I earned $0.37 in my first month on Medium

Am I a loser?!

Have you ever thought of yourself as a loser? If so, STOP. Stop comparing yourself to others and build your own journey.

I never thought I could actually make money WRITING. Since I was a child, I’ve been a good writer. However, I have always done it to register special moments. It has been nothing but a hobby.

When I first joined Medium, I thought only incredible writers were making money out of it. After reading inspiring stories, I began my journey.

How I became confident to write and share my own thoughts? Well…

I stopped comparing myself.

I absolutely love reading articles and learning from them. On the other hand, downgrading myself gets me nowhere. Therefore, I realized I should start DOING instead of only dreaming of a better future. After all, every successful writer started from scratch.

In this post, I share 3 lessons I’ve learned after a month on Medium. Although I earned $0.37, I am not a loser. I consider myself a winner for trying and achieving a baby step.

Get to know your platform

I cannot emphasize this first advice enough.

Yes, I dedicated a great piece of my first month on Medium to learn about the platform. To succeed in any social media platform, it's a MUST to become familiar with them. There are special tricks and tips to improve your hard work.

• Reading thousands of posts is the best way to learn how content is presented over here. It’s obviously different than posting on Instagram or LinkedIn, for instance. Explore the platform and interact with other writers as well. By the way, I recommend “Medium Writers and Bloggers” community on Facebook. From beginners to experienced writers, the group shares tips and their work. You can ask questions and get motivated to submit your pieces to publications.
• Youtube videos improve your understanding of Medium as well. Some writers share their experiences and teach step by step. Zulie Rane was one of my first inspirations. Her articles are super engaging, and she has a YouTube channel full of advice from her own journey on Medium. Zulie covers important details for beginners and I am positive you’ll advance your writing skills after watching her videos.

Give yourself some space

Content creation requires creativity and discipline. Instead of spending your day trying to find magical words, give yourself some space.

Go out there and explore the world. Ideas will come up easier from books, videos, movies, conversations, trips, or a daily walk around your neighborhood. Pay attention to the details and you’ll find a lot to write about.

For instance, my first post on Medium originated from my regular trip to Chick Fil-A. Grabbing a meal there is part of my routine and I never thought ideas would arise from daily situations. However, keeping an eye out for minor activities has helped my creative process. Fortunately, I developed a list with multiple topics!

Taking risks will advance your writing strategy as well. Researching other topics will expose you to broader possibilities. Likewise, signing up for different activities will boost your imagination. So, yes, dare to try something new.

Finally, once you feel ready and encouraged, start putting your ideas together. I’m confident you’ll deliver better stories by appreciating life!

Increase your productivity slowly

You’ll get frustrated if you try to rush everything.

Each of us has our own timing. I see people all the time talking about writing an article per day. Here’s a piece of common advice: “Pick a topic, it doesn’t really matter. Just sit and write for at least 30 minutes. Write whatever comes to your mind”.

Okay, this strategy might work for many people. However, it doesn’t work for me. In this case, am I a loser? Actually, no. I just like to do things differently.

Writing is about expressing yourself. It’s about showcasing your skills and passions. When I start my writing process, I like to feel motivated about it. I hate writing just because I have to accomplish a certain number of words. I enjoy resonating with my content.

Instead of sitting and writing right away, I take my time to research the topic or similar stories. It takes longer, sure, but at least I am appreciating my journey. I write because it’s relaxing and fun.

Don’t think just sitting and writing is the ultimate way to earn money. Do whatever works for you. You can motivate yourself by listening to music, running, reading, watching videos… Or you can just sit in front of your computer and start writing. All options are perfect, as long as they work for you.

Conclusion

To conclude, I am not a loser. And neither are you. We are just creating our own journey. Being inspired by others is amazing, but comparing ourselves to others is a waste of time.

If you want to succeed on Medium, or any other platform, remember 3 advices:

• Learn about your platform and its own features.
• Give yourself space to enjoy life. You’ll come up with better content ideas!
• Increase your productivity at your own pace.

Most important: Have fun doing whatever you chose to!

I don’t know what the next months will bring, but I am ready to push it forward.