Thank You, Medium From $1.66 To $2,000, the Journey Is Only Starting

Not another how I made money from Medium story.

I was waiting for it to happen, and today I made it, My first $2,000 on Medium.

In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, I received an email that Medium has paid me $1.41, and that first “check” got me here to my first $2,000 accumulated Medium earnings before taxes.

We pay taxes, and it is the right thing to do.

The journey has paid off, but it is only the beginning.

10 lessons I learned from earning my first $2,000

1. Never give up.

My reasons were different when I first started, but when I saw other writers earning money, then I asked myself, “Why can’t I?”

I wrote almost every day, and in July 2021, I did my writing challenge — 100 stories in 10 days. I never gave up.

2. There is no other way but to write.

While all it takes is one story to make you tons of money, we don’t know when the viral gods will smile at our stories, and the only way to consistently make money is by writing more stories.

I still have one-cent articles, some of which I spent days writing, but I made peace with writing for pennies, besides 100 cents makes a dollar.

If Stephen King writes every day, so shall I.

3. Big publications, big views?

I still submit to major publications, but not for views. As writers, we should learn how to work with editors and even deal with rejection. However, I still feel great whenever my stories are published elsewhere, and I look forward to the notes editors leave, even their rejection notice.

Always remember, what they are rejecting are your stories, not you.

But with big publications, you have your one foot inside their audience, and while sometimes the views don't follow, there is a chance for you to be introduced to new readers.

4. It only takes one story to make you the most money, and you’ll never know which one.

My biggest story so far is about weight loss, but it is a personal story. So far, it earned me $240 — 50 days since I first published it, and it didn't get that many readers in the beginning.

Once it did, that is why I check my stats every day, and several times a day, I shared it on my social media profiles.

The same article was also self-published.

5. Create your Medium publications.

Self-publish. Your publication, your rules.

My top earner was self-published. I had rejected stories, that when I self-published, were chosen for further distribution.

At first, Medium allows each paying member to have as many as seven publications, but now you can have more.

Start your own, even if you don’t make a call for submission from other writers.

6. Read stories from other writers.

It doesn't make you money, but it makes you some friends. And even Stephen King said, “Go read, girl!”

I always see Medium as a social media platform, and there will always be that writer who will help you along the way, so don’t be shy with your claps and comments.

Most of the time, when someone leaves me a comment, I follow them.

7. Find your writer’s voice.

It is easy to get lost in a sea of writers. Readers will move on to the next story if you sound just like everyone else. I am still learning how to fine-tune my writer’s voice.

Nowadays, everyone wants authenticity. So show your true self, and while there will be times, your voice will not resonate with your audience, the times that it does, the audience will love you for being who you are.

8. Medium curation. Aim for it, but don't get fixated by it.

I still aim for that special tag we find on our Stat page — Chosen for further distribution, but I am not fixated by it.

Otherwise, I will aim for perfection, and sometimes our good is good enough, Be kind to yourself. You are blogging, not writing a novel. Allow yourself to make mistakes. Your readers don't look for errors. They want to be entertained or learn something from you.

9. The money pot is big enough for everyone.

While it is true, those who came first have the advantage. But it is never too late, like what Oprah and Stephen Colbert just said, “You have Chlamydia, You have Chlamydia.” Only by believing in yourself can you have the success you dream of as a writer.

Don’t quit, not until you write as many articles as Tim Denning or Nicolas Cole, and you still didn't get the money.

10. Arigato, Money

It is not an easy journey, but it can very well happen to anyone if it can happen to me. From my first $1.41 to my biggest payout of $633.68, and the journey is just starting.

I write for myself, my audience, and for money. So you shouldn't feel shame about making money from writing.

As writers, we should take pride in what we do. But, sometimes, I still fail with the words I use or the tone of my story and my motivation for writing it.

But I love being a writer, and it took me time to believe in myself that I can write.

Final thoughts

Each one of us will have a different journey as a writer. But, one thing is for sure, this is the best time to write, as more platforms start to pay for our words.

Believe in yourself, don't let anyone, especially your inner saboteur, tell you that you are an impostor.

Prepare yourself for rejection because there will be plenty.

Not all writers here will be nice, but 99% are, so to the 1%, don't let them rain on your parade. I met one who, after leaving me a scathing comment, blocks me. It made me stop writing for a day. He made me feel small.

But I realized that the writer would not buy me food to eat or coffee to drink, so don't let anyone bully you into quitting.

It is never too late. Again if it can happen to me, it can happen to you too.

To all my 805 subscribers, thank you.

To all the editors of the publications who published my stories, thank you.

Too Medium, thank you.

To Mom, thank you.

To God, be the glory.