Summary

The article emphasizes the intrinsic value of consistent writing, highlighting personal growth and satisfaction over immediate financial gain.

Abstract

The author shares a personal triumph in writing, having earned $8.37 on Medium in October, a significant increase from previous months despite the modest income. The article argues that the true measure of success in writing should not be solely based on financial returns but also on the improvement in output, quality, and mindset. The author advocates for persistence in writing, suggesting that even small signs of progress, such as better subtitles or formatting, indicate forward movement. The piece also touches on the importance of understanding what motivates an individual to write, whether it's personal satisfaction, mental clarity, or the desire to connect with others, and how this understanding can lead to sustained effort and eventual success. The author concludes by encouraging writers to celebrate their small victories and to continue writing as a means of personal development and positive reinforcement.

Opinions

The author believes that financial success in writing is not entirely within one's control, especially on platforms like Medium, and should not be the sole focus.
Writing consistently and striving for improvement is seen as having a "tremendous upside," suggesting that the personal benefits of writing extend beyond monetary rewards.
The article suggests that external factors, such as having financial stability, can significantly impact one's ability to create and write effectively.
Writing is portrayed as a transformational tool that can lead to mental and spiritual growth, and focusing solely on the financial aspect would mean missing out on its full potential.
The author expresses a personal aversion to writing primarily for money, emphasizing that the act of writing should be intrinsically rewarding and fulfilling.
The piece conveys that persisting with writing, even when the financial returns are low, can lead to positive feelings and personal improvement, which may eventually translate into financial success.
Quitting writing due to a lack of immediate financial success is

2 Valuable Reasons to Keep Writing When the Money Isn’t Flowing

Please Do Not Overlook the Power of #2

On Medium, I made $8.37 in the month of October. Here’s why I’m celebrating:

October 2019 I made $2.74 and published no articles
August 2020 I published 8 articles
September 2020 I published 2 articles
October 2020 I published 9 articles

While you might scoff at the above stats, this is big for me. In the past, I would’ve quit by now. And I’d have good reason to quit.

That is if all I saw was the monetary rewards — or lack thereof.

“Every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent success.” ― Napoleon Hill

But I’m measuring my progress differently. I’m focusing less on earnings and more on output, quality work, and improvement.

The money is a variable I cannot fully control. At least, not on this platform. But writing and getting better? There’s a tremendous upside here.

My biggest goal is to upgrade my mindset and outwork my previous self.

If you have similar goals and your stats land anywhere near mine more or less, here are two reasons not to abandon ship.

Understand, Something is Working

“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.” ― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Even if it’s a small piece like your subtitles or formatting — your writing is getting somewhere.

Hint: Highlighted lines are good clues. Comments are also.

My ultimate goal is to write and publish 20 articles a month. For me, the income part is a byproduct.

Now, it’s up to you to analyze and lean in, if your goal is to increase your notoriety and income.

But if you’re only concerned with making money, this article might not be for you — and that’s OK. Many of us have different levers of motivation as different people and at different life stages.

When I was single and craving independence from a job, replacing my full-time income was an obsession.

I’d tried and failed at so many things, ultimately giving up. I realized after a bit of time, I don't write and create well when the rent depends on it.

Being well-fed, clothed, and having the bills covered helps me focus. Therefore, money isn’t a huge driver for me.

I need piles of cash in my reserves in order to create and write with peace of mind. To make the full jump, I’d need a considerable cushion.

This is a good thing for you to know, especially if you’re just starting out. Find out what factors will push you and what factors destroy your progress.

Which brings me to the next point.

Keep Writing If it Feels Good

“Some people wanted to get rich or famous, but my friends and I wanted to get real. We wanted to get deep. (Also, I suppose, we wanted to get laid.)” ― Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

I’m not sure about you but I used to overthink this. Especially with money in the equation. If writing makes you feel good, that’s a good enough reason to keep going.

I don’t write (just) for money. If I did, the ROI would be horrible. For me, anyway.

Writing is lucrative for sure. But it’s way more than that to me. It’s a mental and spiritual exercise.

Writing to feel good, productive, and improve my life, well, the ROI is never-ending. Writing is like a mental cashflow for me — the more I do it, the better I feel. And thus, the better I get.

I actually think if you write and all you get from it is money, you’re missing out. Writing is a transformational tool for connecting with and motivating people.

You can write for artistic reasons, personal reasons, mental reasons, or no reason at all.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with writing for money. Just as there’s nothing wrong with selling things for money.

Personally, I just don’t vibe with that completely. I like feeling good about what I write.

Also, if I quit writing I would feel miserable.

This is a good enough reason to keep going. Eventually, just feeling positive about your results could open the possibility for more money.

But feeling down on yourself? Quitting prematurely?

This will for sure destroy your forward progress and ruin the good feelings you have about writing.

A Final Word

In short: Your small progress is worth celebrating. If you love writing, keep writing. If you’re even seeing marginal results, that’s a small sign of improvement.

Also, to keep going is signaling a change in your mindset.

Your progress or regression is determined by how you react to those results. Try not to focus so much on how far you have to go. Consider how far you’ve come instead.

You’ll gain a much better perspective this way. Also, you’ll have a lot more positive reinforcement to keep writing and keep improving.

Now, rather than quitting or overthinking your results, go forth and keep writing.