Summary

A writer reflects on the lessons learned from publishing over 150 stories on Medium, emphasizing the importance of consistent writing, the limitations of relying on Medium's curation, the strategic use of publications, and the necessity of practicing writing without focusing solely on monetary gain.

Abstract

The author of the content has been prolific on Medium, publishing more than 150 stories within six months, hosted across various publications. The writer shares insights on the platform's dynamics, noting that consistent output is crucial for maintaining visibility and readership. Despite having many curated articles, the author found that curation alone does not guarantee views or engagement. The strategic use of publications, tailoring content to specific audiences, and building a relationship with these publications are also highlighted as key strategies for success. Additionally, the author points out the practical need for a computer to engage with larger publications effectively, as mobile submissions are not supported. Lastly, the writer advises against focusing solely on making money and instead encourages a dedication to craft and contribution to the reader's experience.

Opinions

Consistent writing is essential to maintain readership and visibility on Medium, as even curated articles can quickly become lost in the volume of new content.
Medium's curation system may not significantly boost an article's visibility or readership beyond the initial publication.
Writers should actively seek to have their work hosted by specific publications that align with their content and audience, as this can lead to greater success and recognition.
A computer is a practical necessity for writers aiming to submit drafts to larger Medium publications, as mobile submissions are currently not supported.
The pursuit of writing on Medium should prioritize the development of one's craft and the creation of engaging, valuable content for readers over the pursuit of monetary rewards.
Success on Medium, as defined by the author, is not just about the number of views or curated articles but also about building a following and establishing a reputation through consistent, quality writing.

I Published over 150 Stories on Medium — Here’s What I Learned

Whoever told you that success on Medium is easy lied.

I’ve been writing on Medium for six months now, with over 150 stories published to date, hosted with thirteen separate publications, including Illumination, Illumination-curated, Curious, In Fitness And In Health, The Post-Grad Survival Guide, The Innovation, and so much more.

Being able to push out an average of 2–3 articles per day takes a lot of work, and ensuring that they’re quality pieces — even more so. Now, you don’t have to publish as much as I do necessarily, but that brings me to my first lesson.

If you’re new to Medium; write, a lot.

As I said, I’ve managed to push out around 2–3 articles per day since September. However, I took a break these last few weeks, where I noticed something utterly heartbreaking.

I’d normally average around a few hundred views per day. Yet, I almost dwindled to a measly 5–10 views per day without publishing anything new over the last few weeks. Heartbreaking.

As you can see, due to my lack of writing — even with over 80 curated articles — my daily views started to dwindle.

Last week, I committed to getting back into the habit of publishing at least 1–2 articles per day, and you know what? Immediately, my daily views rebounded back to an average of 200–300 views per day.

Now, to many of you, it may not seem like much, but the point is there to prove. Your old posts will get lost in a sea of desperate writers.

To make it on Medium, you have to write consistently — at least in the beginning. Maybe, one day, when I have thousands of followers, then I’ll be able to relax — slow down. Until then, I make it a habit to write a lot.

We can no longer rely on Medium for curation.

I’ve published over 80 curated articles. The results? Pitiful. Even though I might receive a few extra views the first day, after that, the number of daily views had me ask myself, does Medium even share my curated articles?

Now, explain to me how a curated article gets 0–5 views per day? Views — not reads — which means that only 0–5 people per day saw my (curated) post. Hmm.

It could simply be a poorly written article, and Medium could have mistakenly curated it by accident, but, as I mentioned before, I’ve published over 80 curated articles, all with similar results.

Start utilizing publications.

I’ve had the fortune of being published in over a dozen publications, but I never really wrote for the publication. I had a habit of writing my article before deciding which publication to pitch to.

Every publication has different requirements. Some publications can be sticklers about the format. Others don’t give a damn as long as it’s informative and engaging. Some publications are okay with affiliate links, while others — not so much. Certain publications won’t even consider your work unless you’ve already built a decent following.

Focus on specific publications

Lately, what’s worked best for me is to choose which publication I’ll submit my article to, before writing. Doing so allows me to tune my article to fit specifically for that publication.

I particularly decided to get an article accepted into the Post-Grad Survival Guide — a famous publication that works directly alongside Medium. They rejected several of my articles before finally accepting How To Become A Master In Sales.

Even after consecutive rejections, in the end, it was totally worth it.

This specific article was curated and featured on the front page of the *Post — Grad Survival Guide,* which I believe to be the main contributor towards its success.

They don’t tell you this, but you need a computer.

Okay, you don’t need a computer, but at the same time, you do. I spent the first six months writing from my phone — I still write on my phone (especially when I'm pooping).

Writing from your phone isn’t the issue. It would be best if you had a computer to submit drafts.

Some of the biggest publications on Medium require that you submit drafts instead of published stories. To be successful on Medium, you’ll need to get hosted on some popular publications; it’s the key to building a successful following — and you’ll need a computer to do so. For some reason, you can’t submit drafts to publications from the phone (hey, Medium — what’s up?)

Practice, practice, practice.

In the beginning, I started on Medium because it was an opportunity to make money. However, I realized that going into it with that mindset wasn’t only discouraging, but it distracted me from my main purpose.

Your sole focus as a writer on Medium should be to practice, practice, practice. Focus on developing your writing style, creating quality content — stuff that contributes to the reader.

Money shouldn’t be the focus. It’s just a reward. The amount of money you make directly correlates to the level of engaging content you put out into the world. Focus on your writing, and the money will come.