Is It Too Late to Start Writing on Medium in 2021?

How much a hobby writer makes writing 2–4 posts per month.

I have been writing on Medium for 19 months now. The self-help posts from famous writers encouraged me to become a content creator rather than only a consumer.

I was fired up and thought Medium could become my new full-time job. If I only publish enough, I could get paid for writing. The gold-digger mood on this platform got me hyped up made me feel like I must be the next success story.

Long story short, it didn't happen. I could not quit my 9–5 and become a full-time writer just by publishing on Medium. But here I am 19 months later still writing on because I fell in love with creating posts, helping and connecting with like-minded people, reading wonderful comments — being a creator.

It is a hobby. A small side hustle. I only publish 2–4 stories a month. Stories that are not always read but sometimes help somebody going through a tough patch — and this is incredible.

If you are thinking about writing on Medium and asking yourself if it’s still worth it, the answer is — it depends.

Do You Want to Be Part of the Creator Economy?

Are you dreaming about being one of the 2 million creators making six figures or more on YouTube, Instagram, or other platforms?

Then writing on Medium is the easiest way to learn, practice, and earn immediately. Even if it’s only a few cents, in the beginning, it makes a difference in your mindset.

Medium helps you to get eyeballs on your content like no other place. I have been on Instagram for 8 years and never made a cent from the content I created. I have a traveling blog that never made a decent income. Sometimes I got to stay for free somewhere in exchange for pictures and footage, but this won’t pay for a meal.

Medium is the first platform that actually gave me money for my content. It might not be the world, but it’s real money in my bank account every month.

If the creator economy fascinates you and you can see its enormous potential, then now is the best time to start.

It’s only too late if you don't start now. — Barbara Sher

Do You Need a Place to Practice Your Skills?

Are you scared to hit publish for the first time? I feel you. I was so nervous when my first words went online.

Medium is the perfect place to get started as a content creator because on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms your friends will see your first rocky content. On Medium they won’t, so it’s less scary to get your first creations out.

You can practice your skills, enjoy the process of becoming better with every article, and when you are ready, you can share it with your friends, family, and community.

Why Now Is the Right Time For Medium?

Medium is changing its business model and is experimenting with different ways of getting more creators on the platform. In the fight for attention, Medium needs unique and valuable content to succeed against social media platforms and other news sides.

Therefore, they started paying bonuses to writers from USD 50 to USD 500 to keep everybody motivated to continue creating good content during the vacation season.

With the feedback from this new way of rewarding writers, they will launch a Creator Fellowship Program in August with guaranteed minimum pay of USD 200.

There is a lot of change happening right now and as soon as Medium has found its ideal way of rewarding writers, it will attract more competition.

A year from now, you may wish you started today. — Karen Lamb

Let’s Talk Money. The Naked Truth About My Medium Income

I might not earn thousands every month, but I am still glad to be in the game. The first few months were tough. I had a lot of learning to do. So if you are just starting out as a blogger or writer, the truth is it will take time for most of you to see results.

In 2021, I wrote only 2–4 articles per month, and this is still enough to be one of the TOP1.500 writers on Medium. Only a tiny percentage of writers between 6% and 8% actually crack the USD 100 per month.

This shows the huge potential for upcoming writers. Don't expect wonders overnight. Enjoy the beauty of making baby steps towards becoming a top-notch creator who can make the world a better place through words, videos, or pictures.

Am I proud of this income? No, but I want to show you the actual figures of an average writer on Medium so you know what to expect.

Could I have done better with more effort? Definitely, but I have a 9–5 I am passionate about and there is only a limited amount of time you can invest in writing.

I can definitely see my earnings rise when I publish more than my usual 2–4 posts a month. In January 2021, I published 9 posts as an exception in 2021. Probably because of the New Year's motivation, but it is hard to sustain this output as an average hobby writer.

Viral Hits are Your Gold Mines

During these 19 months, I landed 2 ‘viral’ hits which make most of my earning per month even until now.

The first one earned me over USD 600 and is still bringing in good returns. It peaked several times, which gave my earnings during these months a nice boost.

My second ‘viral’ hit happened in the same month as the first one and showed me the power of the Medium algorithm. How to access this power systematically is still a big mystery to me.

Sometimes, I think posts will do well and they might be a bit better than the average one but definitely not ‘viral’.

Now you know the naked truth about an average writer on Medium. Are you still up for the crazy ride on this platform?

Give it a try and see how far you can get maybe you will be the next success story. Who knows?

And if not, you will at least learn invaluable lessons on your journey. Becoming a better writer has improved all parts of my life — it’s worth it.

I am not sure yet where this journey will lead me, but I am proud of 19 months of progress.

Let me know your questions in the comments.

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