Lessons From Writing 500 Blogs in Three Years and Making $15K
How you will do better when you understand what I learned
Many times I’ve sworn to quit writing on Medium.
And here I am.
There is a hidden force between the lines of that first sentence. I call it the silent force of Medium.
I’m going to explain exactly what that force is so you can benefit from it, and actually do better than me.
And there is more, much more. Obviously, I’ve learned a lesson or 47 in those 3 years that I’m happy to share so you become a better writer so I can keep on enjoying quality pieces on this platform.
At the end of the day, we’re all here to learn.
And write.
The silent force
I had great periods here surfing mega flow waves. One of those waves brought me a viral piece. This was a breakthrough in my career as a writer.
When you start off consistently, there’s a 70–80% change Medium grants you your 5k-10k claps of fame piece. I’ve heard this from many starters here on the platform.
When this happened to me, it made me stick for at least another 1,5 years. That dopamine orgasm had been so good that I started chasing it. A second big viral piece is less likely, but you’ll learn an important lesson;
You shouldn’t write for going viral or for the money
Whatever they tell you.
When you keep on coming back, this means you’re passionate and this will be rewarded after 5 years.
With money. Fame. Flowers.
Since now you’ve got an amazing body of work and your words spun an amazing web all over the web. People must be blind not finding one of your pieces in the next years to come, and you’ll profit from this.
That’s the silence force of Medium. Keep on going, even when you’re down and out. Don’t focus on the 5 in five years, focus on your next piece and make it better than the previous one.
Challenge the crap out of yourself
I did several writing challenges, like the 30 days one piece a day challenge. Or writing 10 super personal pieces in a row #life and #lifelessons.
You’ll learn that this strengthens your writing muscle, it's fun, and you’re on your way to discovering your niche(s). More on that later.
Also, it teaches you discipline and brings the necessary daily focus that is essential to even start dreaming about a writing career.
My 3 years of writing on Medium has been the biggest challenge, and crossing this threshold convinced me I’m gonna make it to the holy Tim Denning 5 years.
Believe me, I just come out of a period of being pretty sure that I, Medium, and the world had lost it. I only wrote 4 pieces in January 2022. All-time low. Still, I haven’t dipped under making less than $100 a month. I’m still part of the 5,6% top writers here even when my inspiration rock bottomed.
Overcoming small challenges, one at the time, makes tackling your biggest challenge easier. In writing, the incremental process is everything.
Niche. Niche. Niche
I’ve seen several writers on this platform searching for their Niche the first year like being lost in a dark Lord of the Rings forest without their iPhone.
And then, boooemmm, they got it, their unique light started to shine. They found their golden ring.
Like Matt Lillywhite. He got me with his unique confident content. At first, I believed it was real and almost un-followed him. That’s how good he is. Luckily, later he added his disclaimer. He’s the only one doing this arrogant I-can-do-everything style this good. Bravo.
Find your unique Medium calling and make a side hustle out of it, or your complete job for that matter. I don’t care. Mine is Crypto and I’m about to release a second Niche, addiction, following a fourth book I’m writing.
Medium is a mirror and a mentor. Stick long enough and it will teach you how to become a great content creator, and even what you should be doing in life.
How to Make Medium a marketing beast
For most writers, Medium won’t be their Valhalla of income, despite trillions of clickbait on How I made quadrillions writing 6,5 lines when I sat on the toilet with a hangover. ( Don’t steal that one, Matt! )
Here’s the thing.
You will make at least a few quality pieces, hopefully in your self chosen Niche. Connect a real product to these articles. Your coaching, your vegan juice cookbook, your ‘How to become a pornstar’ course. Whatever your calling in the real world out there is.
This can be an Ebook, an Ecourse, an Email course, whatever E-product you come up with.
I created a simple Ecourse; How to start saving with crypto to make money while you sleep. Then I put a link to the course under each and every article I published in my Crypto Publication. And guess what, I sell courses each week.
My ex got all of her coaching clients from one freakin’ good article about trauma healing.
My next strategy will be publishing extracts from my new self-help book on addiction (It’s more a together-help book, really). My giveaway will be a 5x email course. Here the real magic will happen, the sales of 1–1 retreats on Ibiza and the sale of the book.
Create your roadmap to sales, success and recognition, and use Medium as a marketing channel. Realize you can set the world on fire with one simple kick-ass blog that delivers you clients and money even after you’re dead.
Bonus
Here you got it, my top advice from 3 years of writing in Medium. There is much more I can tell you, but my latest challenge is to write under 6 minutes for a while. Sorry
I hope this will help you.
I do have a bonus.
It’s not only your title, your content, smart jokes, structure or style. I’ve found that the energy you write with is essential.
Words transmit energy. Energy creates your lines and paragraphs. You’re only the Medium in between.
Sometimes I fly to my laptop since an idea needs to be birthed. Sometimes writing at my table feels like sitting in a dull accountancy office in a dull town, dying slowly counting hours.
Discern your intention and energy.
Write when you’re on fire, this will reach your reader's heart best.
Did you notice I almost didn’t speak about my earnings in this piece or how you can boost yours? When you understand why you’re gonna make it on this platform and as a writer.
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