avatarJon & Caroline | Ink-Stained Hearts | CityStonePub

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Abstract

<p id="1342">My early cramming of everything I needed to know to <i>“make it work”</i> and <i>“smash Medium”</i> always came back to the same mantra — get yourself in publications.</p><p id="634a">Sounds easy, doesn’t it?</p><p id="a738">One kind editor dropped me a note after one of my early articles asking if I’d like to write for them and that did wonders for my confidence. As of today, six of my articles (that’s 5+1 to keep with the theme!), and fingers-crossed this one does too, are featuring in Medium publications.</p><p id="c05f">To those kind editors, thanks for giving me that chance to work with you! For other writers with similar aims, hone your craft and keep writing. Success rewards perseverance.</p><h2 id="2282">Fifty views for a single article</h2><p id="efe0">This might seem small fry for the Medium giants out there who reach this target within three minutes of posting. But I took immense satisfaction seeing my first article hit this mark. Even more so as it’s on such an important topic.</p><p id="a39d">Some of my other articles have also hit 50 views, but this story now holds an even greater place in my heart! Thanks to all those who read and left me a comment.</p><div id="76a3" class="link-block"> 
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/we-need-to-talk-about-race-863bbde96ea9">

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            <h2>We Need to Talk About Race</h2>
            <div><h3>Does unconscious bias influence how you write and describe others?</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
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            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*om9rM8X4lpGtnefDqwxsKA.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><h2 id="9992">Will I have anything to say?</h2><p id="1938">How many of you started your Medium career thinking:</p><blockquote id="e36e"><p>“What on earth am I going to write about here?”</p></blockquote><p id="f6a3">This went through my mind and fuelled my imposter syndrome of joining this community. Add to that the question:</p><blockquote id="b1b8"><p>“Will anyone care about what I’ve got to say?”</p></blockquote><p id="6b06">I suspect I’m not alone in having these thoughts. Rather than giving in to that anxiety, I sat for a while to think about what interests me, rather than “what will make me money on Medium?”</p><p id="b52d">My observation is a proportion of posts approach content from the latter perspective. I don’t have a problem with that, but I know writing about things I don’t care about will guarantee readers won’t care either. If I’m enthused about what I write, I hope I will transmit that to anyone taking the time to read it. I’m sticking to that principle!</p><p id="9bb1">If you’re struggling with the same dilemma, try it, and write a list of what you’re passionate about. I imagine this will then shine through in your writing.</p><p id="2525">Armed with this mindset, this I what I came up with:</p><ul><li>Writing and Creativity</li><li>Politics, Social Justice and Equality</li><li>Social Media and Marketing</li><li>Sports</li><li>Other Stuff (or anything else that catches my interest)</li></ul><p id="7054">By chance, I had hit another “five” in my “month of fives”.</p><h2 id="a0db">In it for the long haul

Options

</h2><p id="873e">If you’d asked me what I expected my first month on Medium to be like, I’m not sure what I would have said. But now, 25 days in, I’m hooked.</p><p id="30d1">I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to earn from this, but that is of secondary importance. I’ve found a voice I didn’t know I had on topics that interest me and that’s been the most surprising and pleasurable aspect. The thrill of having your article accepted to a publication and then seeing someone is reading it is hard to top!</p><p id="38e3">It’s not just about the money. So for everyone like me who’s not in the $k club after one month — this is for you!</p><p id="beb8"><i>PS — the only additional five I can’t add is that it’s not my 50th birthday — but I guess you can’t have everything!</i></p><p id="98fc"><b>If you enjoyed my article, here are a few more from me that hopefully catch your interest!</b></p><div id="1195" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/talking-the-talk-but-not-walking-the-walk-on-climate-change-c9773cf8b2a5"> <div> <div> <h2>Talking the Talk But Not Walking the Walk on Climate Change</h2> <div><h3>Are you holding your government to account?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*-jveao0LgqWJhqxg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="e5b4" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-im-re-editing-my-first-book-9f47d36a52fd"> <div> <div> <h2>Why I’m Re-Editing My First Book</h2> <div><h3>Three reasons you should and as many why you shouldn’t!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*7vbwxHE64PxgemMz)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="658e" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-we-love-goal-scoring-goalkeepers-729b9ab09cfd"> <div> <div> <h2>Why We Love Goal-Scoring Goalkeepers</h2> <div><h3>Six of the best, bizarre and most important strikes by football’s oddballs — and why it brings us joy!</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ZSbtgaGc4Bw9eCS9)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="b734" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-politics-of-lying-d949e019d94"> <div> <div> <h2>The Politics of Lying</h2> <div><h3>Do we just accept this as part of being in power?</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*11lV53zodmugFLw7)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

5 Reasons I’m Celebrating My First 25 Days on Medium

For everyone who’s not in the $k club after one month — this is for you!

Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

Today is my birthday! I will leave it to you to guess which one, but I’m all the fives in when I was born.

Twenty-fifth of the 5th at 5.25 PM.

This year my journey on Medium has given me a few extra birthday presents — and I promise these are genuine.

Twenty-five days and counting

There was no premeditated thought to join Medium on 1 May, but that’s what I did. After a day of reading, watching videos on how it works, learning what I should and shouldn’t do, and lots of talented writers later, I took the plunge and shared my first post on 2 May.

Zero views until 4 May! Not the greatest start.

But let’s be honest, was it likely to be any different? Was I expecting to go viral on day one? No, and I haven’t yet, but that’s fine.

Medium has many articles that talk of how the fledgeling writer made however many thousand dollars in their first month. I’m pleased for all those that did, they’re doing something right.

My first month is a little more modest. I’m just as pleased, though. On the basis I suspect most Medium writer’s first months are more similar to mine than those raking in a four-figure amount straight off, here’s why you should be too.

Getting to 500 views

Maybe the Gods were smiling on me today for my birthday. Not long after getting up today, I hit my first 500 views on my 25th day.

Life is often about celebrating minor victories as much as those life-changing moments. Whether you hit this milestone before or after me, with fewer or more articles than me, doesn’t matter. It will come — just keep writing. Each article is one more step in honing your skills and that’s worth the effort alone — hitting 500 views is a lucky bonus!

It’s not just about the money

I wager most writers here are curious about the earning potential of their articles, even if it’s not the primary motivation. It’s not for me, but seeing the cents rise each day has become more fascinating than I ever expected.

Again, on my 25th day, I will reach the magic $5 mark of earnings! I doubt anyone is rolling out the balloons and bunting, but it’s symbolic. I’m not out of pocket and who can argue with that. Will the bettering of my writing (something I hope happens) reflect in my bank balance?

Who knows, and to be honest, it’s more of an amusing distraction at the moment. That said, ask me again if I ever hit the hallowed $thousand threshold in a single month!

All hail Medium publications

My early cramming of everything I needed to know to “make it work” and “smash Medium” always came back to the same mantra — get yourself in publications.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

One kind editor dropped me a note after one of my early articles asking if I’d like to write for them and that did wonders for my confidence. As of today, six of my articles (that’s 5+1 to keep with the theme!), and fingers-crossed this one does too, are featuring in Medium publications.

To those kind editors, thanks for giving me that chance to work with you! For other writers with similar aims, hone your craft and keep writing. Success rewards perseverance.

Fifty views for a single article

This might seem small fry for the Medium giants out there who reach this target within three minutes of posting. But I took immense satisfaction seeing my first article hit this mark. Even more so as it’s on such an important topic.

Some of my other articles have also hit 50 views, but this story now holds an even greater place in my heart! Thanks to all those who read and left me a comment.

Will I have anything to say?

How many of you started your Medium career thinking:

“What on earth am I going to write about here?”

This went through my mind and fuelled my imposter syndrome of joining this community. Add to that the question:

“Will anyone care about what I’ve got to say?”

I suspect I’m not alone in having these thoughts. Rather than giving in to that anxiety, I sat for a while to think about what interests me, rather than “what will make me money on Medium?”

My observation is a proportion of posts approach content from the latter perspective. I don’t have a problem with that, but I know writing about things I don’t care about will guarantee readers won’t care either. If I’m enthused about what I write, I hope I will transmit that to anyone taking the time to read it. I’m sticking to that principle!

If you’re struggling with the same dilemma, try it, and write a list of what you’re passionate about. I imagine this will then shine through in your writing.

Armed with this mindset, this I what I came up with:

  • Writing and Creativity
  • Politics, Social Justice and Equality
  • Social Media and Marketing
  • Sports
  • Other Stuff (or anything else that catches my interest)

By chance, I had hit another “five” in my “month of fives”.

In it for the long haul

If you’d asked me what I expected my first month on Medium to be like, I’m not sure what I would have said. But now, 25 days in, I’m hooked.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to earn from this, but that is of secondary importance. I’ve found a voice I didn’t know I had on topics that interest me and that’s been the most surprising and pleasurable aspect. The thrill of having your article accepted to a publication and then seeing someone is reading it is hard to top!

It’s not just about the money. So for everyone like me who’s not in the $k club after one month — this is for you!

PS — the only additional five I can’t add is that it’s not my 50th birthday — but I guess you can’t have everything!

If you enjoyed my article, here are a few more from me that hopefully catch your interest!

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