Summary

Linda Ng shares her experience on Medium, where she spends nearly 100 hours a month, earning a modest income, and provides insights on whether the platform is worth the time investment for potential writers.

Abstract

Linda Ng has dedicated a significant amount of time to Medium, averaging 100 hours per month on activities such as reading, writing, promoting, and editing. Despite this, her monthly earnings amount to approximately $53 USD or$ 73 CAD, which is not a substantial income. She acknowledges that Medium is not a lucrative platform for most writers, with only a few earning hundreds or thousands of dollars. However, Linda finds value in the community she has built and the enjoyment she derives from writing and engaging with readers. She advises prospective Medium writers to consider their love for reading, writing, and community engagement, and to be prepared for the possibility of minimal financial return. Linda emphasizes that Medium can be rewarding for those who enjoy the process and are not solely focused on earnings.

Opinions

Linda believes that Medium is not a viable source of full-time income for most writers.
She enjoys the sense of community and the act of writing on Medium, which makes the time spent worthwhile for her personally.
Linda is transparent about the realistic earnings on Medium, which are often much lower than some writers may expect.
She suggests that writers should join Medium if they genuinely love to read, write, and engage with other writers, rather than for financial gain.
Linda emphasizes the importance of being prepared for failure and the necessity of hard work on the platform.
Despite the low financial return, Linda finds her experience on Medium to be 100% worth her time due to the enjoyment and fulfillment it brings her.

MEDIUM

Are You Wondering If Medium Is Worth Your Time?

I spend almost 100 hours on Medium each month and earn a few dollars a day. Let me tell you what I think about this.

Is he confused too? Photo by Robert Nagy

I wrote a story a few months ago about how I spent approximately 25.5 hours per week on Medium. This includes reading, writing, promoting, and editing. Altogether, the hours almost equate to a part-time job.

Here are my monthly earnings from January to September. 💰

Linda’s monthly earnings (screenshot provided by Linda Ng)

I earn approximately $53 USD or $73 CAD per month. Say what? 🤯

That’s right. I work on Medium for almost 100 hours a month, but I earn so little! That seems ludicrous, doesn’t it?

Some followers have asked if this was worth my time, which is a very valid question. If we face the harsh truth of bills and mortgages, this income obviously doesn’t cut it. It might pay for the groceries or maybe a tea from Starbucks, but it won’t help pay off your credit card debt.

Here is a fact for you.

MEDIUM TAKES A LOT OF TIME AND YOU CAN’T EARN A LIVING FROM IT.

I’m saying this because I’m not one of the writers who can earn hundreds or thousands of dollars each month on Medium. I want to be real and honest about this. The ones who are earning the big bucks are few and far in between. Most of the writers on the platform probably see a paycheque that’s similar to mine. That’s much more realistic and representative of the writing experience on Medium.

So, why am I spending so much time to earn a few dollars? Why, Linda?!

Hmm. Is she annoyed at me or at the guy? Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Simple. I like it. I won’t do anything I don’t like to do. It sounds dumb, but that’s the truth. It’s such hard work for so little return. Yet, I show up day in and day out. I publish each day and engage during every moment of free time. And no one forces me to do it.

When I first joined Medium, I never knew I would be able to build such a beautiful community. I eagerly open my comments and respond to each and every one. They make me smile and laugh. I enjoy learning more about writing and listening to all of your wonderful feedback. ❤️ I feel like I belong somewhere and that I can share all my thoughts without fear of repercussion.

With my 10 months of experience on Medium, I can honestly answer your question. Do I think Medium is worth your time? Check out the questions below first.

✅ Do you love to read?

✅ Do you love to write?

✅ Do you enjoy talking to other writers?

✅ Can you accept potentially earning pennies for your work?

✅ Can you spend hours of your time on the platform?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, then congratulations. Medium might be the perfect platform for you. Here is the reality.

😩 You can’t expect to Medium to pay you hundreds or thousands of dollars.

🤨 You need to spend a lot of time on Medium before you see results.

😏 You need to expect failure.

Be prepared to WORK. And work HARD. Photo by Pixabay

If you fully understand what is lying ahead for you, then jump right in with both feet. For me, I am truly enjoying my experience on Medium. No one is asking me to do this.

It is 100% worth all my time. 😁

If you’re interested to read more about my 10 month journey on Medium, you may want to check out these stories. Happy reading!

Don’t Cry — Here’s How To Publish A Story Every Day (Even If You Work Full-Time)

I work full-time and here’s how I can still publish stories on a consistent basis.

medium.com

I Spend An Astonishing 25.5 Hours On Medium Each Week

Here is the breakdown

medium.com

📕 Join Medium to read all of Linda’s stories (I get a commission!)

💻 Contribute to Linda’s chips fund on Kofi (so I can write more!)

🐤 Connect with Linda on Twitter (tweet! tweet!)

👱🏻‍♀️ Learn 10 things about Linda