7 Lessons Learned From Publishing 300+ Articles on Medium
It’s been a ride of ups and downs.
I have been writing consistently on Medium for more than 2 years now.
When I first started, my expectations were modest at best.
I viewed Medium as an outlet for my thoughts, not as a means to make money.
I remember butterflies in my stomach over my first few likes and comments. Then came the steady climb of followers. And with it, first dollars.
Today, I feel confident sharing my blueprint for thriving on Medium.
The Power of Consistency
Medium thrives on regular care and attention.
Every article you publish is your workout session. Miss too many, and you will start to lose muscle (read: readers).
But stick to a routine, and you will see gains in followers, engagement, and maybe even a bit of that sweet Medium money.
The algorithm loves a steady stream of content. You are feeding a hungry beast that, in return, puts you in the spotlight.
Here’s How:
- Set a Realistic Schedule. Don’t aim for a daily post if you suffer from burnout. Start with one blog post a week. It is a sweet spot that won’t burn you out fast, but after a few months, you will have a nice stack of posts to show off in your portfolio.
- Batch Produce. Spend a day or two on drafting. Having articles in the pipeline saves me from writer’s block. Spend weekends brainstorming, watching videos and listening to podcasts. Then, outline your articles for the week with engaging subheadings and key bullet points. Prepare a batch of content to work on each morning.
- Queue It. Medium lets you schedule posts. Use it.
Consistency means you show up, rain or shine, ready to share your voice.
Your audience and the algorithm will thank you.
Engage to Elevate
Writing great content is not enough to make waves on Medium.
If you don’t engage with your readers and other writers, you might as well be shouting into the void.
And by engagement, I don’t mean just clapping at the end of an article.
- Start a Conversation. Concluded your article with a question? Great. Now, when someone answers, don’t leave them hanging. A simple “Thanks for sharing your thoughts!” goes a long way.
- Be a Cheerleader. Find articles you love and leave thoughtful comments. And I don’t mean “Great article!” Dive deeper. Why did you love it? How did it make you feel? You don’t want to be just nice. You aim to build genuine connections.
- Give Before You Take. Spend time engaging with others’ work before you hit ‘publish’. I have noticed a dramatic difference when I comment on other articles before publishing my own.
When I first started, I thought engaging with readers was extra homework. But then, I started replying to comments, clapping back, and spreading kindness on other writers’ work.
My visibility on the platform grew exponentially.
Engagement is the lifeblood of Medium.
Think about Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. Posting content without interacting will leave you hanging.
Medium is all about building a community.
When you comment, share your perspectives, or respond to a comment, you make a mark and become an active member of the Medium ecosystem.
First Impressions Count
I bet you have that one friend who always knows how to make an entrance at parties.
Your headline is that friend. It should be unforgettable and slightly dramatic.
You want your readers to think, “Wait, what? I need to read this.”
I cannot tell you how many times I wrote an article I was sure would set Medium on fire. It was insightful, witty, and had the perfect blend of nostalgia.
But I did not give a damn about the tiles. They were ordinary and boring as hell. They did not stand out in the sea of content.
Here is a headline toolkit:
- Be Specific. “5 Ways to Improve Your Writing” is decent. But “5 Secret Ingredients to Make Your Writing Irresistibly Delicious” or “Top 5 Writing Techniques to Elevate Your Medium Articles?” are better. They deliver promise and make readers hungry for more.
- Use Numbers. Lists provide a clear expectation. “7 Lessons Learned From Publishing 300+ Articles on Medium” — see what I did there? You know exactly what you are getting into.
- Challenge the Status Quo. “Why Everything You Know About Productivity Is Wrong” — a headline like this is practically daring readers not to click.
A great headline captures the reader’s curiosity. It delivers the promise, a question that needs answering, or a story that demands to be heard.
Get Personal
When it comes to writing on Medium, sharing personal stories is your golden ticket.
Your personal story is the spark. Analyze it, draw conclusions, and invite your readers to learn with you.
Think about the broader theme of your story. Is it about overcoming fear? The quest for self-improvement?
It is the human experiences, the raw emotions, and the shared moments of vulnerability that make readers engage.
The Avocado Toast Case Study.
Paint a picture with your words.
Turn the story from a brown, mushy avocado to a thwarted promise of small joy you had been looking forward to all week.
From here, contemplate how avocado serves as a reminder that despite our best plans and preparations life remains magically unpredictable. And yet, we still reach for another attempt.
In the same way that we reach for another avocado, hopeful once more, we also continue to chase our dreams and desires, undeterred by the bumps along the road.
Personal stories add depth, flavour, and a touch of soul.
They make your readers nod, thinking, “Yep, I have been there.”
The Best Writing Happens When You Are Not Writing.
I bet you know those moments when you are doing something utterly mundane, like your morning coffee, and an idea hits you so hard you almost spill your perfectly-frothed milk.
The best writing happens when we live our lives, soaking in the mundane.
Most people think inspiration strikes amid life-changing events or epic adventures.
But some of my best ideas came from the most banal situations.
One morning, as I was making my matcha latte, the sun was filtering through the window, warming the kitchen counter.
There was something enchanting about the tranquillity of the routine. The way the light danced on the counter made me appreciate the beauty in the everyday.
The next thing I knew, I was scribbling down thoughts about turning your ordinary life into an extraordinary one.
Challenge yourself to see the magic in the mundane. Watching your dog chasing its tail may prompt you to think, “Isn’t this just like us humans, chasing after happiness?” and become a spark to your next article.
Inspiration is all around us. We need to pause, observe and make connections from one everyday activity to an inspirational story behind the scenes.
You can find your next big idea in the checkout line at the grocery store. Stay open.
Enjoy the Process More Than the Outcome
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the obsession with quantity over quality.
I am talking about the endless chase after virality, the thirst for applause, the hunger for those sweet, sweet Medium dollars.
If all you are after is the end game, you are missing out on the soul of writing.
I am not saying you shouldn’t aim to earn from your writing or desire recognition. We all need to pay the bills, and a little validation never hurt anybody.
But when the pursuit of outcomes overshadows the love of the craft, writing becomes another chore on your to-do list. Where is the fun?
There was a time when I was so fixated on stats and earnings that I lost the joy of writing. Every word I typed was a battle. I fell into ‘the more, the better’ trap. It was a wake-up call.
I had to remind myself why I started writing in the first place — for the pure love of it.
The moment I shifted my focus back to enjoying the process, the words flowed easier, the ideas came faster, and ironically, the outcomes improved.
When it comes to writing, recognition is rewarding, but the journey is where the magic happens.
Playfulness Pays Off
I have a confession to make.
I used to approach writing like I was back in high school, trying to impress the cool kids.
Writing was not a form of self-expression but a calculated attempt to fit into what I perceived as the “right” way to write.
The constant second-guessing and the endless editing sapped the joy from the creative process.
It took a few moments to realize that the cool kids in my head were irrelevant.
The writing world won’t implode if you crack a joke, even a bad one. In fact, it might just thank you for it.
My best pieces came from where I wasn’t so serious about writing. I played with it.
Dare to stand out.
- Experiment. Use your writing as a playground. Try new formats, dabble in genres you have never considered, and write a poem. Breaking the mould can rejuvenate your love for writing.
- Use Humour. You don’t have to write a stand-up comedy script. But a light-hearted joke or a witty observation can make your content more relatable.
- Break the Rules. Start a sentence with “And” or “But.” Throw in a one-word paragraph. Sometimes, going against the rules is exactly what your writing needs to stand out.
Writing is a form of expression. You should experiment to find joy in the process.
After all, if you are not having fun creating it, chances are, your readers won’t have fun reading it.
Looking back at my Medium journey, I realized the true reward lies not in the numbers but in the connections made.
- Write with consistency.
- Engage with the platform.
- Craft headlines that hook.
- Be vulnerable.
- Seek inspiration in the everyday.
- Enjoy the process.
- Never lose your playfulness.
The world needs your stories. Let’s illuminate, connect, and inspire.
Let’s make Medium a great place to build your tribe.
Thank you for being here, — Kate
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