Here’s What My Top Earning Stories Actually Look Like

17 of my stories have earned more than $1,000, but perhaps not the stories you think

There’s a lot of misinformation when it comes to making money on Medium. Part of that is because it’s so easy to think you know what another person’s experience on the platform is like when you watch them from the outside, looking at the comments and claps they receive.

You can search for a writer on Medium and get that default list of their supposedly most popular stories, but that doesn’t necessarily reflect their top earners.

We can’t judge from the outside when everybody’s journey here is so different. Of course, Medium is always changing — so that makes things a bit harder to pin down too.

I’ve been on Medium since April 25, 2018. Less than eight months later, I made it my full-time gig. Most of my time on Medium has been spent writing stories that pay “OK.” For a long time, I felt almost embarrassed because I’m not one of those top writers who constantly makes the “popular on Medium” section. I don’t write many articles that “go viral” and earn the big, big bucks.

There are some writers on Medium who consistently earn thousands of dollars per story. I’m not one of those writers. In fact, earning more than $1,000 on a single story is a relatively new experience for me. Most of my stories make far less, and many articles I write end up being financial failures.

Of course, all of that is relative too. What I’d say is viral for me may not be what’s viral for you, etc. And we have no way of knowing how much another writer earns unless they tell us.

I very rarely analyze my top-earning stories, so I figured I would share them now since there’s been a change for me in 2020. Perhaps it will also help break down a few myths about success on Medium.

Here’s what might surprise you about the 17 stories of mine that have all grossed above $1,000.

Only One of These Articles Is About Sex

I know, I know. Everybody tells me that sex sells on Medium. Some people have called me a sex writer here when in reality, I only occasionally write about sex. Others do it far more often and better than me.

The only story I’ve written about sex that’s topped $1,000 isn’t even explicitly “about sex.” It’s more about my experience with sexual dysfunction and a sexless marriage.

When people say that sex sells on Medium, they should note that your miles may vary. Some writers may find that their sex stories do better than the rest of their work, but how much better? It’s hard to make blanket statements about what makes the most money on Medium when all you’ve got to go by is your own work.

I suspect the truth for a lot of writers who insist that sex sells is that they’re still building an audience and simply don’t get enough traffic yet to see which of their stories can truly do well on the platform.

Only One of These Stories Is About Writing

I have had some very prominent Medium writers block me after complaining that I write too much about writing, as if I’ve somehow “sold my soul for money” here.

Honestly, I write about writing whenever I feel like doing it. Sometimes that’s a lot and sometimes it’s a little. I always do it knowing that such stories aren’t my biggest moneymakers, but sitting down to write every day also isn’t about writing one hit after another. It’s about the whole journey.

None of These Stories Are About Medium Tips

Every time I choose to write a story about how to do well on Medium, I know that it isn’t going to be one of my top performers either. A lot of folks are under the impression that writing stories about making money on Medium is a surefire way to make more money. I disagree.

There’s nothing wrong with writing expressly about Medium if you’ve got the experience and something to say. But such stories are never going to represent your full earning potential.

All of My Top Earners Were Curated

There seems to be an everlasting argument among Medium writers about the value of curation. Some writers say it doesn’t matter and insist it does nothing for better distribution. Others only write for curation. Me? I aim for as much curation as possible because, in my experience, a curated story has more potential to keep making money months down the road.

If a story has been curated, Medium is more likely to give it wider distribution and send it through the Daily Digest emails. However, that doesn’t mean some curated stories don’t flop. Many, well, most do. This month, I’ve written 14 stories, all curated, and most of them have gone absolutely nowhere.

On the other hand, my poorest performers are nearly all non-curated articles.

Most of These Stories Are Recent

Out of my 17 top earners, only four were published before 2020. I find that fact crazy. Did I suddenly become a better writer around January 15? Nope. (And quite frankly, the last few weeks have been real downers as far as earnings go.)

But I’ve been writing my heart out on Medium for more than two years, and sometime around mid-January, the algorithm seemed to shift in my favor and I got better at writing the stories more people seem to like reading from me.

Practically Every Headline Seems “Clickbaity,” but None of Them Is True Clickbait

No writing is ever going to appeal to everyone, and that’s something to keep in mind as you work. I’ve heard plenty of people say they hate my writing because “it’s clickbait.” But most folks don’t seem to understand what clickbait really is. It’s only clickbait when you don’t deliver on the promise of your headline. Or, when you try to trick your reader with shock and awe.

A lot of my headlines sound clickbaity just because they’re a little bit scandalous or provocative. I write such headlines by design because they work. Sometimes, when a story flops, I’m pretty sure it’s because I didn’t nail that headline.

These Aren’t Listicles — They’re Personal Essays

You might have heard that the personal essay is dead. Well, I beg to differ.

I mean, seriously.

The bulk of my work on Medium is the uber personal essay. I enjoy writing them; they are cathartic for me to write and for others to read. Are my personal essays hits with every reader? Obviously not. But I think it’s silly to complain about writing that doesn’t appeal to everyone. What a boring world it would be if the only acceptable writing were the most popular picks.

Most of These Stories Are in My Own Publications

None of them are in Medium-owned pubs, aside from the last article on the list that was added to Human Parts long after it was written. Even though I’ve had several stories published and promoted by Medium-owned publications, I suspect those will never, ever be my bread and butter.

My main publication has about 4,000 followers and I’m not great about sending out letters (oops). I don’t know why it works to mostly publish there, but it does.

For some folks, their stories will almost always do better in a bigger publication like P.S. I Love You or The Startup. For me, publishing elsewhere is truly hit or miss.

Mostly miss.

All of These Stories Are Vulnerable and Cover My Personal Experience

At this point in my Medium journey, my top-earning stories reflect what I like to do that I even think I’m good at — opening up about difficult experiences through my writing.

I have long talked about being inspired by Mister Rogers, and in particular, this quote:

“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.”

— Fred Rogers

This is why I write ridiculously embarrassing stories. This is why I get so deeply personal.

Next to simply supporting myself and my daughter, writing about difficult stuff is what I live for. I find enormous value (like healing) in being open about the things that used to bring me great shame.

Every One of These Pieces Has Received a Shitty Comment or Rude Private Message

Ugh. There’s a reason why I go through these phases where I hardly look at the comments. It’s not that I want to be rude but I do need to protect my mental health.

Aside from the complaints that I write clickbait, many people write in to tell me that I’m a terrible person too. Sometimes, it’s shocking to see how many people miss the point of a story, or incorrectly read more into it.

In particular, I feel bad for the folks who don’t understand that you can write about your poor choices without making constant apologies. Doing so is a huge part of moving forward.

But I try to keep in mind that we all bring our hangups, baggage, and insecurities to our reading too.

I’m Pretty Sure Every Article Has at Least One Typo

First of all, I’m terrible about typos. I am one of those writers who is awful at self-editing. Second, I write most of these stories from my phone, sometimes my tablet, typically while juggling my six-year-old. That creates a different sort of typo, namely, the swypo.

I don’t know if I’m ever going to start writing from a real computer, or at a desk. What I do know is that I’m never gonna win the battle of perfection. This rubs some folks the wrong way and I get it. However, accepting that I am human and I make errors is a huge part of my ability to keep writing without burning out.

Most of These Stories Took Several Days to Gain Traction

Again, the bulk of these top earners happened this year under the “new” earnings model where member reading time has replaced claps.

It’s been very interesting to see that none of these stories were an instant success. The “Bill Gates” one took less than a week to pick up speed but others took close to two weeks to go anywhere.

I don’t really sweat it anymore if I go through a stretch of stories that don’t do well. I have faith that things will cycle back around if I keep writing and pay attention to what’s happening with the stories that have done well.

None of These Stories Were Heavily Marketed

There are different schools of thought about how to be successful on Medium. Some folks tend to focus more on the writing side versus the advertising and I am inclined to agree.

I share all of my stories on Twitter, some of my stories on Facebook, and a few on Quora. I no longer mess around in Facebook groups for Medium writers (too much drama), beyond the occasional response to questions.

Honestly, I prefer to focus on building my audience by continuing to write and experimenting with different publications as it makes sense to me. I don’t want to spend hours trying to get 20 more people to read a certain story.

Most of These Stories Are on the Long Side

Sure, my stories typically run the gamut from four minutes up to 15 minutes according to Medium. But I am probably most comfortable writing articles somewhere between seven and 12 minutes.

Writing longer stories doesn’t guarantee a longer reading time. In fact, some readers might intentionally skim or skip my stories because they tend to be long.

Even so, longer articles often feel more “right” to me. Telling one whole piece of a story typically takes me well beyond 1,000 words and personally, I don’t mind. I don’t write for the entire world — I write for the people who find my stories resonate with them. And honestly, I write for me. Writing keeps me more in tune with where I’ve been and where I’m going.

From Mid January to Mid April, the Medium Algorithm Was Seriously on My Side

I noticed an algorithm shift over the last few months that saw particularly high distribution on several of my stories. My Partner Program earnings were their highest ever in February and March. April was my fourth best month, and now my numbers are back in what appears to be a “free fall.”

To be fair, I don’t worry about Medium like I used to. I don’t publish every single day, let alone twice a day or more like I did in 2018 and 2019. This month, I will most likely earn less than usual. But I’m okay with that. I’m comfortable knowing I can only control so much of my writer’s journey and at some point, I’ve got to trust the process.

That said, let’s take a look at my top earners.

1. My Mother Thinks Bill Gates Is Trying to Kill Us All

Lifetime earnings $3,422.38
Published on April 10, 2020
11-minute read
Curated in Family
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

2. That Time I Got Caught In a Married Man’s Bed

Lifetime earnings $2,862.88
Published on January 12, 2020
Eight-minute read
Curated in Relationships, Self
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

3. The Boyfriend Who Cheated on Me with a 14 Year Old Girl

Lifetime earnings $2,586.38
Published on March 9, 2020
13-minute read
Curated in Relationships
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

4. When Coworkers Complained That I Smelled Bad, It Nearly Cost Me My Job

Lifetime earnings $2,373.42
Published on February 20, 2020
11-minute read
Curated in Money, Lifestyle, Work
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

5. My Husband Left Me for His High School Sweetheart

Lifetime earnings $1,871.83
Published on January 21, 2020
Ten-minute read
Curated in Relationships
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

6. Nobody Ever Expects the Other Woman to Be Fat

Lifetime earnings $1,854.09
Published on January 16, 2020
Eight-minute read
Curated in Culture, Relationships, Beauty, Women
Published in P.S. I Love You

7. My Father Told Me He Didn’t Love Me and Then He Died

Lifetime earnings $1,833.79
Published on March 3, 2020
11-minute read
Curated in Mental Health, Family
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

8. How Does a Married Man with Three Kids Find Time to Cheat?

Lifetime earnings $1,832.59
Published on January 11, 2020
Seven-minute read
Curated in Relationships
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

9. My Husband Used to Pee In Bottles

Lifetime earnings $1,743.11
Published on February 4, 2020
Eight-minute read
Curated in Mental Health, Relationships
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

10. Is There Ever An Upside to Having an Affair with a Married Man?

Lifetime earnings $1,694.19
Published on February 3, 2020
Nine-minute read
Curated in Relationships, Self
Published in P.S. I Love You

11. 12 Red Flags to Look For In Yourself

Lifetime earnings $1,472.44
January 9, 2020
Six-minute read
Curated in Relationships, Self
Published in P.S. I Love You

12. How I Write (and Publish) So Damn Much

Lifetime earnings $1,286.15
Published on October 2, 2018
Five-minute read
Curated in Writing
Published in The Post-Grad Survival Guide

13. Why So Many People Seem to Hate Christianity

Lifetime earnings $1,278.58
Published on February 25, 2020
Nine-minute read
Curated in Spirituality, Society
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

14. A Diary of Unsolicited Advice From Men

Lifetime earnings $1,180.36
Published on January 29, 2019
Four-minute read
Curated in Women, Family, Equality
Published independently; I later moved the story into my publication Awkwardly Honest

15. 5 Ways Men Who Manage Women Treat Us Like Crap

Lifetime earnings $1,172.69
Published on November 19, 2018
15-minute read
Curated in Work, Women, Equality
Published independently; I later moved the story into my publication Awkwardly Honest

16. My Husband Stood Me Up on His Birthday

Lifetime earnings $1,155.78
Published on January 26, 2020
Seven-minute read
Curated in Relationships
Published in my own publication, Honestly Yours

17. Twenty, Married, and Still a Virgin

Lifetime earnings $1,092.88
Published on July 16, 2018
12-minute read
Curated in Relationships, Women, Sexuality
Published independently; featured by Medium and moved over to Human Parts last December

Honestly, if I had to narrow down the specifics of what made these stories winners aside from dumb luck, I would say they all tell a complete story in my own distinctive voice.

Sure, there are a lot of differences between each article— some jump right in while others meander more. Some are formatted more cleanly, although lately, I tend to write free-flowing stories with simple page breaks for a pause.

All in all, did I know that these stories were going to earn a lot of money? No. There were a few (like my husband peeing in bottles or the ex cheating on me with a younger girl) where I thought the stories might fly if given the chance.

But there’s no way to know which stories will ever get that chance.

This year, I’ve been fortunate because many stories have done better than I hoped and that’s allowed me to take a step back and publish less often. That, in turn, allows me to spend more time with each article I write. So, in some ways, I think there’s a bit of a circular effect.

I’ve learned that folks tend to really like my strange relationship and weird life stories. If I consistently wrote only those sorts of stories, I might have more success with that niche. But I’m not always “up to” writing about my past like that. My writing topics depend greatly upon where I’m at mentally and emotionally.

Sometimes, I choose to cover other topics to give myself a breather. And at other times, I cover less popular topics (for me) like politics or sexual assault just because I need to get the words out.

There are even days where I publish stories that I know will gain very little steam here — even if they get curated. Often my parenting articles. I still spend however many hours I need to on a $12 story because even if few folks read it, that article still matters to me. And I believe I’m a better writer for pursuing each story that needs to be told.

My best guess is that if you looked at every top earner on Medium, their stories would be all over the place. None of my top stories are about productivity, despite the fact that I know several people who’ve earned thousands on a single productivity post.

Other top writers will hit that $1K mark more often, and some less, but the reality is that there’s no cookie-cutter process to making a living here. At the end of the day, you’ve got to write and be tenacious about continuing your work.