Not making any money on Medium?

Our stories might be the same.

Us writers on Medium need to get used to a small but steady flow of income — but let’s not feel sorry for ourselves; this is a learning experience.

I might be money poor (in terms of my Medium earnings), but I consider myself life and writing rich. Proud, too.

Why proud?

I’m Portuguese.

My native language is not English, and it has been at least 15 years without writing a single word in a language other than my own.

Secondly, this platform has a unique way of rewarding those who write under a particular structure. It’s not just about being a good writer, as all of you have already noticed: it’s what you have to say to the readers.

The articles that do best are full of useful information that fills in the reader’s knowledge gaps and makes them have a stronger connection with you, the writer.

Success is not to be pursued, it is to be attracted by the person you become — Jim Rohn.

On Medium, you’ve got to be an attractive person (I don’t just mean looks-wise), or you’ll fail.

Whatever you think you have to do with your words, it doesn’t work if you are just a content producer.

You have to write with all your soul and heart.

You have to be better every day.

Not just a better writer. But also a better person. You must read a lot, investigate, share, reflect, rethink, and change. Ask yourself a million times if you are good enough to keep giving your followers what they deserve.

Generosity Is the Magic Potion to a More Leisurely Time

I was thrilled to find out that I share hundreds of experiences with my tiny audience.

So many pains, frustrations, disappointments passed through my skin.

And they were lessons that made me stronger. Some of them made me powerful, almost indestructible.

Why shouldn’t I share it with you? You know, we have to care for and respect the past because it is gone. It’s there, in the depths of our memories. Many of my past memories are resolved. I am at peace with them.

So why can’t I share them with you?

Give and you shall receive, much more than you ever thought possible. Give and give again. People who give will never be poor — Anne Frank

In my first month, I earned just $0.08.

I gave my absolute best to this fabulous article that I was sure would change the history of Medium. Everybody would be on their knees by the artistic and unique skill of a moribund writer.

In my naivete, I thought I had what it takes to succeed in this platform.

I didn’t read anything about Medium.

Didn’t learn about the Curation Guidelines, Medium’s distribution system, how to edit, nothing.

And here I was, thinking in my ignorance, that I was different.

Soon I realized I was working on a more significant project than my own existence.

Arrogance is a bitch, right?

My first lesson had begun, and I immediately changed my arrogance for generosity.

I really felt like an ass hole.

Who was I to think that I could join something like this, starting writing like Hemingway and in the first article everybody would recognize how wonderful I am?

What a jerk.

You Will Never Stop Learning Because Life Never Stops Teaching

My first lesson was the best one.

One big pop in the face that left me seeing stars.

However, if you can see the stars clearly, it is a sign that you will never lose the north again.

I haven’t.

I found out that there are fabulous writers here.

Fantastic human beings who, like me, share their thoughts and their frustrations. People that have been on Medium for a long time. They have the experience, success, and strength, which is just what you and I need as inspiration and knowledge.

I read thousands of words from people like Tim Denning, Ayodeji Awosika, Sinem Günel, and Niklas Göke. I wanted to know everything about them.

How they made it.

Realizing that I am miles away from the best made me think that the journey will be long and laborious.

That’s the way I like it, though.

If you always had an easy life, you don’t know how powerful it is to be with nothing in your pocket and to depend only on yourself to survive.

In May, I earned $1.27.

From $0.08 to $1.27 is a huge increase. If you know a little about compounding, you would be excited about your second month.

In May, I started an online course with [arlie] PEYTON.

It has helped me a lot, especially by understanding Medium’s structure and how to structure articles. In this course, we realize Medium is a big challenge: it’s much more than just writing.

You have to follow specific rules and especially engage with your audience, however small it may be.

If you are doing a good job, creating good content, and being careful about all the details, followers will appear.

Taking a Step Back Is Often the Quickest Way Forward

In May, I was consuming so much information about Medium that I had less availability to concentrate on my ideas.

I knew I had to do it.

I needed to learn with people better than I.

In June, I earned $0.42.

I was very confident, though; this step back didn’t disturb me in the least. I knew there was a way to go.

Yesterday I watched a Youtube video with an interview with Zulie Rane and Sinem Günel. Zulie said that, after more than 2 years on Medium, after more than 500 articles and $30,000 earned, sometimes her pieces are still not curated.

Some articles are not even published in publications where Zulie is one of the most successful writers.

Sinem explained that this is one of the most extraordinary things about Medium. You can be one of the best writers on this platform, but you will always be rejected if you don’t follow the rules.

In this case, Zulie wrote an article that neither concluded nor showed evidence on the argument she set out to explain in the title.

‘Obsessed’ Is a Word the Lazy Use To Describe the Dedicated

I have a 9–5 job, so I have to wake up at 6:45 AM every day and write my ass before 9:00 AM.

Sometimes it’s hard, but if you have all the dreams and ideas in your head, you will always find the energy to write one more piece of content for your followers.

This is my fourth month on Medium, and I just surpassed the 100 followers milestone, so I have 100 people waiting for my next work, for my next article.

I have that responsibility but also a challenge.

I love challenges, tough ones.

I think that’s why I made $3.95 in July; because I am stubborn.

I don’t quit easily.

Someday I will have 1,000 followers, and on that day, I will write my strategy to reach 10,000 followers.

From May to June, I wrote 5 articles each month. In July, I wrote 8.

I know there are writers on Medium that write one article a day, and that’s ok.

Let me tell you that it is not my purpose.

If I can write 3–5 articles a week, that will be a good pace for engaging more followers and having a comfortable community to share my thoughts, knowledge, and experience.

If You Don’t Build Your Dreams, Someone Will Hire You To Build Theirs

After you have your own rhythm, you can structurize your own business.

With a good email list, you can make a list of products to sell, especially if that will help your followers.

If you think you can help them on Medium, you can build an online course and offer your followers’ services.

Every one of us, Medium writers, have other things we are very good at. For example, in my case, I was a personal trainer. I worked for 20 years in the fitness industry and have a degree in physical education. Now I am an ultra-runner.

Maybe I can teach some followers how to be prepared for a marathon. Or a 10k race. Or even an ultra-marathon in the Alps.

A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning — Brad Henry.

What about you? Do you have any experience that can be useful to your followers?

When You’re Really Good, No One Is Competition

As Ayodeji Awosika says, he would have many more difficulties building his followers list if he started his journey today.

Why?

Ayo started writing on Medium before the Partnership Program, and in 2018 there was almost no competition. He could build a strong and long list of followers.

He also built a massive email list that, at the present time, makes him a lot of monthly income.

Don’t think that if you start writing on Medium today, it’s gonna be impossible to get where Awosika is. Young writers are coming to the platform, making thousands of followers and more than $1,000 in the first 3 months.

That’s why I love Medium. You’ll never know if the next article will be the viral one. You keep working your best to get there.

I have been curated. It’s the first sign that my structure and grammar are in place. And that my content is being seen by the curators as useful to the readers.

In August, I made $31.86.

I wrote 14 articles instead of 5 or 8 like the previous months. I realize that Medium wants content. The more you write, the more opportunities you have to succeed.

From $3.95 to $31.86 is a huge step.

It hasn’t yet paid for all the investment I have made, but it sure did make me believe it’s possible.

Conclusion

September is not closed yet, and I have surpassed $40.

I hope to reach from $60 to $80 and keep my journey at this smooth pace.

I know I must be better at grammar and the way I structure my sentences.

I know I have to keep reading articles, as I do right now.

Creating notes of more complex phrases I read helps me to understand the depth of the English language.

Keep investing in courses from the best writers to learn small but essential details that sometimes differentiate between a good article and a viral one.

No matter how hard you work, someone else is working harder — Elon Musk

Good things don’t fall from the sky. You have to earn them.

I learned it the hard way.

Believe me, if it were a comfortable ride, it wouldn’t be as much fun.

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