Are You Writing For The Big Money? I have 1 Tip For You.
Everyone is here writing. Some of us have mercenary intent. Others are here because they love to write. Both approaches towards writing on Medium are lofty in their own right. Here in this story, I want to share 1 tip that could up your earnings as a writer if that is your intent. Here goes.
Thinking of that 1 viral story earning 4 digits provides an emotional uplift. I know because that is how I feel when I think about it. It is like finding a pot of Gold. We want to get there. The destination is clear. The journey isn’t.
In fact, it gets complicated when it comes to the journey. Let me explain.
There are many superstar writers. Many of them have attained the position and glory of having every story go viral, amassing viewership, readership, exploding follower count, and laughing their way to the bank.
Don’t you admire their ability to exchange alphabets for digits?
We have to understand their story.
Those that I know — Dr Mehmet Yildiz, Liam Ireland, Tree Langdon, Maria Rattray, Britni Pepper — they write a lot. I really mean a lot. 3 stories a day is normal. And hey, it takes effort to translate thoughts into words that are edited and supplemented by relevant images.
And they write different genres. That means they come to share their unique World View through the words that they know. They are successful in their own way.
As much as you might hate — myself included — to read this, everyone gets to Neverland their own way. They stumbled into different parts of the jungle. They forge ahead, fell, forward, injured, pressed on. Their life experience permeates the stories they tell.
So, what is that 1 tip that I promised you?
Here goes.
This 1-tip comes from my personal writing journey on Medium. I started not knowing the tricks of the trade. All I have done is smashing my keyboard to churn out 1 story a day.
That’s it. That 1-tip is writing 1 story a day.
Here’s why.
I have been doing that for 4 months now.
At the very least, I would have written 120 stories. That is the baseline. I contribute to 4 publications now, so I think the number is more than that.
Yet, the number in itself is not important. What is important are the lessons imparted to me along the way, plus my personal light bulb moments as I type.
English language might be my 1st Language (I am a Singaporean), but it is not my native language, (my race is Chinese, and I am born in Singapore). Therefore, there are certain nuances to the language that I cannot appreciate. Dry Old English humor is one.
I needed a truckload of help. The editors in Illumination and Technology Hits extended their Olive branch to me when I submit my stories. Their comments might be hard to stomach at times. I just swallowed it. Yes, the humble pie is delicious. I repeat that 10 times a day.
I needed writing tools for support. English Grammar is my natural enemy because the structure of the language is very different from Chinese. I learned to accept it. I take time to read the Grammarly reports so I can improve.
Time is my constraint. That said, it is important to make time for improvement.
Next, I routinely reviewed the earnings of my stories. Yes, I am superficial. It is better to admit than to deny. However, I look at the dollars and cents, and then beyond that.
I wanted to find out the stories that I have written as early as 4 months back where people are still reading. Then I start finding the patterns in terms of the genres, headlines, story structure.
From there, I know the genres that fit my writing contribution, ease of writing (time is my constraint), and readership attraction.
I find that “How To” work for me.
And this isn’t about reading multiple stories from others, copying the path of success from others. This is about self-finding. I am routinely searching for my secret sauce.
As Warren Buffett routinely mentions, he doesn’t touch Technology stock because he doesn’t understand them. He focuses his time and energy on his circle of competence, which is finance and coke.
I think that is a brilliant lesson. And that would be the lesson that I will adopt.
So, what is that 1-tip on making big money from writing again?
Write daily.
We will find out how things really work for us.
Build A Writing Portfolio For Yourself.
Aldric
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About the Author:
As a content contributor, I write my observations from daily life and my business exposure.
Because our life experience is the bedrock of our unique perspectives.
As a Consultant by training, I believe in making the complex simple.
Because simplicity adds value.
And with clarity — We grow.
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