti has made the World Cup. Coming out of the last decade of turmoil with the 2010 Earthquake, political dictatorships, assassinations, and over two centuries of Western political interference, this is a monumental moment for Haitians across the world.

Haiti’s World Cup Legacy

The last time Haiti qualified for the World Cup was 1974 at the West Germany games. Ultimately, they lost their division, but what the world remembers is how Haitian player, Emmanuel Sanon scored two goals that ended Italian player, Dino Zoff’s 1,142-minute shutout streak.

For Haitians like myself, our spirits are high. The journey to the World Cup has been fraught for this team. Of the 26-man roster, only one player — midfielder Woodensky Pierre — plays in Haiti's domestic league. The rest are diaspora players scattered across Europe, North America, and beyond. Many have never set foot on a pitch in Haiti. They played every "home" match in Curaçao because gang violence made Port-au-Prince too dangerous. In interviews, the players spoke of this qualifying moment as being bigger than soccer. “We know this could change a lot in the country,” Defender Garven Metusala said. “We want to qualify not just for us, but also to give back to the Haitian people.”

So when Haiti finally unveiled their World Cup jerseys, a design meant to honor that spirit of resilience, it felt like a fitting tribute. Instead, it became the latest controversy.

Too Political

Recently, FIFA banned Haiti’s jerseys as “too political.” Why? Because a corner of the jersey depicted the Battle of Vertières, the final battle of the Haitian Revolution, where Haiti won their independence. Saeta, the kit manufacturer, argued that the jerseys were meant to demonstrate “the pride, resilience and spirit of the Haitian people.”

This is not the first time Haiti’s sports teams have been penalized for pride in their revolutionary origins. The Haitian Winter Olympics Ski team was forced to paint over their depiction of Haitian General Toussaint L'Ouverture on their team kit. L’Ouverture is a founding father of Haiti, and a key figure of the Haitian Revolution, having secured Haiti’s independence from France.

The pattern is impossible to ignore. When Haiti shows up on the world stage, the world asks them to leave their history at the door.

The Face of Pride

When it comes to the marginalized, who is allowed to have pride? In America, we celebrate July 4th with our flag, fireworks, and statues of our Founding Fathers. In Boston, where I grew up, tourists visit the Freedom Trail, where guides dress in colonial garb and regale visitors with the glories of the American Revolution. In Pennsylvania, they regularly reenact the Battle of Gettysburg, and yet none of this is considered political.

When Haiti won independence in 1804, the U.S. refused to recognize the country and placed it under a trade embargo for nearly 60 years. At the time, Haiti was one of the largest producers of sugarcane in the Caribbean, but the Jefferson administration refused to trade with a free Black nation, in part because of fears that the Revolution would inspire enslaved peoples within the U.S. Instead, the U.S. offered to purchase Southeastern territory from France, which became the Louisiana Purchase.

And today, the first successful Black revolution is still too dangerous to commemorate on a jersey.

Why You Should Watch

But here’s the thing about Haitians: we’ve never needed permission to be proud. On June 13th, when Haiti takes the field against Scotland, they’ll be wearing whatever FIFA deems acceptable. But the history will still be there, in the players’ bones, in the diaspora watching from living rooms across Brooklyn and Boston from Montreal to Miami, and in the memory of Emmanuel Sanon breaking that 1,142-minute streak fifty years ago.

For us, this moment is bigger than jerseys or a singular game; it’s a symbol of Haiti’s future. Forward Louicius Deedson told ESPN, "there will be a new Haiti. If we do make it to the top, I think there are bad things right now happening in the country that will stop. We think we can be the change for Haiti."

As you watch the World Cup and cheer for your team, root for the underdogs too. And when Haiti takes the field, remember what you’re watching: a Black nation that won its freedom before almost any other in this hemisphere, still fighting to be seen on its own terms.

• Haiti vs. Scotland — June 13th
• Haiti vs. Brazil — June 19th
• Haiti vs. Morocco — June 24th

Viv Ayiti. Long Live Haiti.

New England is facing its first cold snap of the season. Complete with twenty-degree days, frigid winds, and even darker evenings. As the sun sets earlier in the day, I notice my body naturally start to slow along with it. Normally, my version of winter means saying goodbye to my friends in November and hunkering down through March until everyone thaws out. But in the last few years, I’ve picked up a new hobby that’s kept me from hibernating all winter.

Salsa.

I started dancing during my first solo winter in Boston. It was my first time living alone outside of college, and I’d moved into a new apartment with a perfect remote work setup. I loved my new space and neighborhood but as summer started to fade and winter crept in, I noticed my mood shift. I felt tired and grumpy after work. My only social interactions shrank to zoom meetings and coffee runs. I traded the gym for couch rotting, and my work days yawned into a dark endless blur void of human contact.

I always considered myself an introvert, who enjoyed my own company. I loved cozying up with a book or diving into a Netflix binge for hours, but this was different. It felt bleak. And I knew I needed to do something different with my time.

The First Step Out the Door

So I signed up for dance class. Once a week, sometimes twice, I forced myself to brave the Boston cold for salsa and bachata lessons. At first, I felt silly staring at my reflection in my dance class mirror. Every step I took felt like an awkward and stilted marionette.

Several times, the short walk from my apartment to the train almost convinced me to turn around but something urged me to continue. I found myself practicing moves at home, and each time I nailed one, I felt a little spark of pride. Slowly, I noticed my progress. I learned to hear the time of the music, to hold my frame, and adjust my style to each partner. I moved from my head into my body, feeling each step until the movements felt fluid and alive.

My dance classes became the bright spot of my week. With each class, the darkness of winter felt a little lighter, like stars breaking through a cloudy night. And as I ventured out each week, I noticed I wasn’t alone. People were going out, they were still living, they were bundled up to their eyeballs in parkas and winter gear — but hey, they were trying. And now, so was I.

More Than an Exercise Class

At the time, I didn’t know why dancing was having such a positive effect on me. I just knew that I left class lighter than I arrived, and whatever stress I’d been carrying melted away by the time the music stopped.

Later, I learned there was science behind that feeling. A 2024 study found that dance reduced symptoms of depression more effectively than walking, yoga, or even antidepressants. Researchers point to the combination of movement, music, and human connection creating a powerful effect on the brain.

What dance gave me was more than an exercise class. I joined a community of beginners like me looking for human connection and a reason to brave the cold.

There were also unexpected lessons.

I noticed how the best dancers led with a light touch, barely even gesturing, and yet their direction was crystal clear. It attuned me to the subtlety of body language and how to listen and communicate better with others. Now I pay closer attention to the subtle messages I send with my energy, tone, and presence.

Dance also taught me mindfulness. As a follower, I never know what’s coming next. Am I turning or are we doing solos? My only job is to respond in the moment. If I try to anticipate what’s coming, I can’t be present in what is happening. This mindset has given me more confidence in my ability to improvise. I can find enjoyment in the ‘not knowing’ and quiet anxious thoughts as they bubble up.

Perhaps more importantly, I learned how to release my expectations and have fun, even while being bad at something. With so many of us optimizing and monetizing our hobbies, dance is something I do purely for fun. When I started, I told myself to just show up. If I got better, great, if I didn’t, that was okay.

What started as a way to pass the time became a real source of joy. One spring day, while getting ready for a dance social, I realized I’d made it through winter. I’d shaken off not only the chill, but the heaviness that had quietly invaded my days. I felt more present in my body, more open to connection, and more myself again.

This Winter, I’m Not Hibernating

It’s been four years since my first salsa class. I’ve danced in Boston, Houston, D.C. Miami, and even in Mexico. In each place, I’ve found community, friends, and a sense of home in the unfamiliar.

I still love the thrill of whirling across the dance floor to a live band, connecting with a partner as we nail a complicated move for the first time — or even the stumbles as I try something new. Those moments remind me that joy doesn’t come from getting it right but from showing up and trying.

New England is facing another winter now. But this year, I’m not dreading it. I’m putting on my dancing shoes.

Hey there writers,

Zulie and I are teaming up to host a virtual writing and networking workshop tomorrow during Medium Day! If you’d like to attend, sign up for the waitlist.

When: September, 19, 2025, 3:30–4:30 pm ET

Where: On Zoom! Just register for Medium Day 2025, and we’ll let you know if we have a spot for you.

Who: Hosted by me and Zulie Rane.

What: Join us for a 60-minute interactive workshop where you can write and connect with other writers new to Medium!

• We’ll start by celebrating the highlights from our June Just Start Writing challenge.
• Get inspired to write with creative prompts that make it easier to get started.
• Finally, mingle with other writers and editors of Medium publications in small group conversations. You can share your experience with the writing prompts, swap stories, and connect with other writers on the same journey.

This event is for new Medium writers looking for motivation, encouragement, and peers to grow alongside. Come as you are — no pressure or perfection required. RSVP today and let’s write together!

Interested? Sign up for our wait-list below! Hope to see you there.