Summary

A writer reflects on their first week on Medium, emphasizing the personal growth and connections made through writing, rather than financial success.

Abstract

The author shares their experience during the first week of writing on Medium, highlighting the importance of self-expression and the joy of being read by others, even if the monetary return is minimal. They discuss the impact of engaging with other writers, the value of feedback, and the significance of writing as a form of personal development and communication. The article suggests that writing on Medium has led to improved confidence, a better understanding of emotional expression, and a sense of fulfillment from contributing to the writing community.

Opinions

The author believes that the intrinsic value of writing comes from sharing personal stories and experiences, not just from the financial gains.
They express excitement over earning $2.06, symbolizing that readers appreciate their content.
The author emphasizes that good writing is about making a connection with the audience, providing them with inspiration or entertainment.
They acknowledge the importance of learning from other writers and actively engaging with the writing community through social media groups.
The author suggests that writing has a therapeutic effect on mental health by providing an outlet for expressing feelings.
They assert that writing consistently on Medium is akin to having a real job, requiring dedication and hard work.
The author advises against expecting quick wealth from writing on Medium but encourages those who enjoy the craft to pursue it for personal satisfaction and skill improvement.

Personal Experience

My First Week on Medium

What I learned and what has worked

I don’t think any of my articles are good.

I’ve been experimenting with different styles and topics, and this past week has been life-changing for me. But I constantly look at my work and think of what I could have done better, but every writer does that.

Every good writer that is.

Here’s where most people would begin posting pictures of their stats, talking about how they made X amount in the first week, or even the first month.

If you’ve made absolutely nothing from your writing yet, that’s perfectly ok.

Just keep writing.

That’s exactly where I expected to be at this point.

Your writing is probably worth more than you think, but not in the ways you think.

As of the writing of this article, my eight other articles have earned me $2.06. I was possibly the most excited I have been since my daughter was born.

Why was I excited over two dollars? Because it meant people wanted to hear what I had to say. That’s the goal of a successful writer, putting your story out there for people to read, making your writing yours.

That’s all I’ve done. Write and share my thoughts, experiences, and feelings.

I’ve written one “technical” article that has blown up with hundreds of views, claps, and reads.

It has seven fans, and has so far made me a grand total of five cents.

It’s not about stats or views or making money. Nobody’s really reading this article because it’s not the kind of thing most people seem interested in. They can find a car review anywhere, why would they read that article over Car and Driver or Motortrend?

I decided to leave it be, as an example for me to go back and learn from.

It had nothing new to offer, most people were clicking on it, scanning it, and exiting, and I don’t blame them.

Good writing that people want to read for pleasure is about putting yourself out there so that other people can learn from you and/or be entertained by you.

Your experience may help someone on the other side of the world who you had no idea existed, until they reached out and told you how your writing gave them hope during a dark time, or gave them inspiration to write their next story.

That is how writing really improved my life in just a few short days. My confidence has improved, I know that my words matter. The linked article, by Lance Luther is one I learned a lot from and really appreciated.

I Connected With Other Writers and Actually Read Their Work

Connect with your followers. I always clap 50x (hold down the mouse button or your finger on mobile) for an article I enjoy because I feel those who put in maximum effort deserve maximum praise. See who is following and what they seem to be reading and writing about.

Here are the main Facebook Groups from Casey Botticello

Here are some more that aren’t specific to Medium from Daryl Bruce

Joining these groups helped me get to double-digit views on my third day.

Writing Made Me Better at Expressing Feelings, and It Is a Real Job

I learned several years ago that it’s important for your mental health to openly share your feelings in some way, whether that be talking to a close friend, journaling, or for me, writing stories on Medium.

I’ve argued with my wife less since I began writing. She’s ecstatic to see I’m doing something I want to, and actually working at it.

There’s no doubt I’ve put in as much work as I would have doing this as a “real” job. If I’m not writing, I’m reading about writing and studying others’ work.

I’ve sat at my computer from about 8 am to 12 or 1 am, only taking breaks to eat, do chores around the house, and care for my daughter when she’s at home.

Other than that, I’m writing. The job I had has cut my hours to just a few days a week, so I have plenty of time to learn and write as much as possible.

Anyone expecting to “get rich quick” from writing is going to be disappointed.

But if you honestly enjoy sharing your complete self, improving your vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills, and sharing your stories with the world, then Medium is an excellent place to do so. I love writing here.

I initially did it to build a portfolio, instead, I saw an opportunity to establish a real presence here and help others get something out of my experiences in life and in writing.

Like this? Check out my profile at medium.com/@amcneal1414