Summary

The author describes their transformative experience with writing on Medium.com, where earning a mere 12 cents from an article led to a renewed passion for writing and the confidence to publish a book.

Abstract

The author began their journey on Medium.com seeking an alternative to WordPress for blogging, drawn in by the platform's ease of use and SEO benefits. As they engaged with the Medium community, reading articles on writing and earning money through writing, their love for the craft was reignited. This engagement led to the application of new writing skills, investment in writing tools, and a commitment to producing higher-quality work. The small financial reward from their published article was a symbolic victory, providing the motivation to proofread, edit, and self-publish their book to a positive reception from colleagues. The author expresses gratitude for the Medium community, acknowledging the platform's role in their growth as a writer and their newfound perspective on writing as a source of joy and fulfillment.

Opinions

The author values the simplicity of Medium.com as a blogging platform over more complex alternatives like WordPress.
Engagement with Medium's daily digest and community features played a significant role in rekindling the author's passion for writing.
The author believes in continuous improvement in writing, as evidenced by their use of tools like Hemmingway and ProWritingAid and the incorporation of writing tips from Medium articles.
Earning 12 cents from an article on Medium was a pivotal moment for the author, symbolizing success and encouraging them to pursue writing more seriously.
The author holds the Medium community in high regard, appreciating the support and inspiration received from fellow writers and their articles.
Despite the modest financial return, the author feels rich in the non-monetary rewards of writing, such as personal growth, satisfaction, and positive feedback from readers.

How 12 Cents Earned On Medium.com Made Me Feel Like A Millionaire

On the surface, it seems insignificant. We throw small coins around and spend them without even thinking about it. But what if I told you that 12 cents could make you wealthy? What if it could inspire you to publish a book?

My writing on medium.com, began before I understood the platform. I wanted to blog, but I am a WordPress murderer, who messed up every attempt at a decent blog site. I just don’t do that back end front end leap.

I searched Google for ‘alternative to WordPress easy blogging site good SEO’ and voila! medium.com popped up at the top. I set up an account and transferred a few blogs, I had already posted on Wix. Then I cancelled Wix.

As I received my daily digest of Medium, my interest spiked. It became addictive. After years of missing a physical morning newspaper (I live rurally now so no delivery) Medium.com was the next best thing.

Each day I look forward to opening my laptop and reading the articles on Medium. However, something changed quickly. It stimulated my neglected love of writing.

I kept reading post after post of:

· How to write well

· How to earn money by writing

· How to find 10 ways to do about anything in life

· How to (fill in the blanks…..)

Before long, I was adding myself to mailing lists, hitting the applause buttons, and my mind was thinking like a writer.

During the day, I was also writing a non-fiction book. It was my third, but after becoming addicted to Medium, I was reticent to publish. I was learning every day how much better my writing could be and this time; I had to use the new-found skills. I’m not a perfectionist, but after reading many articles, I knew I should write better than before.

I invested in Hemmingway, ProWritingAid and every tip I could find on Medium. I downloaded writing tips. I knew they were lead magnets, but they were helpful in their own right. I edited everything I wrote with a fresh eye and a clear aim.

Next I posted a new article to my then 18 followers and voila again–I got paid the 12 cents! Yay for me–I mean it too. I was truly excited because I hadn’t set out to earn a bean from it. Remember, I was looking for an easier blog site initially.

The greatest gift that 12 cents has given me was the incentive to proofread again, edit and self-publish my book. It is a better reading experience now and the feedback from my colleagues is in.

“It is one of the most cleverly written, sensible, funny, emotional books, that I’ve had the pleasure to read.”

and

“I found it so interesting and very well-written.”

As a writer, I have a long way to go. I won’t be able to commit to hours of writing per day. I won’t be writing any 30 day challenges. I WILL write more though and with my 12 cent incentive, I really am grateful for the joy of finding Medium and now knowing what it’s really about.

More than anything, I take my hat off to all of you feeding me each day with great articles. For those of you earning a living–may you keep prospering. For those of you working towards it–your articles really help. As for me, I’m basking in the love of the written word, the love of writing again and feeling like a millionaire on my 12 cents.

I now have 26 followers as I write this. Thank you for being here.

If you would like to join Medium.com and support the writing journey here is my link