$7.85?! Pay Back My Fee or Feast on the McDonald’s Saver Menu?

Making sense of my earnings during my first, whole month on the Medium Partner Program

I’m a hypocrite: I’m not drawn to these kinds of stories but I know they’re popular. It’s very much a case of ‘Everybody else is doing it…’ but I won’t inflict this on any publication — I’m not that bad.

However, I do think it worthwhile to write from my particular perspective: someone wallowing in the unspectacular, and one who knows what he has to do but probably won’t.

I’ve taken a sort of piecemeal approach to this article rather present a flowing narrative. You can take what you want if anything at all.

First Whole Month?

I joined Medium in late April using a free month’s trial. It took me a little over 30 days to gain 100 followers; I was accepted into the Medium Partner Program (MPP) on 28 May.

I immediately metered all of my stories but only my three most recent earned anything. That was until 1 June, i.e. the next earning period. I had earned $0.34, which still remains in Stripe. I’m assuming it doesn’t reach the minimum payout amount.

So for the June period, all of my metered stories have earned me $7.85. Stripe hasn’t given me the amount in GBP£ but online currency converters suggest £6.46.

That covers either May’s or June’s fee depending on how I choose to view it, which is £4.99 ($6.02). Or two tall cappuccinos at Starbucks (£3.15). Or I feast on the McDonald’s Saver Menu (the most expensive item is a Triple Cheeseburger at £2.29).

Yes, I pay more simply living in the UK.

My Medium Behaviour

There are a plethora of articles on how to get followers and increase engagement and how to behave on Medium in general. Here’s what I know and what I do:

• I don’t publish every day; I don’t even write every day
• I don’t set myself reading targets
• Since last month I’ve generally become a reactive follower, i.e. I’m followed first then I choose whether or not to follow back
• I know exactly why certain days show low views
• I’m poor at self-promotion
• I don’t (so far) do call-outs/mass tagging
• five claps to denote a proper read whether or not I liked/agreed with the article and regardless of whether I follow/know/like the author/publication
• I’ll admit to inconsistency but if I like something I highlight; if I can find the words I’ll comment
• five claps and a comment for responses to my article; five claps for a response to my comment on your story
• I don’t read everything my favourite writers produce…well maybe there’s one exception
• if a story is what I consider a splatter of block quotes, pull quotes, bolding, italics, and one-line paragraphs I stop reading — my eyes already suffer enough from reading screens
• I’ve never read a Tim Denning story.

Highest Earner AKA The Usurper

These are the figures for the story ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, which is part of a self-published creative writing series. Most of these stories are estimated to be minute-long reads and so just take seconds to scan; the average reading time for this one is 1 min 12 sec.

The big surprise, however, was that until 27 June this story was barely afloat. It had earned a few cents at most, but that was in keeping with the majority of the series. Then, on that day, it jumped by over a dollar.

The stats are not impressive whatever way you view them. I can’t explain.

The Runaway Leader Until…AKA The Deposed

This story was my second for the Globetrotters publication. It gained traction quite quickly by my standards and became my top earner. The average reading time is 2 min 41 sec; it is estimated to be a three-minute read.

I think the tinkering I made to the SEO settings somehow led to the story being favourable to Google searches. Of course, external views earn no money.

After being knocked from the top, it’s currently my fourth-highest earner.

But I can’t help being confused by the reading time that is four times greater than that of the number one story.

Facts & Figures

Here are a few non-monetary figures to chew over regarding my Medium life so far:

• first story published in Six Word Photo Story Challenge; it’s earned $0.01
• one rejection so far
• 22 stories in May; 16 in publications; all but two outside MPP
• 15 stories in June; 8 self-published
• 14 stories out of 38 total have earned $0.

Takeaways?

I maintain that I have nothing to teach anyone here — I’m not a teacher and there are plenty of others more qualified. By all means, take something or even learn a little from the above but none of it is advice.

What are my thoughts? I could try harder, yes. But I’m enjoying myself writing the odd story, posting photos, reading stories, and commenting on stories. I’ve created my own Medium experience and set a pace I can maintain.

Also, the truth is that the little I’ve earned has been more than I’ve ever received from friends on social media and I’m not talking money either.

Thanks for reading.

Shameless self-promotion starts here! If you’re feeling generous consider contributing to a cappuccino. No worries if you’re here just to read.