Five Mindsets I Developed After Writing For One Year On Medium

How writing online has helped me learn and grow in life.

When I started publishing my articles on Medium, I would have never thought that I would develop myself so much to the extent that I would get opportunities for paid writing. Although writing has always been my hobby, I would have never thought it would eventually become my side-hustle.

I started writing on the platform in September 2020. While I was still exploring the platform, I saw several changes to the platform, including the recent Partner Program changes, and the writers had to quickly adapt to these changes.

One thing that will be agreed upon by all is that writing online gives you a perspective. If you are writing on a particular topic and don’t back your article with research links, then you must brace yourself to face the heat from the readers as well as the publishers. Well, constructive criticism (not hate) is all we need to improve.

Here are the 5 mindsets that I developed that helped me to cope with the ups and downs of my writing journey. I am sure these would help you too in your journey.

Forgo seeing the stats every hour

I recently read an article, ‘The Stats Goblin’ by Jen North, and it reminded me of the times when I used to check the stats every hour of the day. This practice became so ‘addictive’ that it started messing up with my other activities.

Nowadays, I only check my stats over the weekend to understand which stories worked and which didn’t. Of course, stats are important to understand the type of audience your writing actually attracts. But again, Medium’s algorithm is like sorcery as it never knows which article will take off and which article won’t.

Hence, the best thing you can do is to keep writing and forgo seeing the stats.

Focus on your work and your work alone

The worst thing you can do for yourself is to compete with others that would bring nothing but a disappointment to you. Writing requires you to develop a creative mindset, but if you have a competitive mind, then you are in for a ride.

Since Medium doesn’t pay writers for the increased number of followers or number of claps, but only for the read time by the paid members. The reading time can only be achieved by your writing. Hence, focusing on your writing is the key to your success.

Don’t get too attached to your piece

You may have heard Hollywood directors saying that once the movies they made are out, they start working on their next projects. This is because the results of the box office are not in their hands.

“Do your duty, but do not concern yourself with the results.” — Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2, Verse 47

Similarly, once you publish your article, your work is over. Of course, you need to market your article (if you want to) on various social media platforms, such as LinkedIn, Quora, Facebook, or Twitter. However, the success of your article is dependent on various factors, such as curation, audience, the topic of the article and your writing style.

Hence, it is advisable to publish your article, take some time off, and then work on the next piece.

Your biggest enemy is procrastination

I am sure almost every one of the writers or creators has suffered from this. It is so difficult to remain motivated all the time. It is not only a problem in writing but in other fields as well.

I tackle this problem by making myself as productive as possible. Every day, I make a To-Do list in my note-taking app and plan for the next day. I have created a habit stacking strategy, inspired by James Clear’s book, where I pair a new habit with a current one. For example, if I have created the habit of cleaning my shelves, desk, and room, I will do it by playing a podcast or an audiobook. This makes me productive or at least makes me feel that way.

While writing, I listen to Lo-Fi music or ocean-waves tunes at a mild volume while thinking, researching and writing about a topic. My writing/working desk is different. I make sure to clean the clutter from my desk if it gets messy. Ideas do flow if your surroundings are clean and your mind is calm.

Having a productive habit or schedule would definitely help you to keep procrastination at bay.

Build a network of writers & readers

A community of readers and authors is the most valuable thing you can create on Medium. I have made several friends that not only inspire me to write about things that I’m not particularly comfortable with, but also offer me cues to enhance my writing, such as whether a specific image is inappropriate or a phrase is convoluted, and so on.

The best thing about the writing community is that they support each other even if they don’t need to. This makes you feel welcomed and help others. I have improved a lot due to the community where writers and readers are based across the globe.

Final thoughts

Writing online and expressing your thoughts can take you places you would never have dreamed of. It certainly changed my life, giving me opportunities that I couldn’t have imagined.

However, getting successful at writing takes time, sheer dedication, and a lot of patience. It requires you to develop the mindset of a winner who would not only do well in writing but also in life.

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