My First Month In 7 Lessons

Summary

A writer reflects on their first month on Medium, sharing insights and lessons learned from writing and publishing articles, earning minimal income, and leveraging the platform for professional growth.

Abstract

The author has written 8 articles on Medium, with 4 getting published and garnering 4k views, leading to a modest income of $5.04. Despite the financial outcome, the experience has been invaluable, prompting personal growth and the development of a professional writing portfolio. The author emphasizes the importance of enjoying the writing process, setting realistic expectations, and using Medium as a platform for long-form expression, akin to "Long Twitter." They suggest that new writers should not rely on Medium for immediate financial returns but rather focus on the learning journey, interaction with the community, and the potential for content to lead to other writing opportunities.

Opinions

The author acknowledges the financial challenges of being a writer on Medium, humorously noting the low hourly pay but affirming a passion for writing.
Medium is seen as a platform that provides a voice and an opportunity for reflection and eloquent expression.
Consistency in publishing is important, but so is enjoying the writing process, with a recommendation to write at least three articles a week.
The author advises not to focus on the financial aspect initially, as only a small percentage of writers earn significantly on the platform.
Articles are compared to seeds that may grow in different ways, and writers should let their work develop organically without excessive pressure.
Engaging with other writers and the Medium community is encouraged for support and motivation.
Writing about learning experiences can be beneficial for both the writer and the audience, creating efficient learning paths.
The author suggests writing at least one piece that meets high standards, serving as a portfolio piece and a source of personal pride.

I wrote 8 articles, of which 4 got published. After 4k views, I’ve made $5.04 and 87 mistakes. This is why I’ll never stop.

I get paid to write, and I’m broke, I guess I’m finally a writer. It sucks, and I love it. Don’t break it down into hourly pay, or else I’ll break down. Look on the bright side, I’ve earned 10% of my yearly $50 Medium subscription, and with 4 cents to spare, I could splurge a crispy white A4 sheet of paper. That’s the raw material for a private (paper) plane or a significant increase in my fiber intake.

Why did you join Medium?

It offers a voice to everyone, it’s elegant, and it is free to join as a writer. Long Twitter is a unique platform where you get to meditate, reflect, and attempt to vent eloquently into the void. I wouldn’t have called myself an avid follower, but I have been reading here for years.

The main catalyst for me was losing the ability to perform my job working as a freelance walking tour-guide. It turns out shaking 25 hands a day, walking with a large crowd in already bustling areas of Manhattan, and spraying historical facts, unforgivable jokes, and saliva particles into the air at a large group of travelers isn’t very social-distancing.

1. You better be having fun.

Consistency matters, and so does enjoyment. Don’t expect much unless you’re publishing at least 3 articles a week. I dread the workload of publishing three noteworthy articles a week and would probably resent any piece of mine that went viral and forced me to follow-up. Build stamina, not frustration.

2. Enjoy more, expect less.

It’s harder to go from 0 to 1, than from 1 to 2. Your goal is to write one paragraph, don’t even bother editing until you’ve written 80% of your article. If you wrote 1200 words when you were aiming for 1500, it’s more rewarding to celebrate having passed 1000 rather than torture yourself over having fallen short 300.

3. Articles are mysterious seeds.

Some articles might grow into a lesson in writing, editing, or proofreading. Others can develop into a convenient surprise to include in your resume or portfolio. A few will get views and others will do better at claps. Learn to let your articles roam the world without tiger parenting them. Let them tangle their roots and grow into the foliage of your mind.

4. You aren’t going to make money here.

So Casey Botticello reported that in May, only 5.4% of active writers earned over $100. That’s absolutely ridiculous when you consider Harvard had a 5% acceptance rate in 2018. I can tell you with 95% accuracy that you are not going to make money here. If you stay, you’re going to make progress.

If you want to make some money, I recommend you get on Upwork. I started writing on Medium at around the same time I joined Upwork, and there are plenty of gigs there. I’ve (no joke) made $800 on writing gigs in the same 3-month time-span. The more money I make the more trust I gain as a freelancer there, and I use my Medium articles as part of my portfolio. Solid tip, after your first article, don’t work for less than $0.05 per word, ignore bad gigs.

7 Eye-Opening Lessons From My First Month On Medium

I wrote 8 articles, of which 4 got published. After 4k views, I’ve made $5.04 and 87 mistakes. This is why I’ll never stop.

Why did you join Medium?

1. You better be having fun.

2. Enjoy more, expect less.

3. Articles are mysterious seeds.

4. You aren’t going to make money here.

5. Use Medium as if it were Long Twitter.

6. Share your learning journey.

7. Write one masterpiece.

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