Almost a year on Medium, I'm either a slow learner or I never read the instructions (it's a bit of both) but Susie makes a good point--you accept sellf-published stories which eliminates the delay time.

I didn't understand (here's the slow learner/not reading the instruction part) the difference between self-publishing and then submitting to a publication versus sending a draft to a publication.

Self-publishing means it's immediately out there even before you're notified it's been accepted by a publication. Submitting a draft and then possibly waiting a day or so before it's accepted and anyone sees it could cause me not to submit, but rather to self publish.

Please correct me if I've got this wrong, I'm always happy to learn --well, most of the time. Meanwhile, I love your publication and will continue to submit for as long as you'll have me.