How Medium Launched My Exciting Writing Career

Summary

The author shares their journey on Medium, emphasizing the importance of focusing on the craft of writing rather than getting rich quick, and how the platform can serve as a springboard for a writing career through networking and portfolio building.

Abstract

The article "How Medium Launched My Exciting Writing Career" discusses the author's personal experience with writing on Medium, cautioning readers against the allure of quick wealth from the platform. The author acknowledges the existence of articles showcasing high earnings but stresses that such success stories are often not replicable for the average writer. Instead, the author advocates for a focus on writing quality content and building connections within the Medium community. The article reflects on the author's initial frustration with low financial returns despite increased readership and engagement. However, after a break, the author realized that Medium had significantly boosted their writing career by providing a platform to showcase their work, leading to freelance opportunities and a more fulfilling writing experience without the pressure of earning a substantial income directly from the platform.

Opinions

The author is skeptical of articles that promise significant wealth from writing on Medium, considering them unrealistic for most writers.
Honesty and transparency are important when discussing the potential of Medium as a writing platform.
The pursuit of monetary gain on Medium can lead to frustration and burnout, potentially causing writers to abandon the platform prematurely.
Medium serves as an excellent portfolio for writers, which can lead to freelance work and other writing opportunities beyond the platform.
The author values the support and connections made with other writers on Medium, which have been instrumental in their career development.
Small victories, such as publication acceptance or modest earnings, should be celebrated as they contribute to a writer's overall growth and success.
The author encourages writers to enjoy the process of writing and engaging with the Medium community, regardless of immediate financial success.

And why you should ignore the “here’s how you get rich on Medium” articles and focus on the craft

We’ve all seen the articles from well-established writers on Medium. The writers are pulling in a large income from the platform. It’s impressive. One can dream. But the reality is — don’t expect to replicate their success.

I’d rather be honest and upfront with you. Because You deserve honesty. I’m not saying those writers are being dishonest by any means. But, the screenshots of their monthly earnings are a stretch. Unattainable at most.

Why you should ignore the get rich articles on Medium

I’m very happy for the successful writers on Medium. I love reading their content. And it’s good content! The biggest reason why you should ignore those get rich articles is that it’ll cause you frustration. That frustration will lead to you not seeing the growth or success you’d hope for.

In the end, it’ll result in you not sticking with the platform or your writing. Look at my profile. It’s a perfect example of that frustration. I began writing on a regular basis on Medium in March 2020. The pandemic gave me a lot of inspiration.

I wrote roughly three articles a week through August 2020. I saw my views going up. I was able to get into some impressive publications. I saw my views go up more. My read time went up more too. I was interacting with amazing writers. I was interacting with the incredible people who took the time to comment on my story.

Yet, I started getting frustrated because I was only making a couple of cents or a dollar a month. My followers were few and far between. I was putting in a good chunk of my time for little to no return.

Not only was it a lot of work, but I was also pouring my guts out into my content. I was feeling burned out. I needed a break. And when I stopped, big things started happening.

How Medium can launch your exciting writing career

You can become a successful writer through the Medium platform. You can use the methods of those successful writers to build momentum for yourself. Replicating their methods has opened an insane amount of doors for me as a writer.

The beautiful thing about Medium is the amount of support you’ll receive from writers. Through these connections, freelance opportunities opened up.

I didn’t realize it, but Medium was the perfect portfolio for my written work. If Medium doesn’t give you the monetary gain you’re seeking, it’ll put you on a pedestal. A good one to stand on while you’re applying for writing positions. It has given me the opportunity to write for local and global businesses.

So here I am, refreshed and ready to enjoy the platform. It’s delightful not to have pressure to make a large income on this platform. I’m grateful for all it’s given me. I have freelance prospects where I’m making a good income. I’m here to enjoy writing and consuming content.

So if you’re feeling frustrated like I was as you work to grow on this platform remember to keep writing! The more writing you do, the better you get.

Take small wins as they come. Whether that’s getting into a publication you want to write for or making some money. Those little wins add up. In the end, there are big things on the horizon for you!