Editor’s Picks — Top 10: How Much Money 1000 Views Earn You on Medium

Let’s read the stories of our top 10 writers today

How much money can you make if you get 1000 views of your story on Medium? Most of the new writers are curious to know — just as I wanted to know when I started writing on Medium.

Maybe you are not writing for money, but most of the writers want to know the answer. I would be lying if I told you I didn’t look at my stats after every hour.

Money is a strong motivation. For me, it is an ongoing experiment to know what is the worth of my words when people don’t know me and when they do know me.

When I hit the publish button, I want my story to go viral and bring me $1000 in the morning. Until now, I have not seen this happening. But it hasn’t stopped me from hoping.

The most successful writers make more than $33,000 a month. But many writers — in hundreds — earn more than $1000. Since Medium has 170 million readers and 50,000 writers, you can guess that writers are few as compared with the total number of readers.

On the other side, the total number of writers earning more than $100 is somewhere between 4000 to 7000. But most of these $100 writers do not spend more than two hours writing on Medium.

How much 1000 views is worth? The answer is: it depends on member reading times. If all of your 1000 views were from non-members, you’d get nothing.

But if your readers are members — their profiles show a green circle around their pic — you are paid an amount that reflects their reading time. If they read your story without skimming and skipping, you get more money. If they skip and you get little reading time, you get less money.

Then there is another question: How long was your story? If your story was 11 minutes read — and your readers spent the full 11 minutes reading it — you get paid more for a view.

In simple words, if you get 1000 views for your 11-minute story and you get 100% reading time, you can get around $200. But the reading time is less than 30%, and you get around $60 for 11-minute long stories per 1000 views.

If your story is a 5-minute read, you can expect around $15 to $30 for every 1000 views. Shorter stories earn less, but longer stories — written by new writers — are ignored by readers unless it’s an excellent story.

For new writers, the optimal reading length of an article is between 4 to 7 minutes. But getting 1000 views for your stories is another story.

Let’s read these wonderful Top 10 stories and if you like the story you can ask the writers how much they make in a private message:

10. I Wrote My Top Earning Story When I Was Fourteen

Amy Colleen writes about trivialities and rare deep thoughts. Her style is charming, engaging, and delightful. If you read this story, you’d wait for her future work. And don’t forget to follow her.

That title isn’t clickbait. I really did write my top earning story when I was in ninth grade, but it’s not a success story of childhood genius. No matter how I slice it, it seems to be a fluke.

Let’s rewind.

When I was fourteen, I started participating in National History Day, a competition for middle and high school students that spans a broad range of topics and categories. It’s similar to a science fair, but with much more varied opportunities for presentation. Since writing was always my favorite subject in school, I entered the essay category with a 2,470-word paper about Noah Webster. (The word limit was 2,500. I have never been what one might call succinct.) The paper won first place at my regional competition, third at the state level, but didn’t qualify for the national finals. Bummer.

9. The Two Most Important Skills, If You Want to Thrive in the 21st Century

Haris Mohammad writes for personal growth and business. He is a superb writer. Today he is trying to teach you the two most important skills. Don’t skip it.

A little over twenty-five years ago, Jeff Bezos saw a trend. The internet was growing in usage at an incredible rate (like “bacteria in a Petri dish,” he says). He realized it was set to change the world forever. Bezos didn’t want to be left out of the action. He quit his job and founded Amazon. Today he is worth almost $200 billion.

Around the same time, Elon Musk was pursuing his Ph.D. when he had a similar realization. He dropped out and founded his first company, Zip2. Today he is worth almost $100 billion.

8. Why I Stopped Forgiving People… and Maybe You Should, Too

Paul Thomas Zenki is an excellent writer. You must follow him. His style is always thought-provoking and engaging. Don’t miss this masterpiece.

Forgive and forget, right? I used to think that. I don’t anymore.

Now look, I know I’m up against some real heavy hitters here when I say maybe you should stop forgiving people. After all, isn’t forgiveness a cornerstone of the major religions?

The Tanakh says that one who forgives an insult keeps a friend (Proverbs 17:9). The Christian New Testament says to forgive, if you have anything against anyone (Mark 11:25). The Qur’an says that one who forgives shall have reward with God (42.40). The Vedas say that forgiveness is the greatest strength (Mahābhārata 5.33.48).

7. 5 Improved Paths to Productivity

John Teehan is an excellent writer who likes to write about tech. His style is informative and compelling. If you read this story — and understand the core message — you’ll become more productive without feeling burdened. Don’t miss this one.

I can’t blame anyone for being hyper-focused on boosting their productivity. Getting work done is how we get paid. Who doesn’t want that?

But sometimes, we get so focused on being productive that it becomes anti-productive. Instead of dwelling on being productive all the time, direct your efforts more to those parts of the day when you generally perform at your best and take advantage of making the most of those times.

Here are some ways to walk that path.

6. The Power of Music to Create Positive Change in Your Life

Tania Miller is a writer and an orchestra conductor. She explores life through music and creativity. Her style is simple, direct, and engaging. If you have not read this story already, don’t miss it now.

When we are suffering, sometimes it feels best to be alone. We have friends and loved ones around us, and we can reach out to them at any time, but we’d rather just be alone with our thoughts, away from distractions, connecting to ourselves in the quiet.

Music can help us immeasurably during this time. It’s an understanding force, and there’s something about its wordlessness that helps us to see our reflection in its mirror without our having to explain anything. We can just be there — listening or playing the music. The music matches our mood, or it can help us change it too — it’s as we wish, since we choose its purpose.

5. Rotate Your Beliefs

Julie Nyhus MSN, FNP-BC is an excellent writer. She is a nurse practitioner and a health writer. Her style is informative and compelling. Don’t forget to read this masterpiece.

I have been working on a personal essay for the second edition of Empty The Pews, a remarkable collection of “Twenty-one timely, affecting essays by those who survived hardline, authoritarian religious ideology and uprooted themselves from the reality-averse churches that ultimately failed to contain their spirits.”

Although it would be absolutely amazing if my essay were chosen for the second edition, all I find myself focusing on is their incredible mission: Empty the Pews! I wish I would have thought of it myself. But I suppose the deep, unspoken need for self-survival (getting out of religion) overshadowed any possible insight to take anyone with me.

4. How to Stay Strong in Tough Times

Leah Njoki is a writer who loves to write about self-improvement and self-love. Her style is inspiring and full of emotions. Do check her other work.

“I miss her every day. I’ve never cleaned out her closet. I’m not there yet. I want to keep her memories as alive as long as I possibly can. She was the woman I adored. Although she’s been gone a year, the pain is still raw. When the cruel arm of death snatched her away, it ripped my heart into shreds.” Jack wrote these words in a social media post.

Last Wednesday was precisely one year since a tragic road accident robbed Jack of the love of his life. Trying to come to terms with his loss has been a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions. On some days, getting out of bed is incredibly difficult, and others feel a tiny bit easier.

3. Here Is How to Publish a Shortform Story on Medium

Dr Jeff Livingston is an excellent writer. If you are not following him already, here is your chance. After you read this story, do check his other work.

Have you noticed those weird-looking short stories popping up in your daily feeds? I have. At first, they just confused me. I was not sure what was happening. Then, I noticed I was reading every single one of them from start to finish.

After this lightbulb moment, it was time to investigate this different style of publishing Medium refers to as shortform stories. If you are not familiar with shortform, here is an article from Creator’s Hub explaining how this story style works.

2. You Are the Imposter You Always Thought You Were

Fareeha Arshad is a writer and a scientist. Her style is engaging and full of suspense. Her voice is fresh and the topic she has chosen today is, well, surprising. Don’t miss this one.

This must have been surprising.

I felt the same, too, when I was introduced to this concept. I mean, come on, creativity is often linked to a lonesome pursuit of a creative genius — who not only transforms the world but also changes the perspective of the generations to follow.

Creativity is meant to be personal and therefore, unique. This is supposed to be a universal truth that has to be unanimously agreed upon.

However, that’s not always the case.

1. The Surprising Lessons that Buddhism and Cynicism Can Teach You About Being Present and Happy

At number one, Sebastian Purcell, Ph.D. is talking about how Buddhism and cynicism can teach you something about living in the present moment. Sebastian is an excellent writer, but he is a philosopher and a happiness researcher as well. Don’t forget to read his stories and don’t forget to follow him.

One of the paradoxes of life is that to be happier you don’t have to get more stuff or do new things. You only have to live the life you already have and be more fully present in it. I can give you a story to explain.

After planning for more than a decade, my wife and I finally travelled to St. Lucia in the Caribbean. While there, we thought to visit one gorgeous waterfall. The problem?

Everyone else had the same idea.

Final Thoughts

If your story was selected as one of the Top 10, please share another one of your stories in the comments with a brief introduction and a short review that can convince a reader to read your piece. (Please write the review in the third person and start it with your name.)

I must have missed something today. I cannot read every story on Illumination and Illumination-Curated. Dr Mehmet Yildiz, the Chief Editor and Founder of Illumination and Illumination-Curated, read, highlighted, and applauded every good story when he started his publications. He still reads almost all of the good ones. I try — and fail daily — to read all of the masterpieces.

Dr Mehmet Yildiz has kindly allowed our top 10 series a full shelf on the front page of Illumination-Curated and Illumination:

So, help me. Help me to find and rank the best work of the writers of Illumination and Illumination-Curated.

If you think you are an excellent writer, leave a link to your best work in the comments.

Happy reading.

You can read my curated stories here.